In an ongoing series of lectures exploring photography’s cultural positioning, UTS Photography presents award-winning photographer and video artist Heath Franco.

WHAT: Talk
WHEN: 6–7.30pm
WHERE: Room 006, Level 4, UTS Tower, Ultimo
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

Meaning ‘from within’ in Latin – ‘ab [intra]’ is Bonachela’s latest collaboration with composer Nick Wales and opening Sydney Dance Company’s 2018 season. ‘ab [intra]’ is a dynamic work of exquisite athleticism, exposing the shared instincts that drive us apart and bring us back together.

WHAT: Dance performance
WHEN: May 14th-26th
WHERE: Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay
HOW MUCH: $20-$90– more details here.

Head On Photo Festival is Australia’s largest photography festival, featuring over 700 artists across exhibitions, talks, workshops, and more. With around 60 exhibitions on display in a variety of venues across the city, be sure to check out the 2018 program.

WHAT: Photography exhibition
WHEN: May 5th-28th
WHERE: Various locations
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

UNSW’s Sound, Energies and Environments group has curated the fifth in a series of bi-monthly, performance-focused events showcasing a diverse range of artists working with and around sound. #5 features Chun Yin Rainbow Chan, mrrmmmmrrr, and Mr Plebatron.

WHAT: Performance
WHEN: 6-9pm
WHERE: Black Box Theatre, UNSW Art & Design, Paddington
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

In ‘Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.’ writer Alice Birch tears apart the language, structures, and ideas that keep feminism and women trapped inside a patriarchal system, and presents a rallying cry for a new feminism. Packed with intelligence, humour and wrenching social commentary, this is the second iteration after a sold-out season in Melbourne.

WHAT: Theatre
WHEN: May 15th-19th
WHERE: Old 505 Theatre, Newtown
HOW MUCH: $40 – more details here.

Want to explore the history of the Biennale of Sydney? Join special guests and staff and contribute to the archival display with questions and memories. This week’s guest is Jonathan Jones – A member of the Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi nations of south-east Australia who works across a range of mediums to realise site-specific installations and interventions that explore Indigenous practices, relationships and ideas.

WHAT: Exhibition/talk
WHEN: 6–8pm
WHERE: Art Gallery of New South Wales, CBD
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

Straight from the Musee D’Orsay, join Alliance Francaise Sydney for a talk on the “Colours of Impressionism” exhibition; an exceptional and important body of work from the Musée d’Orsay, including many of the Musée’s most treasured works from Monet, Manet, Renoir, Pissarro, Cezanne.

WHAT: Talk
WHEN: 6:30–8:30pm
WHERE: Alliance Française de Sydney, CBD
HOW MUCH: Free but bookings essential! More details here.

David Burns is a PhD candidate at Goldsmiths, University of London, and his research intersects architecture, photography and politics. This lecture will examine the nuclear weapons tests conducted by the UK in South Australia in relation to forms of political, juridical, and extraterritorial production, and argue that these test fields become proto-photographic, their histories inscribed with light and overlaid with human technology.

WHAT: Talk
WHEN:  6–8pm
WHERE: UNSW Art & Design, Paddington.
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

Emma Finneran’s practice is unique in its focus and utilisation of the traditionally discarded dropsheet. She says of her work: “I am motivated by the opportunity to re-animate drop sheets into what I consider their natural conclusions: paintings. I am eternally on the hunt for pre-loved drop sheets.”  Her paintings skim on an edge of concealment – what line is hers and what line was already there? Come to Ideas Platform and find out.

WHAT: Exhibition opening
WHEN: 6–8pm
WHERE: Artspace Sydney, Woolloomooloo.
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

Sashaying to the mystic realm, realigning your chakras and staring deeply at your crystal balls, the Psychic Spectacular is set to be their best show yet. And of course there will be lip-syncing, dancing, improv and a percentage of each ticket will go towards supporting our charitable partners ACON who do fantastic work with HIV prevention, education and community outreach.

WHAT: Comedy

WHEN: 7pm

WHERE: The Factory Theatre, Marrickville

HOW MUCH: $15 (but use discount code ‘dungeon’ to get 20% off!). More info here.

Come down to Alaska Projects and catch the opening of two exhibitions: Robert Brain ‘Wildflower, Wanted and Afire’ and Teo Treloar & Matthew Allen’s ‘Fieldwork’. Robert Brain’s works, curated by Bradley Vincent, will feature art spanning several decades of his career. ‘Wildflower, Wanted and Afire’ brings together a suite of tapestries that mine classical and religious iconography, queer imagery, and the artists personal biography to create contemporary and geographically local tableauxs.

WHAT: Exhibition opening
WHEN: 6–8pm
WHERE: Alaska Projects, Elizabeth Bay.
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

At the heart of the Sydney Jewish Museum is a collection of 9,000 artefacts which shapes and informs exhibitions, research and education programs. Only a small fraction of this material is on display in permanent exhibitions. To mark the Museum’s 25th anniversary and celebrate 25 years of collecting, the Curators have gone behind-the-scenes, delved into the archives to showcase some never-before-seen quirky, precious and curious objects, each with a unique story to tell.

WHAT: Exhibition
WHEN: 10am – 3pm
WHERE: Sydney Jewish Museum, Darlinghurst
HOW MUCH? Free! More details here.

For the first time, Mercedes-Benz is hosting a Fashion ‘Weekend Edition’. Apart from the traditional runway shows, you can also choose to explore new ideas and tap into endless inspiration through the Seminar Series — featuring top editors, style icons, illustrators, designers and beauty experts.

WHAT: Runway shows & seminars
WHEN: May 19th & 20th
WHERE: Carriageworks, Eveleigh.
HOW MUCH: $50 per show – more details here.

Parramatta Artists Studios continues to lead the way for the next generation of movers and makers, with day of practical talks for contemporary artists. Hear insider knowledge directly from artists and arts workers, and see installations by artists Tom Blake, Rebecca Gallo and Lisa Sammut.

WHAT: Talks
WHEN: 10am-7pm
WHERE: Parramatta Artists Studios, Parramatta.
HOW MUCH: Free but bookings essential! More details here.

The Blake Prize is widely respected for attracting artists from a diverse range of backgrounds and ages – with finalists range from leading contemporary practitioners to emerging and self-taught artists. From 769 entries, 80 finalists were selected for final judging and exhibition.

WHAT: Exhibition
WHEN: May 19th – July 1st
WHERE: Casula Powerhouse, Casula.
HOW MUCH: Free! More details here.

Award-winning comedian Yianni Agisilaou takes a light-hearted look at the upcoming apocalypse. Nominated for the Comedy Award 2015 & 2017 at Perth Fringe World and seen on ABC TV’s Comedy Next Gen, Yianni presents his latest solo show about artificial intelligence. It’s coming, and it’s going to take over our phones, then our jobs, and eventually our lives.

WHAT: Comedy
WHEN: 8:30pm
WHERE: Enmore Theatre, Enmore
HOW MUCH: $25 – more details here.