Upcoming community events
Defending the Arts (ACT)
ADF Creative Arts Association - Defending the Arts Exhibition
11-15 March 2025
Showcasing the artistic talent of Australian Defence Force (ADF) Members
Opening Night 11 March: 6PM
Performing Arts Night 14 March: 6PM
Jarryd Goundrey Comedy (VIC)
Jarryd Goundrey, Ginny Hollands & Zach Riley All Downhill From Here
Three comics for the price of one!
All Downhill From Here showcases three of Australia's premier comedians.
Jarryd Goundrey
Jarryd has amassed over 22 million views online for his storytelling and military humour, has a top 200 podcast and is a regular at all the comedy clubs across Australia.
His show Incoming sold out its run at the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and his show Good Lord! sold out Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2023.
Jarryd has supported Jimeoin, Dave Hughes, Kitty Flanagan, Joel Creasey, Tom Ballard, Dave O'Neil, Damian Power, Mark Normand and many more.
Ginny Hollands
Ginny Hollands was born blind and finds it pretty funny. Whether crashing bikes or cheating on eye exams, she’ll try anything once – even if it kills her. Gleefully cynical and self-deprecating, she’s taken this perspective to comedy stages across Australia, including to the RAW Comedy National Final in 2023. Ginny Hollands has a bright vision for the future – it’s just a shame she can’t see.
'Darkly funny.' SBS
'An appealing mix of being cheerful yet sardonic.' Chortle (UK)
Zach Riley
Zach Riley is a Melbourne based stand-up comedian, who is best known for his work at an office job he hates but is contractually obligated to attend.
A 2023 RAW Comedy Semi Finalist, Riley performs nightly across Melbourne, with his warm energy and cheeky disposition giving him an infectious stage presence.
"Riley has a wonderful ability to reflect on poignant moments and find humour even in the darkest corners of life, allowing him to captivate young and old audiences alike."
Come see what all the fuss is about.
Suitable for audiences 15+
Book here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/all-downhill-from-here#
ANZAC Memorial Artist In Residence (NSW)
VETERAN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/about/veteran-artist-residence
The Anzac Memorial Veteran Artist in Residence program offers contemporary veterans with established creative practices the opportunity to engage with the Memorial and the broader community through an artwork or project.
The guest veteran artist (or group) will have a unique chance to explore the Memorial's architecture, history and artefacts as part of a creative project that reflects on and interprets Australian military experience, the Anzac Memorial and/or memorialisation.
There is a small grant of $5,000 attached to the Residency to assist a guest veteran artist (or group) to develop their work.
Applications close on Friday 27 October 2023 at 5pm.
Program background
In 1934, the Memorial building was erected for the use, benefit, rest or recreation of sailors, soldiers and nurses returned from the Great War. Keeping with this spirit, the Memorial today runs several programs for the benefit of current veterans while connecting them to the history of Australia’s servicemen and servicewomen.
Launched in 2019, the Veteran Artist in Residence Program is one such program for the benefit of current veterans while also recognising the strong historic connection between art and military experience.
The use of art to depict and record Australia’s involvement in war and its impact has resulted in a vast collection of trench art, paintings, music and poetry. Art has also been an important tool in the rehabilitation and recovery of veterans that have been affected through their military career, particularly during active service.
In 2022, the program was awarded the Museums and Galleries NSW IMAGinE Award for Innovation and Resilience with a budget between $10,001 and $100,000.
Who is eligible?
The program is open to creative practitioners who have served in the Australian Defence Force and preference may be given to applicants from New South Wales. Applicants must be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status in Australia.
There are no educational pre-requisites. However, applicants should have considerable experience as a maker/creator and be able to demonstrate a capacity to communicate their artwork to a general audience, including children, if there is an exhibition element.
The applicant must be able to spend at least a portion of the program in residence on-site at the Anzac Memorial, located in Sydney prior to 30 June 2024.
How to apply
Submit your expression of interest to the program through the online application form (link below). The online application will require you to submit:
A summary of your interest in the residency, as well as expected outcomes
A project proposal that sets out what project/s you would undertake during the residency
A brief budget outline setting out any material and other costs
A proposal for how the project would engage with the veteran community and broader public
Samples of your previous work, referees and a CV
Before starting your application, we recommend you read the frequently asked questions below, which provide details on eligibility, residency requirements and project scope.
Applications close on 17 September 2023 at 11.59pm.
Frequently asked questions
All applicants should consult our frequently asked questions page for information on the residency terms, eligibility and application process.
Point & Shoot - Australian Veteran Photography Exhibition (QLD)
Point & Shoot
Australian Veteran Photography Exhibition
Showcasing career imagery and accompanying stories from Australian veterans, this exhibition brings a voice to the unique stories of all serving personnel and provides a rare glimpse into the life and experiences of fellow Australians who have served their country.
Now in its fourth year, Point & Shoot Veterans Photographic Exhibition launched onto the national stage in 2022.
Covering military service from post World War II onwards, Point & Shoot commemorates a range of modern conflicts, peace operations and service. The exhibition features a collection of veteran imagery taken within Australia or on overseas operations accompanied by the veterans personal account of the image.
Point & Shoot is the concept of Point Assist founder Mark Direen, a former Infantry and Special Forces soldier with over 25 years military service including 6 overseas deployments.
Mark’s own experiences as a soldier were the impetus for this project. Operating in remote, high threat environments is both physically and mentally demanding. It was behind the lens of a camera, capturing both the ordinary and extraordinary experiences as a combat soldier he found stillness and meaning. Looking back at a plethora of images post service, Mark then began to wonder, maybe others do this too and so the concept began.
