Capital Life April 15 2017: What's on in the Canberra arts scene

Expressions of interest are now open for local artists to participate in the city DrainART project. Part of the H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy stormwater education program, it will see 10 stormwater drains in Braddon and Civic painted to show how pollutants from the street affect waterways' health. A drop-in information session will be held from on April 19 from 2 to 7pm at Dame Pattie Menzies House in Dickson. To apply, artists must complete an application form and provide a copy of their proposed design(s) by 4pm on April 28. More information: act.gov.au/h2ok.

Australian singer, stage performer and television presenter David Campbell is coming to the National Gallery on Saturday May 20 at 6.30pm for the Heart Foundation Gala Dinner that raises funds to support heart attack survivors. The money raised will be put towards the launch of a new Heart Attack Survivor Support Program that provides heart attack survivors and their carers help and support during the first-year post-heart attack. Also providing entertainment will be body language expert Allan Pease. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/HFgala.

The 16th annual exhibition of works by AIM, a group of Canberra artists, will be opened by Jo Holier at Strathnairn Arts Homestead Gallery, Holt at 4pm on Thursday, April 27 and will run until May 21. The artists work in oil, watercolour, pencil, acrylic, mixed media and textiles and the subject matter ranges from landscapes to seascapes to urban environments to flora and fauna and more, both contemporary and traditional in style. But all are, as the group's name suggests, miniatures.

Comedian Mark Swivel's new show is centred around struggling to write a speech for his son's 21st and takes the audience on a ride though his childhood and worries about the world. There's some gentle audience participation and a bit of singing and the topics range from politics to parenting to the fine art of pool chlorination. And there is, apparently, only one dad joke in the show. It's on at The Street Theatre on April 21 and 22 at 7.30pm and April 23 at 4pm. Bookings: thestreet.org.au.

Tuggeranong Arts Centre's animal theme continues in April with Animal Hearts curated by Narelle Phillips and Specimens by Taylor Singh. In the group exhibition Animal Hearts, eight artists invite spectators to consider their interaction with animals from the perspective of the creature. The collection includes photography, sculpture, an installation and mixed media drawings and paintings, with work ranging from figurative to metaphorical and personal to political. The artists - Caroline Ambrus, Dianna Budd, Janet Long, John Gould, Kerry Shepherdson, Rebecca Selleck, Shan Crosbie and Tanya Stollznow - explore prickly subjects such as kangaroo culling, greyhound racing, leather use, cruelty to animals and destruction of habitat. In Specimens, Singh investigates scientific research and specimens in contemporary and historical collections. Singh was the recipient of Tuggeranong Arts Centre's 2016 Emerging Artist Support Scheme Award, for her graduating work from the Painting workshop, ANU School of Art and Design.The exhibitions continue until April 29.

Artists and writers keen for an icy inspiration are invited to apply for the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship. The Arts Fellows travel south by ship or plane, and spend time at Australia's Antarctic research stations. Director of the Australian Antarctic Division, Dr Nick Gales said, "This is an opportunity for creative communicators to interpret the Antarctic environment and their experiences within it, and share it with others on their return." This year the Australian Antarctic Division has formed a collaboration with the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) whose director, Vicki Sowry, said for 25 years ANAT has been a catalyst for experimentation and innovation within the arts, science and technology, across the country. She said, "We will provide the Arts Fellow with financial support of up to $5000 to cover domestic air travel and accommodation costs in Hobart before and after the Antarctic expedition." Expressions of interest can be submitted online until May 5, 2017. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a more detailed proposal. See: antarctica.gov.au.

The Queanbeyan Art Society has 115 works hanging in the Gallery at 6 Trinculo Place, Queanbeyan, from the annual Queanbeyan Leagues Club Art Competition/Exhibition during April. Former Queanbeyan artist Anita McIntyre judged 18 art awards and QAS member Mark Redzic was the overall wiinner for his oil painting Cotter River.