Belconnen Arts Centre

19/12/2024

Thank you to everyone who came along to celebrate Handel in Tobias Cole's fabulous Opera Salon, "Glorious!"

It was a very special show in our 2024 Smith's@Belco line-up and we hope you enjoy these amazing photos by Andrew Sikorski of the night 📸

❤️‍🔥Ready for more live music? Check out the 2025 Smith's@Belco line-up: belcoarts.com.au/smiths-belco

18/12/2024

Join the team as our new Embedding Culture Program Officer! 🖤💛❤️

In this role, you will be instrumental in engaging with First Nations Elders, other knowledge holders and artists in the conceptualization, design, effective management, delivery, full realisation and installation of a range of site-specific public artworks that express, celebrate, embed, and elevate the value and voice of First Nations art, storytelling, and language within the surrounding emerging suburbs.

Learn more and apply online before midnight Sunday 19 January 2025:
belcoarts.com.au/embedding-culture-program-officer

Image: Uncle Warren Daley and Mitch Daley performing the smoking ceremony at NAIDOC in the North 2024. Photo: Andrew Sikorski.

18/12/2024

Aussie music icon, Alex Lloyd is coming to Belco Arts in February!!

His breakthrough single, “Amazing,” became an instant classic and showcased Lloyd’s ability to craft deeply moving and introspective songs. Since then, Lloyd’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. With a string of chart-topping hits such as “Green,” “Coming Home,” and “Beautiful,” he has solidified his status as one of Australia’s most beloved and respected musicians.

In recognition of his incredible talent, Lloyd has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including APRA Song of the Year, 4 x ARIA Awards and the number one Triple J Hottest 100 song of 2001.

💘 Smiths@Belco: Alex Lloyd ⁠
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🗓️ 7pm Saturday 22 February 2025
🎟️ Tickets $59 Adult / $49 Concession
belcoarts.com.au/smiths-alex-lloyd

Our early bird ticket sale ($53 Adult / $43 Concession) is on now until the end of 2024, just in time for that perfect last-minute Christmas gift! 🎁⁠

18/12/2024

Thank you to everyone who came along to the opening at the start of the month to celebrate our four new exhibitions! We hope you enjoy some of the fabulous photos by Andrew Sikorski of the night.
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✨️ Dear Forests… | An open postcard exhibition⁠
✨️ Oikos | Peter McLean⁠
✨️ Grounded | Robyn Evans, Sabina Moore, Amanda Andlee Poland⁠
✨️ Echoes of Absence | Rebecca Tapscott⁠

It's your last weekend to see the exhibitions before we close for the holidays at 4pm on Sunday. But don't worry, you can catch the shows in the new year from 14 January when we reopen.

Learn more and shop the collection online: belcoarts.com.au/exhibitions

16/12/2024

Is your child interested in acting? 🎭️

Take their passion to the next level with the vibrant, fun and unique Kids Holiday Theatre Program presented by the award-winning and renowned Mockingbird Theatre Company & Acting Studio.

The program is split into two age brackets (8-10 years old/11-14 years old) and explores a variety of acting fundamentals in an encouraging and inviting setting.

The comprehensive multi-week program will arm students with the necessary skills for developing, producing and staging their own show which will be performed at the conclusion of the program.

January 2025 enrolments are now open, you can enrol for just one week, two or all three!
🎭️ Week 1: 13-17 January, 2025 (5 days)
🎭️ Week 2: 20-24 January, 2025 (5 days)
🎭️ Week 3: 27-31 January, 2025 (5 days)

Enrol online: mockingbirdtheatrics.com/kids-holiday-theatre-program-canberra

16/12/2024

Skip the shops and head down to the lake for a tranquil, curated Christmas shopping experience that comes with a bonus gallery visit! 🎄🎁🧑‍🎄

We have a gorgeous collection of handmade, bespoke gifts to suit every budget and taste - plus you'll be supporting Australian artists with each purchase.

The shop and galleries are open until 4pm Sunday 22 December for all your Christmas shopping and energy-restoring needs 💚

Explore the 2024 Gift Guide online before your visit: shop.belcoarts.com.au/collections/holiday-gift-guide-2024

Image: Daisy Table-top Christmas Tree by A Fiery Heart.

13/12/2024

📢CALL FOR PRINTMAKERS - HABITAT: An Open Printmaking Exhibition

We have the perfect excuse to get creative this holiday season! ✨️

Entries are now open for our inaugural printmaking exhibition, HABITAT. Artists from all across Australia are invited to explore what the concept of "habitat" means to you through printmaking.

All finalist works will be eligible for selection in the $500 People’s Choice Award.

👉️Learn more and see the full conditions of entry online.
Entries are due midnight Monday 7 April 2025: www.belcoarts.com.au/habitat

Featured artwork: Oikos (detail) by Peter McLean

12/12/2024

Happy Holidays!

The National Threatened Species Day Open Photographic Exhibition has been extended for the holiday season, so you've still got plenty of time to explore this incredible collection of images featuring some of Australia's most vulnerable flora and fauna.

It will continue until 29 Jan at Wildbark , and they've got plenty of fabulous holiday activities and tasty treats in the café to help you get the most out of your visit.

