The Dante Alighieri Society of Canberra Events Calendar for a taste of the exciting events to enjoy Italy and its culture.
2022 Upcoming Cultural Activities
• 14 September to 12 October: St Ali Italian Film Festival presented by Palace Cinemas, showcasing a superb selection of the best new films from Italy as well as a retrospective honouring one of Italy’s greatest filmmakers. For more information, click here!
An event supported by the Dante Alighieri Society of Canberra.
2022 Past Cultural Activities
• 18 August from 6-8pm: Italian Trivia Night in collaboration with the ANU Italian Cultural Society, at the Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest, ACT 2603. Bookings required. For more information, click here!
• 6 August at 7pm: A special viewing of the Italian Comedy Performance “Commedia Dell’arte in a Whole New Way” performed by the Fools in Progress Theatre Company. Bookings and payment to be made through Comites Canberra, email info@comitescanberra.org. For more information, click here!
An event supported by the Dante Alighieri Society of Canberra.
• 5 August at 4pm: Exhibition visit to the Canberra Museum and Gallery in Civic: Sidney Nolan’s Myths of Violence, including Dante’s Inferno (1966). Following Dr Sarah Schmidt’s absence, Virginia Rigney will now be presenting the Exhibition. Followed by a social aperitivo at Verity Lane Market. Bookings required by 1 August. For more information, click here!
• 4 August at 8pm: Cultural Presentation: Galileo’s letter to Benedetto Castelli by David Wilson at the Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest, ACT 2603 (bookings not required). For more information, click here!
• 16 June, 8pm
Cultural Presentation: Pier Paolo Pasolini by Gino Moliterno at the Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest, ACT 2603 (bookings not required).
• 5 June, 10am-4pm
Festa della Repubblica at the Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest, ACT 2603.
• 20 May, 6:30pm
Italian Film Night at the Australian National University.
Film: Poli Opposti (Opposites Attract).
Book your tickets here!
• 14 May, 7pm
The Federation of Calabresi Annual Dinner Dance at Canberra Deakin Football Club (bookings essential).
Link to flyer here!
An event supported by the Dante Alighieri Society of Canberra.
• 12 May, 8pm
Cultural Presentation: Michelangelo by Gordon Bull at the Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest, ACT 2603 (bookings not required).
• 28 April, 8pm
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Dante Alighieri Society of Canberra Inc. at the Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest, ACT 2603.
• 24 March, 7:30pm
Online Event for the National Book Launch: Dante Under the Southern Cross 2021
• Friday 1 April, 6.30pm
Social dinner at the Locale Pizzeria, DoubleShot Deakin
• 3 April
AutoItalia at Queanbeyan Park
• 28 April
Annual General Meeting at the Italian Cultural Centre, Forrest
2021 Cultural Activities
• 25 February
Presentation by Julie Docker – St Peter’s Rome: Circling the square. A suggestion for an itinerary in Rome
• 1 March, 5 – 8pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 15 March, 5 – 8pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 15 March – 7pm
Visioni Sarde – Kambri Drama Theatre
• 22 March, 5 – 8pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 25 March – 7pm
Official Launch and Celebration of Dante – Online and in person at the Italian Cultural Centre
• 11 April
Auto Italia
• 12 April 5:30 – 7:30pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 19 April 5:30 – 7:30pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 22 April – 8pm
AGM
• 26 April 5:30 – 7:30pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 3 May 5:30 – 7:30pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 10 May 5:30 – 7:30pm
Conversazione e Cultura @ The Italian Place
• 17 May 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Michele Perrone (Owner, Italian Travel Bureau) will take you on a tour of the region of Lazio.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 20 May 8:00pm – Cultural presentation by Daniela Scaccabarozzi
Floral Appeal, The Intriguing Strategies Used by Some Plants Such as Orchids to Attract Bees and Other Pollinators.
Location: 180 London Circuit, Canberra City, Level 2, Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, inside the Function Room.
• 24 May 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Dr Joshua Brown (Convenor, Italian Studies ANU; and DASC Committee Member) will give a short presentation on the Words of a Saint: Early Roman Dialect Writing in Murals and Painting.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 27 May 6:00pm – 7:30pm – Online Webinar hosted by the Dante Alighieri Society of Sydney
‘Dante and the making of Italians in Australia’ presented by Paolo Totaro AM Foundation Chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Commission (1977-1989).
Register your attendance here: https://dantealighieri.com.au/event/dante-and-the-making-of-italians-in-australia-dantedi-in-australia-dante700-in-australia/
• 7 June 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Leo di Bernardo from Movini Wine Company will be talking about Molise/Abruzzo Wines.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 17 June 8:00pm – Cultural Presentation by Warwick Forbes
The Australian Institute of Sport/European Training Centre at Gavirate (Varese).
Location: 180 London Circuit, Canberra City, Level 2, Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, inside the Function Room.
