Events You Need to Know About this May 2019
All the top events across Australia in May 2019.
VIC
Terracotta Warriors and Cai Guo-Qiang
24 May-13 October | National Gallery of Victoria
Reflecting the past, present and future of Chinese art and culture, this dual exhibition features new work from contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang alongside eight ancient terracotta warrior sculptures discovered in 1974.
Yothu Yindi & the Treaty Project
4 May | Hamer Hall, Melbourne
Don’t miss out on seeing the ARIA Hall of Fame inductees play this one-off concert, with some of the group’s founding members joined onstage by the next generation of Indigenous musicians.
Rigoletto
11-29 May | Arts Centre, Melbourne
Opera Australia’s Melbourne season kicks off with Verdi’s timeless hit, featuring the aria La Donna é Mobile, performed on a revolving set with stunning stage design and costumes.
Grape Escape Grampians
4-5 May | Halls Gap
Soak up the beautiful Grampians vistas with a glass of vino in hand as Halls Gap welcomes the crowds for this popular annual wine, food and music festival.
Great Ocean Road Running Festival
18-19 May | Apollo Bay and Lorne
Take in the majestic scenery along the Great Ocean Road at this challenging two-day event. Competitors can test their stamina in the 60-kilometre ultramarathon or enjoy a leisurely walk of five or 10 kilometres, suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
NSW
Vivid
24 May-15 June | Various venues, Sydney
Luminous projections transform the city’s skyline as the famed festival of light returns for its 11th year with a bumper program of international music, talks and art.
Human Nature
10-11 May | ICC Sydney
Continuing their 30th-anniversary Little More Love tour, the Aussie quartet is back home to perform tracks from their latest album, Romance of the Jukebox.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
17-18 May | Various venues, Sydney
The fashion pack will flock to catch new resort collections from global and domestic labels. Grab tickets to the Weekend Edition for style sessions, seminars and runway shows, including the Opening Night Showcase featuring local talent Aje.
Meatstock
4-5 May | Sydney Showground
Talent from the United States and Down Under hit the showground for a weekend of barbecue, craft beer and live music. A King of the Que will be crowned and go on to represent Australia at the World Steak Championships in Texas.
The National
Until 23 June | Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Art Gallery of NSW; Carriageworks
June marks your last chance to witness the future of Australian art, as the MCA, AGNSW and Carriageworks exhibit works by established and emerging artists working in a range of mediums.
ACT
Power & Imagination
Until 19 May | National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Conceptual art takes centrestage in this mind-bending exhibition, which includes a Yoko Ono piece entitled A Box of Smile.
The Dressmaker
Until 18 August | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Canberra
Marion Boyce’s gorgeous costumes from 2015 Australian film The Dressmaker are on display at the NFSA, including the 1950s designer looks worn by star Kate Winslet.
SA
Dr Jane Goodall
14 May | Adelaide Convention Centre
Almost 60 years since she first arrived in Gombe, Tanzania, primatologist Dr Jane Goodall visits Adelaide as part of her nationwide lecture tour, Rewind the Future.
Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend
17-19 May | Various venues, Clare Valley
Make the journey to Clare Valley for the 35th Gourmet Weekend and meet the passionate producers and winemakers who live and work in this pretty region.
WA
Ord Valley Muster
17-26 May | Kununurra
The Muster is back for another year with a list of must-dos including digging for diamonds in a makeshift pit, catching the talent at Muster Idol and settling in for Waringarri Corroboree under the stars.
Amy Shark
3-4 May | Fremantle Arts Centre
Australian songstress Amy Shark is heading to Fremantle on her national tour before stops in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in support of Love Monster, her 2018 ARIA Album of the Year.
QLD
Blues on Broadbeach
16-19 May | Various venues, Broadbeach
One of the biggest free music festivals in the nation is back with acts from Australia, America and the United Kingdom performing on the Gold Coast.
Noosa Food and Wine Festival
16-20 May | Various venues, Noosa
Championing the best food and wine from the Noosa region, this year’s event features bites by chefs such as Neil Perry and Guy Stanaway, a beachfront brunch and a dinner with Benoît Gouez, the cellarmaster at Moët & Chandon.
Brisbane Art Design 2019
10-26 May | Various venues, Brisbane
Talented local artists take over the Queensland capital – setting up at 25 locations throughout the city – with everything from robotics and performance art to open studios and art tours.
NT
Northern Territory Travelling Film Festival
11, 18, 25 May | Various locations
Striking natural landscapes will be transformed into outdoor cinemas as this festival rolls across the Territory. See flicks such as Top End Wedding, documentary The Song Keepers and Lil Bois, the first short film in the traditional language of Ngandi.
Taste of Kakadu
10-19 May | Kakadu National Park
Featuring cooking demonstrations by traditional owners, guided bushwalks and local talks about hunting and gathering, this annual get-together celebrates 65,000 years of Indigenous cuisine.
TAS
Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival
10-12 May; 16-19 May | Hobart; Launceston
Screening 32 movies and docos from 16 countries, BOFA returns to Tasmania over two long weekends full of film, food and wine.
Maximus Musicus visits the Orchestra
23 May | Federation Concert Hall, Hobart
Follow a mischievous mouse named Maximus as he’s introduced to the world of orchestral music, with narration, big-screen projections and performances of classic symphonies.
Dirty Paper
Until 14 July | Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart
This unique exhibition spotlights work by five Tasmanian artists who have created and curated pieces in response to TMAG’s eclectic collection.