Featured Images:
Hongyu Xin - Cheeky Smile
Elizabeth Howell - Pink Cockatoos
Yao D**g - Like father like son

12/12/2024

📅Three new plays to add to your 2025 calendars!!
- Mockingbird Theatre Company & Acting Studio

Proudly and excitedly announcing our next three plays for 2025.

Following The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time, we FINALLY present WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING by Andrew Bovell from 8-17 May. Some may recall that we were on the verge of presenting this remarkable play about three years ago but Covid put a stop to it.

Ranked one of the top three Australian plays of the 21st Century recently by ArtsHub. This extraordinary theatrical masterpiece is one of the most acclaimed and revered Australian plays of modern times. Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award, the Victorian Green Room Award and the Sydney Theatre Award for Best New Australian Work.
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Alice Springs. 2039. A fish falls from the sky – it still smells of the sea. It’s been raining for days and Gabriel York knows something is wrong. WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING unfolds like a puzzle to be solved. Told through the interconnected stories of two families over four generations: between a prediction in London 1959 and its outcome in Australia eighty years later. This intricate, multi-layered story explores betrayal, abandonment, destruction, forgiveness and love. With four generations of fathers and sons, their mothers, lovers and wives, the play is epic in its scope, yet at the same time extraordinarily intimate.
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“...a gloriously written and gripping script...dramatically unpredictable and yet piercingly beautiful." - Artshub
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“A spellbinding saga." - The Australian
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"...bold and sensitive... exudes a sense of wonder and mystery...shrewd and sharp and genuinely moving." - The Times
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“An extraordinary play.” - Financial Times

Play Three is the hilarious METEOR SHOWER by Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin!) from June 26 to July 5

Corky and Norm are excited to host Gerald and Laura at their home in the valley outside Los Angeles to watch a once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower. But as the stars come out and the conversation gets rolling, it becomes clear that Gerald and Laura might not be all that they appear to be. Over the course of a crazy, starlit dinner party, the wildly unexpected occurs. The couples begin to flirt and insanity reigns.

Martin, using his trademark absurdist humor, blends the fluid nature of time and reality to create a surprising and unforgettably funny new play.

"Mr. Martin is peerless at crafting tiny wit bombs, and always has been ... It's definitely funny!" - The New York Times

"METEOR SHOWER is a very funny play. Keening-like-a-howler-monkey funny. Design-a-new-cry-laughing-emoji funny." - Entertainment Weekly

"METEOR SHOWER sparks with the same anarchic energy as Martin's reckless comedy Picasso at the Lapin Agile." - Deadline

And Play Four is one of Canada's most popular and beloved plays - THE DRAWER BOY by Michael Healey playing August 21-30

Set in the 1970s, this brilliantly touching and often hilariously story follows Miles, a young actor from the big city who moves in with two middle aged bachelor farmers, Morgan and Angus, to do work experience for a new play been written around farm life. Miles is intrigued by the puzzling Angus, and is gently teased and tormented by Morgan because of his ignorance of all things rural. Desperate for success he writes of an overheard story in his play, unwittingly breaking open the fragile dynamic and pattern of the farmers lives.

THE DRAWER BOY is an elegant testimony to the transcendent nature of fiction and the healing power of truth.

Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play, the Chalmers Awards for Creativity and Excellence in the Arts, and the Governor General's Literary Award for English-language drama.

"A landmark in Canadian theatre" - The Guardian

"A modern classic in the making" - The Stage

***** - WhatsOnStage.com

Bookings will be open for these fabulous plays in the New Year. Play Five and Play Six will be announced early next year. Stay tuned!

12/12/2024

In case you missed it - the incredible Emily Wurramara has a fresh new ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album for her new release, "NARA" and she's coming to Belco Arts in March to perform it for you!! 🙌😍

Get your early bird sale tickets now: belcoarts.com.au/smiths-emily-wurramara

The ABC Music team couldn’t be prouder of Emily Wurramara and DOBBY, who both celebrated their first-ever ARIA Award wins at the 2024 ARIA Award ceremony! Congratulations to these amazing artists on such a well-deserved achievement.

12/12/2024

📢 BEN LEE JOINS THE SMITH'S@BELCO LINE-UP!

Aussie indie-pop legend, Ben Lee is joining Alex Lloyd and Emily Wurramara on the Smith's@Belco line-up for 2025! ✨

Our early bird ticket sale is on now, just in time for that perfect live music Christmas gift! 🎁

❤️‍🔥ALEX LLOYD | 22 FEB (Early Bird Tickets on sale until 31 Dec 2024)
❤️‍🔥EMILY WURRAMARA | 22 MAR (Early Bird Tickets on sale until 31 Dec 2024)
❤️‍🔥BEN LEE | 12 APR (Early Bird Tickets on sale until 22 Feb 2025)

🎟️Tickets: belcoarts.com.au/smiths-belco

11/12/2024

Thank you to all the artists who contributed to this year's incredible Kaleidoscope open exhibition!🌈⁠
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We are delighted to announce that Rudie Darby has been awarded the 2024 People's Choice Award for the gorgeous piece, "Identity". Congratulations Rudie!⁠
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Kaleidoscope is proudly supported by

11/12/2024

Congratulations to Tobias Cole and the team for a truly "Glorious!" performance on Saturday night. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate.

