Community Billboard 31st of August to the 6th of September

With Sydney "Art Week" on from Monday the 7th to Sunday the 13th of September, it is a good time of year for the "Sydney Design Festival". Having started in 1997 the annual event is back for its 19th year making it one of the world’s longest running design festivals.

This year’s program brings together an exciting mix of design disciplines which are coupled into architecture & interior, product & maker, fashion & jewellery and digital & graphic.

The purpose of "Sydney Design" has always been about promoting a critical understanding of design in the way it impacts everyday life and culture.

It is your chance to see digitally fabricated models, interactive prototypes and robotic innovations created by students, staff and researchers from the university of Sydney. There will also be fun workshops with contemporary jeweller Melinda Young showing how to create coil woven earrings, pendants and brooches.

With so many individual events happening throughout the nine day festival there is sure to be something that will interest you in all aspects of design, modern, futuristic or traditional.

When: 5th to the 13th September.

Where: Main venue, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, 2007.

Cost: Most events Free.

Back in May we told you about the very popular "Mothers' Day Classic" charity fun run, well this time of year Fathers' Day offers the same chance.

The "IMF Fathers Day Warrior Fun Run" is a community event designed to celebrate families, fathers and great role models in our lives. The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) is a not-for-profit charity, that was established in 2009 by world champion marathon runner, Robert de Castella and uses running to change lives, to drive social change, create inspirational leaders and provide ongoing education, training, and career pathways for Indigenous Australians around the country.

The IMF now operates in remote and isolated communities, regional towns and major cities.
For a fun day out with traditional Indigenous music and entertainment, it will be great atmosphere as participants will also be invited to wear some Indigenous themed face paint markings (paint provided). This special event offers a 5km and 10km run/walk.

When: Sunday 6th September.

Where: Lang Road, Centennial Park, 2021.

Cost: All donations welcome.

Another great night of entertainment down in one of our proud sponsors' venues is going to be a stop off of Juliana Areia's Australian tour before she makes her way on to Europe.

Juliana Areias, or often referred to as "The Bossa Nova Baby" is a well known singer within the world music and jazz scene as she has toured internationally and also recorded six albums with Márcio Catunda. Originally from Brazil but has moved to Perth, Areias has previously performed nationally, giving performances at the Sydney Opera House and Perth International Jazz Festival.

Bossa Nova Baby is her nickname and now also the title of her first original album which she will be promoting on this tour. She says that the "Bossa Nova Baby" album is a contemporary dialogue between bossa nova and other music styles such as jazz, samba, choro, tango, funk and pop.

Her band features some of Perth’s top jazz musicians bringing a mix of piano, guitar, drums, sax, flute, and bass plus Sydney’s special guest, trombonist Dave Panichi.

A performance sure to be filled with passion and talent, as Juliana Areias brings you her first original album with that lovely Brazilian sound.

When: Wednesday 9th September, 8:30pm - 11:00pm.

Where: Foundry616, 616 Harris Street, 2007.

Cost: $29.50

Next Thursday the 10th of September is World Suicide Prevention Day. If you would like to take part in creating awareness for this cause then there will be a great event happening in Sydney to raise funds for "Suicide Prevention Australia", "Lifeline Australia" and also to help spread the joy of life.

Concert for Life will bring some of Sydney’s finest classical musicians together for a lovely night of music. Some of the artists on the night are Diana Doherty who is one of the world’s most admired oboists, having performed as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Australian symphony orchestras and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, you will also have conductor, viola player and educator Roger Benedict performing on the night.
Mr Benedict has conducted concerts at the Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall and for special events, he has also released three CDs on the Melba label: Volupté, Arcadia Lost and Voices in the Wilderness.

With Suicide being the biggest cause of death for people aged 15-45, this event is a great way to raise funds for much needed research and education programs.

When: Thursday 10th September, 7:30pm.

Where: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, 2000.

Cost: Premium: $125.00 A reserve $85 B reserve $65.

If you like taking a stroll in the evenings, then an event happening in the Eastern Suburbs for three nights only will make that walk a lot more interesting. This event is sure to open your eyes and make you glad you went for an evening stroll.

Nox Night Sculpture Walk is a sculpture walk around the Randwick Environment Park. It is a chance to experience the natural environment like never before, as artists from UNSW art & design transform the park and wetland into an illuminated outdoor art gallery.

There will be 34 artworks installed around the park to form a leisurely 1.5km loop walk, starting and ending at the Randwick Community Centre, and so you're not puzzled by what you're looking at, the artists will be on site every night to discuss the inspiration behind their artworks.

The fun doesn't stop after your outdoor gallery walk, you will be entertained with live music, roving fire twirlers and LED hula hoopers. Plus satisfy your appetite with delicious offerings from a range of popular Sydney food trucks including "Veggie Patch", "Agape Organics", "Tsuru" and "Happy as Larry". A licensed bar will also be available to quench your thirst.

When: 11th - 13th September, 6pm - 8pm.

Where: Randwick Environment Park, 27 Munda Street, Randwick, 2031.

Cost: Free.

An event that covers lots of important issues and highlights topics we discuss daily is the "Indie Gems Film Festival" as it returns for a sixth year to the Riverside Theatres.

Curated by producer John L Simpson, the event this year highlights stories about gay rights, prisoners' rights and slavery, with the makers on hand to introduce and discuss their films.

The festival will bring us more information and open our minds to human rights issues, a documentary that is being highly talked about at the moment is "Gayby Baby", the fly on the wall style documentary will be shown at the event with producer Charlotte Mars giving a Q&A session after the screening. There will also be screenings of feature film "Freedom", which tackles slavery in the US in two different time periods, and "Prison Songs" a documentary musical about the inmates of Darwin's Berrimah Prison, plus lots more.

A section that will give us a look into the imagination of today's youth will be the annual Student Films Competition, where you will see a session of films by filmmakers aged 8 to 18.

When: 11th-13th September.

Where: Riverside theatres, Cnr Church and Market Sts, Parramatta 2150 .

Cost: Various Prices, opening gala night $20.

The Eastern Suburbs is bursting with great arts events next weekend, as down in Coogee there will be the annual Community Art Show.

The event is back for its fifth year with its aim to make art accessible to everyone. This year 16 artists will show works ranging from abstract, watercolour, traditional painting, along with photography, textiles and multimedia artworks, so there is something there for everyone.

The artworks that you see on the day are available to view, and to purchase, with a percentage of sales benefitting Coogee Public School. A great day out to have a look at fabulous art from talented local artists while also benefiting a local school.

When: 12th September.

Where: Coogee Public School Hall, entrance on Byron Street near Coogee Bay Road, Coogee 2034.

Cost: Free.

Now we always hear of food and wine fairs or artisan products events, but something for the sweetooths is coming to the rocks as the "Smooth Festival of Chocolate" is back for a second year.

This event is your chance to indulge in two days of decadent desserts, and experience "The Callebaut" test kitchen hosted by Cameron Daddo, where there will be fun cooking demonstrations from Sydney's best chefs, food personalities, pastry chefs and chocolatiers.

Some of Australia’s most respected patissiers, Adriano Zumbo & Anna Polyviou, will be the official ambassadors of the event, bringing two days of desert madness there will be lots of free samples and mesmerising chocolate moments.

For a weekend where the Rocks will be transformed into "Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory", and to satisfy your tastebuds with deserts you might have never even seen before, it is sure to be a treat full of treats.

When: 12th 13th September.

Where: The Rocks, 2000.

Cost: Free.