The Bearded Tit launches its ArtMonth program with the HASHTAG WINNING! exhibition opening.

This exhibition celebrates the second placers, the almost-good-enoughs and winners of participation awards.

Included in the exhibition is Sydney art trio 110%, The CoUNTESS, Elvis Richardson, Madeleine Preston, and Tanja Bruckner & Selena Murray.

It’s a show sure to make you feel an over-enthusiastic thumbs up, so head down for a drink.

WHO: 110%, The CoUNTESS, Elvis Richardson, Madeleine Preston, Tanja Bruckner & Selena Murray.
WHAT: Exhibition Opening
WHERE: The Bearded Tit
WHEN: 6pm
HOW MUCH: FREE. More info here

Sexting in the time of Virginia Woolf, 1950’s dinner parties and the ultimate in a lesbian double feature!

Written by emerging playwright Zoe Brinnand and directed by Lucy Hotchin, these two plays are sure to be a lot of fun, and are one of the Mardi Gras program’s declared highlights.

WHO: Zoe Brinnand and Lucy Hotchin.
WHAT: Two plays in one.
WHERE: The Old Fitz Theatre
WHEN: 6pm
HOW MUCH: $25 – ticket info here

The Bankstown Poetry Slam is a live spoken word competition where the audience is the judge!

Featuring Ana Paz and local talent. Arrive between 6:30pm and 7pm and sign up for the opportunity to perform your own poem!

WHO: Featuring Ana Paz and local talent.
WHAT: Spoken word competition.
WHERE: Bankstown Arts Centre
WHEN: 6:30 pm
HOW MUCH: Free

With the full moon shining bright in Sydney tonight, trot on down to the Sydney Observatory to get a good look.

Book in to the Dreamtime Astronomy to hear Indigenous sky stories told by Aboriginal Astronomy guides, learn how to find south using the Southern Cross and see the emu in the sky.

WHAT:  Dreamtime Astronomy – a planetarium and stargazing experience!
WHERE: Sydney Observatory
WHEN: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
HOW MUCH: $50 family, $18 adult, $12 child.

ALASKA Projects opens a new round of exhibitions in their Kings Cross carpark space.

Featuring new work by Julie Bayvka and Angela Garrick, and a fresh collaboration between emerging artist Harrison Witsey and Joe Pol of the Gang of She.

WHO: Angela Garrick, Julie Bayvka, Joe Pol & Harrison Witsey
WHAT: Exhibition Opening
WHERE: Alaska Projects
WHEN: 6pm
HOW MUCH: FREE. More info here

Every Wednesday night, the Art Gallery of NSW is open until 10pm with tours running from 7:15pm. This week there’ll be an Artist talk by Judy Watson discussing her ethereal work in the current exhibition When Silence Falls.

–When silence falls are works by artists from across the globe who respond to the inherent violence of often unacknowledged events – massacres, ethnic cleansing, cultural displacement, political force – and provide a voice for those who have been silence. This week, Judy Watson, leading Australian printmaker, painter and installation artist, will be speaking and in the following weeks at Art After Hours, Tony Albert and Ben Quilty will be speaking. Hear three of the artists in the exhibition talk about their work and how it responds to these dark histories.

WHO: Judy Watson
WHAT: Artist Talk
WHERE: AGNSW
WHEN: 5:30pm
HOW MUCH: Free

WHO: Funny people!!!
WHAT: Mug and Kettle Open Mic Comedy Night
WHERE: Glebe Record Crate
WHEN: 7pm – comics sign up at 6pm
HOW MUCH: Free

Sydney’s biggest open mic comedy night (named after co-founders Daniel Muggleton and Sam Kettler) is adding a New York twist to the way they do things. Instead of locking in artists months in advance, comedians can sign-up on the night for a Mug and Kettle show. It means anyone can pop in to test new material, or just get some stage time. All levels of comic, and first-timers, are welcome and audiences never quite know what they’re going to get. It’s comedy in its rawest form. 

Alterity is a group exhibition co-curated by Jessica Johnson and Margaret Ross, As a continuation of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative’s ongoing commitment to the black LGBTQI community. It is a space for First Nations artists to creatively explore subjects of self-expression and unified otherness.

Line up of talented artists tonight of over 25 artists – too many to name.

Opening night will feature performances by Local Artists.

WHO: Several First Nations artists
WHAT: Alternity – Mardi Gras Exhibition
WHERE: Boomalli Aboriginal Art Gallery
WHEN: 6:30pm
HOW MUCH: Free

Catherine Clayton-Smith reveals a new body of work this Thursday which ‘bears the bruises of it’s making’.

With aesthetic references to post-internet art and suggestions of landscape painting, Clayton-Smith’s work is visually seductive and texturally interesting.

Obstacle Course should be a really great exhibition, especially if you have an interest in contemporary painting.

WHO: Catherine Clayton-Smith
WHAT: Exhibition Opening
WHERE: Studio W
WHEN: 6pm
HOW MUCH: FREE. More info here

Two of Sydney’s strongest queer institutions Heaps Gay and The Bearded Tit join forces to bring a program of performances and parties throughout the Mardi Gras season.

They kick off on the 26th with tunes from Lorna Clarkson, Charlie Villas, and performances from Lillian Starr and Deep Sea Astronauts.

WHO: Lorna Clarkson, Charlie Villas, Lillian Starr, Deep Sea Astronauts.
WHAT: Performances and Party.
WHERE: The Captain Cook Hotel
WHEN: 6-10pm
HOW MUCH: FREE. More info here

MCA ARTBAR ‘The Fling Before the Ring’ curated by Giselle Stanborough

‘The Fling Before The Ring’ sees Giselle Stanborough curate an outrageously loose Hens Party looking at the expectations of the heterosexual woman and the ways in which society ‘allows’ women to go wild within certain and defined lines. Think themed cocktails, freakshakes, mani-pedis and dance workshops to let off some steam after the working week ladies & gents!

WHAT: Performances and Party.
WHERE: The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
WHEN: 7-11pm
HOW MUCH: Get tickets here

Deadly Funny is a national showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander comedians in the lead up to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Unearthing and recognizing bright and bold new talent in regions around the country Deadly Funny runs workshops (facilitated by professional comedians) to expand and develop performance skills – and handpick performers to be a part of the National Showcase in April each year during the Comedy Festival.

WHAT: Comedy and workshops.
WHERE: The Redfern Community Centre
WHEN: 4 – 8:30pm
HOW MUCH: FREE. Reserve tickets here

The creative wonderland that is Secret Garden Festival returns! For one weekend only!

On the 26th and 27th 16 handcrafted worlds come to life with artists, musicians, activities, a lot of colour and a lot of vibrant life.

There’s some amazing things happening and some big names involved, but as the general theme of the festival is secret, you just have to find out when you get there!

WHO: Secret Garden Festival
WHAT: Music, Art and Culture Festival.
WHERE: Brownlow Hill Farm (Camden)
WHEN: 26th-27th of February.
HOW MUCH: Ticket info here

The Queer Provocations Festival is a 2 day event which includes performances, panels, workshops, screenings and parties surrounding issues which face a range of queer identifying people in 2016.

Some interesting ideas being discussed include Queer animal(ities), Pinkwashing, Decolonising Queer and Paranoid Ecologies

WHO: Queer Provocations
WHAT: Discussions, Performances, Party.
WHERE: The Red Rattler
WHEN: 27th-28th February
HOW MUCH: Ticket info here