Calendar

Five senior artists from Tjungu Palya art centre in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of South Australia have reinvigorated their ancestors’ practice of painting directly onto the land. Their work, captured in a series of large-format photographs, is both timeless and transient, bridging the ancient and the contemporary.

This Australian-first exhibition explores the breadth and tradition of Chinese calligraphy and painting through artworks from the National Museum of China’s collection never previously shown outside of China.

10–11am and 1–2pm
This guided tour provides an excellent introduction to the Museum, exploring highlights from our permanent exhibition galleries.

The Landmarks gallery is located on two levels and features over 1500 objects. It explores Australian history since European settlement, through stories of Australian places from across the continent.

The First Australians gallery is located on two levels and traces the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their spirituality, diversity, identity and survival.

Take a guided tour with one of our hosts to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their history, culture and connection to country in our largest exhibition gallery.

Travel to Antarctica using the latest 360-degree virtual reality technology and follow in the footsteps of the scientists researching this mysterious continent. Bookings essential. Select your date and time at Eventbrite (booking fees apply)

Professor Tim Bonyhady is one of Australia’s foremost environmental historians and lawyers. His latest book, The Enchantment of the Long-haired Rat: A Rodent History of Australia, is an astonishing history that illuminates a species, a continent, its climate and its people like never before. Join us at one of two talks from Professor Bonyhady, followed by questions, book signing and refreshments. In the Friends Lounge. Non-members are welcome to attend this event. Join Friends

Canberra Writers Festival

Stephanie Alexander kicks off the Canberra Writers Festival with a fun-filled journey that will tempt the taste buds and explore our love of good nosh.
Note: Bookings closed on Friday 16 August.

Canberra Writers Festival

Join Paul Daley, Andrew Leigh MP, Marion Halligan, Tracey Hawkins, Marg Wade and Nichole Overall with Irma Gold in this irresistible ode to the national capital. Hear stories not just of politics and power, but of ghosts and murder and mayhem, of humour and irreverence, and the rich underlying lode that makes Canberra such a fascinating city.

Canberra Writers Festival

Going vegan might be all the rage but the fact is the world has an ever-growing, insatiable appetite for meat. An acclaimed panel featuring Dr Norman Swan, Matthew Evans, Katrina Fox, Gil Hovav and Lisa Donaldson will debate if it is possible to be an ethical carnivore in this day and age.

Canberra Writers Festival
Crime might not pay, but it has delivered rich opportunities for some of Australia’s best writers and journalists. Join Hedley Thomas, Felicity Packard and Rachel Franks in conversation with Paul Barclay, discussing true crime and popular culture.
Program change: Due to unforeseen circumstances Catie Gilchrist is unable to appear in this discussion.

Canberra Writers Festival

Journalist and award-winning writer and author of Fake, Stephanie Wood, shares her story of romance, duplicity and manipulation, and those of other women, with respected presenter and writer Caroline Baum.

Canberra Writers Festival

The sentencing of Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s most senior Church leader, mesmerised and shocked the public and dealt another devastating blow to the trust and faithfulness of Catholic parishioners worldwide. Join David Marr and Louise Milligan, moderated by Chris Uhlmann, as they discuss the impact of the recent appeal.

Canberra Writers Festival

Lawyer and author of Headstrong Daughters Nadia Jamal reveals, to ABC journalist Sarah MacDonald, how ordinary Muslim women around Australia are finding ways to stay true to their faith as well as themselves.

Canberra Writers Festival

Journalist and author of the successful blog, good-grief.com.au and A Good Death, Margaret Rice joins Suharsha Kanathigoda, Director of Palliative Care in the ACT and Catie Gilchrist in a candid and compassionate conversation about death and dying.

Canberra Writers Festival

The Teacher’s Pet is a global, Gold Walkley Award-winning podcast phenomenon with almost 50 million downloads. Join The Australian’s investigative reporter Hedley Thomas as he provides an extraordinary, behind-the-scenes account, with writer and journalist Matthew Condon.

Canberra Writers Festival

Join Bruce Beresford as he shares with Margaret Pomeranz the behind-the-scenes story of why it took him almost 30 long years to bring Ladies in Black from the printed page to the big screen.

Canberra Writers Festival

Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Munya Andrews (Aboriginal Dreamtime) with Margo Neale, Senior Research Fellow of the National Museum of Australia and principal adviser to the Director on Indigenous Matters, reveal important insights into Indigenous languages and customs, history, native title, art and dance, storytelling and cultural awareness.

Canberra Writers Festival

Professor David Isaacs, Clinical Professor of Paediatrics & Child Health at the Children’s Hospital, Westmead and author of Defeating the Ministers of Death and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki debate to vax or not to vax. This is a discussion for everyone who wants to understand our past, and cares about our future.

Canberra Writers Festival

The human brain is wonderfully complex. Join Amee Baird (Sex in the Brain), Sarah McKay (The Women’s Brain Book) and Felice Jacka (Brain Changer) as they share their insights with Robyn Williams into how our minds work and how we can look after our most precious organ.

Canberra Writers Festival

In this International Year of Indigenous Languages, Tara June Winch and Yvette Henry Holt explore and celebrate the power of Indigenous language, storytelling and identity.

Canberra Writers Festival

Author, columnist and comedian Mikey Robins leads an irreverent romp through the history of food via the Seven Deadly Sins. In conversation with Canberra comedians, and self-proclaimed non-experts, Chris Ryan and Tom Gibson, Mikey shares the most bizarre food-related stories in history.

Canberra Writers Festival

Through history, female literary characters have played important roles in affirming women to be strong, smart and secure. Join Canberra Times journalist Sally Pryor, in discussion with three of Australia’s great storytellers, Meg Keneally, Kate Forsyth and Penelope Hanley, whose latest historical novels feature complex leading ladies.

Canberra Writers Festival

The Seventies was the decade that shaped modern Australia. Political and social commentator David Marr takes a rollicking tour through this tumultuous but transformative decade with Michelle Arrow, the author of The Seventies.

Canberra Writers Festival

Get up close and personal with four of Canberra’s literary gems, Nigel Featherstone (Bodies of Men), Patrick Mullins (Tiberious With A Telephone), Kathryn Hind (Hitch) and Karen Viggers (The Orchardist’s Daughter), as they share their creative process. Moderated by Emma Alberici.

Canberra Writers Festival

What does it mean to live a good life? Sam Mostyn moderates a lively panel with Julienne van Loon, Jane Caro and Sasha Marianna Salzmann, as they contemplate life through six themes: love and friendship, work and play, fear and wonder.

This month's book is Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane by S Frederick Starr. Lost Enlightenment recounts how, between the years 800 and 1200, Central Asia led the world in trade and economic development, the size and sophistication of its cities, the refinement of its arts, and, above all, in the advancement of knowledge in many fields. Exclusive to Museum Friends. Join Friends

Join Senior Curator Dr Sophie Jensen as she discusses Azaria Chamberlain’s dress — one of 350 objects in the Museum’s collection related to her disappearance, the subsequent investigations and legal proceedings, and the experiences endured by the Chamberlain family. Followed by tea/coffee and cake. Exclusive to Museum Friends. Join Friends