The purpose of the Point & Shoot exhibition is not to display perfectly captured photos from professional photographers. But rather, to share some of those moments frozen in time that those who serve our nation thought were worth remembering.
We invite all Australian veterans to submit an image. Everyone has a story and we encourage you to share yours.
2023 Exhibition Details:
Brisbane | 13-15 Oct | Vacant Assembly
Townsville | 20-22 Oct | Venue TBA
Proudly Sponsored By: Point Assist & RSL Queensland
WARNING: This website contains images that may be confronting or disturbing for some viewers.
If you need to talk to someone 24/7 help is available.
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Lifeline: 13 11 14
Hawthorn RSL Comedy Night (VIC)
Comedy Night!
Your Comedians.
Gavin Semple, Australia's Got Talent - semi-finalist and touring comedian. He will make fun of his appearance and extreme autism.
Matt O'Neil, Scottish comedian and Comics Lounge regular Matt O'Neil will delight you with his dark take on life and his beautiful voice.
Jarryd Goundrey, Former 2RAR Mortar man (don't hold that against him) . National Touring comedian.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hawthorn-rsl-comedy-night-tickets-690588507817
Deborah O’Toole: Matters of the Heart Cabaret (ACT)
DEBORAH O’TOOLE: MATTERS OF THE HEART CABARET
WHEN: Saturday 5 August, 7:30 – 8:30 pm (bar open from 6:30 pm)
COST: $38 adult, $35 concession
BOOKINGS: Click here to purchase tickets to Matters of the Heart
A SHOW ABOUT LOVE – WITH A CLICHE-FREE GUARANTEE
From body image and babies to relationship baggage, Matters Of The Heart takes a deep dive into this multi-faceted topic. Keeping it cliche-free as promised, Deborah O’Toole covers it all with warmth, humour and sublime vocal performances. For the first time in her career, Deborah also weaves live digital art into the show for an interactive, multi-art experience leaving audiences captivated and feeling all the feels.
…Loved it. Just stunning, her voice is beautiful, and the artwork was cool. I liked the audience interaction with artwork as well.
Audience member, opening night of Matters of the Heart, Townsville, 2023
Expect a completely unique interactive multi-art experience, woven throughout a highly polished vocal act. Take an emotional journey from heart-breaking to hilarious and leave feeling uplifted and joyous! Featuring powerful, yet emotionally touching vocals masterfully accompanied by Jake Bristow on grand piano, Deborah O’Toole’s Matters of the Heart is raw and vulnerable, yet humorous and surprising.
…it’s incredible. She brings an amazing mixture and balance of humour as well as heart to everything she does. …Singing is enough, but she just always makes it so entertaining.
Audience member, opening night of Matters of the Heart, Townsville, 2023
Steering clear of cliche lovey-dovey romantic, the music covers Billy Joel to Burt Bacharach, from Joni Mitchell to U2, with some music theatre tunes thrown in. The songs speak about the complicated, confusing and confronting aspects of relationship love seldom expressed on stage. Conversely, O’Toole lightens the mood with her tongue-in-cheek address of materialism, passions and pursuits with her “Fame and Fortune” medley and Alma Cogan’s “I Love To Sing”.
While exploring the various themes of love through song, O’Toole’s unique cabaret offers an element of surprise through the incorporation of live digital art, inviting interaction from the audience who help devise the final artwork.
www.tuggeranongarts.com/events/deb-otoole-matters-of-the-heart
Defending the Arts (Adelaide)
Defending the Arts is an exhibition by serving Australian Defence Force members. This exhibition will incorporate visual art, performance, technology and research. Our work seeks to connect military life with creativity, to find meaning in military service and to represent the interests of modern defence force members.
Presented by:
Australian Defence Force Creative Arts Association
The Australian Defence Force Creative Arts Association is a new group for serving ADF members who practice a form of visual or performing arts. ADFCAA promotes collaboration and creative thinking within the ADF; and challenges, encourages and connects members through exhibitions and performances with Australian artists and arts organisations.
For more information, please email adf.creative@defence.gov.au
For each a road - FEAR (Melb)
For each a road exhibition features contemporary veteran artists storytelling through painting, photography, print and sculpture.
In the City Library Gallery they share stories from behind their work, along with which books which have recently inspired, educated or enter-tained them along their unique personal journeys.
Launch: Thursday 24 November, 6pm to 7.30pm.
First Casualty (Bris)
By Christopher Johnston
Directed by Lee Lewis
Afghanistan 2011. Our Australian Soldiers. A war no-one wins.
See - Queensland Theatre link below for show times
Point and Shoot (Canberra / Online)
Point & Shoot is the concept of Point Assist founder and veteran artist Mark Direen, a former Infantry and Special Forces soldier with over 25 years military service including 6 overseas deployments.
The purpose of the Point & Shoot exhibition is not to display perfectly captured photos from professional photographers. But rather, to share some of those moments frozen in time that those who serve our nation thought were worth remembering.
For more information: Point & Shoot – Australian Veterans Photography Expo
Defending the Arts (Adel)
Defending the Arts: Contemporary works by members of the Australian Defence Force
Point and Shoot (Tasmania)
Tasmanian Veteran Photography Expo 2021
Burnie: 4th November 2021
Launceston: 5th November 2021
Hobart: 6-7th November 2021
https://www.pointassist.com.au/point--shoot.html
Art in Wartime (Brisbane)
Hear stories of the ways art was used for the benefit of individual soldiers and defence forces throughout the First and Second World Wars.