Saturday's performance of Glorious! was just that! (One day I may title a performance Average!) We sold out with 230 in the audience. Thanks to all the singers, players and extraordinary mask maker (and, possibly, the wearer of one of them) Marcel Cole of Theatre Marcel. Thank you also to the fabulous team at Belconnen Arts Centre led by the lovely and obliging Anni Wawrzynczak. Thank you to John Ma who did an exceptional job leading the band to play with a beautiful baroque elegance, vigour and cheekiness. Thanks to Elsa Huber who sang the potboiler Lascia ch'io pianga beautifully, earning herself a cheer (which was audible from the theatre - how unprofessional!) from her fellow choristers when she went backstage and, so she told me afterwards, tried to, but couldn't, shut the door! Thank you so much to Ayşe Göknur Shanal who agreed to coming to Canberra for my humble show and sharing her amazing voice, artistry and generous stage presence. We've known each other for over twenty years but this was our first collaboration! And thank you Helen Musa for partaking in the post performance chat which was thoroughly entertaining.
The plan for next year is to do another four Opera Salons at Smith's Alternative starting with
"The Countertenor" - an exploration of the falsettist in opera.
Until I get my website up please look out for my forthcoming Salons on this page or at Smith's Alternative website.

06/12/2024

✨️🥂Opening tonight at 6pm! 🥂✨️

Come and celebrate the opening of four exhibitions that explore our intimate, essential, and often destructive relationship with the natural world around us. You're not going to want to miss these incredible shows!

✨️ Dear Forests… | An open postcard exhibition
✨️ Oikos | Peter McLean
✨️ Grounded | Robyn Evans, Sabina Moore, Amanda Andlee Poland
✨️ Echoes of Absence | Rebecca Tapscott

The exhibitions are on display from now until 2 February 2025 (excluding our holiday shut-down period between 23 December 2024 and 14 January 2025).

Learn more and shop the collection online: belcoarts.com.au/exhibitions

Artworks featured:
"Long-nosed Bandicoot" by Rebecca Tapscott
"Oikos 27" by Peter McLean
"Symbiosis" by Elizabeth Dau
"In Shadow" Robyn Evans

05/12/2024

🎶 THIS SATURDAY! Smith's@Belco: Glorious! A Handel Celebration🎶

Explore the extraordinarily rich life of George Frederic Handel in this beautifully inventive Salon experience using narration, music, mime and masks. Join countertenor and host Tobias Cole, along with his Salon players, including acclaimed soprano Ayşe Göknur Shanal, Baroque violinist John Ma, harpsichordist Marie Searles and pantomimist Marcel Cole for Glorious! A Handel Celebration at Belco Arts.

💘Smiths@Belco: Glorious! A Handel Celebration
Tobias Cole Opera Salon

📅7pm Saturday 7 December 2024
🎟️Tickets $40 Adult / $30 Concession

Book online or at the door: belcoarts.com.au/smiths-handel

03/12/2024

Everyone is working hard behind the scenes for our new set of exhibitions! The gallery will be closed this week for installation until 10am Friday December 6. Catch us for the opening night 6pm onwards. 😉

02/12/2024

Last Thursday we celebrated the year to come with the launch of our January-June 2025 program!

We were humbled to have a crowd full of support and excitement and we even got to celebrate the history of our three fabulous Belco Arts Chairs, Julia Mulligan, Phil Nizette and Holly Johnson (pictured).

2025 is going to be an extra special year at the centre and we can't wait to share it with you.

Some highlights to look forward to in the new year:⁠
⚡️Alex Lloyd and Emily Wurramara headlining our February and March Smith's@Belco gigs (Tickets on sale now! 👀)⁠
⚡️Entries now open for our exciting new open printmaking exhibition, HABITAT⁠
⚡️15 incredible upcoming exhibitions coming your way⁠
⚡️Applications now open for our 2026 exhibition program⁠
⚡️New Resident Theatre Company, Mockingbird Theatrics' first season for 2025 on sale now, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime"⁠
⚡️Gungahlin Arts' "inhabited" exhibition is back in 2025 showcasing artwork from some of Gungahlin's finest contemporary artists⁠
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Come visit us and pick up your free copy, or explore the new program online: issuu.com/belcoarts/docs/what_s_on_brochure_jan-jun_2025_digital_

01/12/2024

Can you see the resemblance? 🤔

Don't miss Tobias Cole's epic Opera Salon celebrating the life and legacy of Handel - hitting the Belco Arts stage this Saturday!!

Smiths@Belco: Glorious! A Handel Celebration
7pm Saturday 7 December 2024 | The Theatre, Belconnen Arts Centre
Tickets $40 Adult / $30 Concession (plus booking fee)
belcoarts.com.au/smiths-handel

Tickets available online or at the door!

Smith's Alternative

Some say there's a resemblance!
https://www.belcoarts.com.au/smiths-handel/