Top 10 things to do around the region

Published: 20 Jun 2022

Keep the kids busy with art, music and creativity at Artspace Mackay this week, take a free guided walk through the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens, or enjoy the awe-inspiring sounds of tenor Paul Ettore Tabone with Morning Melodies at the MECC.

1) BMA Kidspace

Tuesday, June 21, 10am to 2pm
Artspace Mackay
This free and ever popular toddler’s program gives children under five a chance to explore and have fun with art in a climate of co-operative learning. Drop-in anytime between 10am and 2pm (live children's music from 11.30am to 12.15pm) and bring your children along for a fun day of art-making, singing and dancing. Proudly presented by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. Visit Artspace Mackay for more information.

2) Baby Bounce

Thursday, June 23, 10.30am to 11am
Gordon White Library
Baby Bounce promotes language development in babies from birth to walking. The session features nursery rhymes, finger plays and songs. It's never too early to talk, read and tell stories with your child. Please bring a small blanket for your child as we are unable to provide shared resources currently. Register your interest.

3) Bass Guitar Step One

Thursday, June 23, 3.40pm to 4.40pm
Dudley Denny City Library
Learn how to lay down a funky groove on the bass guitar. No experience required and instruments are provided. This event is for ages 15 and above. Please allow one hour for your bass session. Book your place today.

4) Anime Manga Club

Thursday, June 23, 5.30pm to 7pm
Gordon White Library

Come on out anime and manga fans! A place to share your favourite story ideas, drawings and all things Japanese. This program is for young adults aged 12 to 18 years. Make a booking!

5) Guided Walks in the Gardens

Friday, June 24, 10am to 11am
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Discover the gardens with a free guided tour! Find out what's flowering, local wildlife and the history of the gardens. Bookings are essential, group bookings are welcome. To book a spot, or find out more, phone the gardens on 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au

6) Morning Melodies 2022 – Paul Ettore Tabone sings Golden Days

Friday, June 24 from 11am
MECC Plenary Halls
Tenor Paul Ettore Tabone returns home for a regional Queensland tour. Golden Days is a musical journey of the best songs from movies to musicals throughout the decades. This show has it all and will certainly be a wonderful trip down memory lane. Book tickets.

7) Sarina Art Gallery

Until Friday, June 24, 10am to 3.30pm
Sarina Art Gallery, Field of Dreams Parklands
Sarina Art Gallery’s new exhibition is now on display, showcasing works of featured artists Susan Day, Sylvia Pucci, Barbara Simpson, Tia Gabriellah, Lenore Chapple, Julie Anderson and Brigitte Zimmermann. Entry is free. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

8) Clothes Swap

Saturday, June 25, 9am to 1.30pm
Gordon White Library

Drop five clean adult clothing items off between 11am and 5.30pm on Friday, June 24 and receive up to five swap tokens in return. Make a booking and bring your tokens Saturday, June 25, to browse the racks and leave with something new, to spice up your closet. This event supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and Production.

9) Collage, Stamp and Draw

Saturday, June 25 to Sunday, July 10
Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 3pm
Workshop Room, Artspace Mackay
A free school holiday activity is starting this weekend involving the art of mixed media. Inspired by the art and exhibition ‘Looking for Paradise’ by New South Wales artist, Nathalie Hartog-Gautier, this activity gives visitors of all ages and abilities an opportunity to combine collage, drawing and letter stamping techniques by adding to a wonderful collaborative paper wall in our Artspace workshop room. Parental supervision for children is essential. Stay for a few minutes or a few hours, no bookings necessary.

10) Botanica 2022 - 'Where a Plant Begins' by Mackay's Botanical Art Interest Group (BAIG)

Until Sunday, June 26
Lagoons Gallery, Botanic Gardens Cafe

It’s your last chance to catch this incredible exhibition! Flowers, pollination, seeds, germination, seedlings using photosynthesis have allowed the botanical artists to focus on a particular aspect of ‘Where a Plant Begins’ or they have portrayed the entire life cycle of a plant complete with flowers, seeds and features of their chosen plants. Botanical art combines detail, accuracy, and artistry, with many hours needed for each graphite drawing, pastel drawing, watercolour or acrylic painting. More information.

Reminders:

Mackay Festival of Arts

Thursday, June 30 to Saturday, August 6
Various locations and times
Mackay Regional Council’s annual Mackay Festival of Arts program takes place across the month of July each year, with a suite of events activating various locations in the Mackay region, including the highly anticipated Wisely Wine & Food Day. See the full program here.

Three exhibitions opening

Friday, July 1, 6pm
Foundation Gallery, Artspace Mackay
Join us to celebrate the opening of three exciting new exhibitions at Artspace Mackay. Material Sound is a multi-form exhibition of art and sound installations constructed from everyday materials. Mackay artist Shelley Engwirda examines the success and failures of the women's movement with her latest exhibition We Rise. And Nathalie Hartog-Gautier's exhibition Looking for Paradise brings refugee experiences and the treatment of asylum seekers in Australia to the fore via her artist's books and collaborative digital animation. Book your free tickets now using the Eventbrite App, or online at www.artspacemackay.eventbrite.com