Cost: Free
• 21 June 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Giovanni Di Zillo, President of Casa d’Abruzzo, will speak about Abruzzo/Molise.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 25 June 8pm – Cultural presentation hosted by the Dante Alighieri Society of Western Australia
Dante and the ‘Clash of Civilisations’ by Professor John Kinder
Location: on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86172450964?pwd=YUo2MUpGYmpCZ1JqYk5JUGpwL3JrQT09
• 28 June 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Luigi Catizone will present the book Storie di Italo-Australiani di Canberra.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 5 July 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Davide Capozzi, from Enoteca Sileno will talk about wines from Piemonte.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 12 July 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 19 July 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Michele Perrone, Owner, Italian Travel Bureau will take us on a tour of Piemonte.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 26 July 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
David Fricker, Director-General of the National Archives of Australia will talk about historic Italian documents held at the National Archives
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students)
• 28 July 6:30pm – Italian Film Night at the ANU
Screening of the movie “Quo Vado? (Where Am I Going?)”.
Location: Lecture Theatre 2, Hedley Bull Centre, Building 130, corner Garran Road and Liversidge Street, Australian National University
More info on Eventbrite.
• 2 August 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Conversazione e Cultura Aperitivo
Claudio Versi, from Inalca Food and Beverage will talk about wines from Trentino Alto Adige.
Location: The Italian Place (Providore & Bottega) 55/40 Mort St, Braddon.
Cost: $20 ($15 for Dante students).
. 5 August 8:00pm – Cultural Presentation by Gordon Bull (Former Sen Lecturer at the ANU centre for Art History and Art Theory, currently Member of the Emeritus Faculty at the ANU).
Giovanni Bellini and Andrea Mantegna, two of the great Renaissance painters.
Location: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre (2nd floor, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City).
. Cancelled due to Covid: 13 August 6:30pm – Dante Alighieri Society Dinner
Location: Agostinis Restaurant – Crema Room, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston
• Cancelled due to Covid: 25 August 6:30pm – Italian Film Night at the ANU
Screening of the movie “Perfetti Sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers)”.
Location: The Australian National University.
More info on Eventbrite.
• Cancelled due to Covid: Friday 20 August 5:30pm—The long journey of human missions to Mars and back to Earth.
Five amazing scientists will discuss the challenges of travelling across Space, preparing for human missions to Mars.
Location: The Shine Dome 15 Gordon Street Acton, ACT 2601
Cost: Free
. 27 August 6:30pm – Dante in Australian Literature and in Music (Adelaide)
Location: The Carrington Function Room, 262 Carrington St, Adelaide
For more information please visit the link: https://danteaustralia.org/adelaide-dante-in-australian-literature-and-in-music-27-august-2021/
• 9 September – Cultural Presentation by Dr Jeff Brownrigg (Former Director of Sound at Nat. Film and Sound Archive) Due to Covid this event has been postponed to next year.
Australian voices in Italy, Italian voices in Australia …. singing the connections
For more information please visit the link: https://danteaustralia.org/adelaide-dante-in-australian-literature-and-in-music-27-august-2021/
• 21 October – Cultural Presentation by Sulaj Ferradino (Italian architect)
A journey to Naples, world heritage site. Postponed till next year.
. Cancelled: 27 October 6:30pm – Film Night at the ANU
Screening of the movie Poli Opposti (Opposites Attract)
LocationL Lecture Theatre 1, Hedley Bull Centre, Building 130
More info on eventbrite
• Cancelled: 11 November – Cultural Presentation by Anna Maria Fioretti (Science Attaché)
Four years in Australia: diving into bilateral scientific cooperation.
• 21 October – 7pm
Dante and the Teaching of Italian in Australia online webinar
• 17 November – 12 December
• 1 December – 6:30pm
Dante Social Dinner – SOLD OUT
2020 Cultural Activities
• 21- 23 February
DAS Canberra @National Multicultural Festival
•27 February
Presentation by Yvette Devlin – Aldo Giurgola and his Italian Roots
• 25 March
Dantedì a national day dedicated to Dante Alighieri. – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 (ONLINE PRESENTATION AVAILABLE)
• 1-18 October 2020
Italian Film Festival
• 29 October 2020
Annual General Meeting
2019 Cultural Activities
• 5 December | 6:00pm
Aperitivo Italiano
• 27 October | 11:30am – 3:00pm
Festa dei Nonni
• 3 October & 11 October
Italian Film Festival
• 8 August | 8pm
Visions of Dante – A presentation by Michael Curtotti
• 7 June | 6pm | Joe’s bar
Aperitivo Italiano – An event for the younger Generation
• 17 May | 7pm | Cultural Centre, Forrest
Learn to play briscola night
• 2 May
History of a destiny overturned – A presentation by Concetta Cirigliano Perna
• 4 April
Annual General Meeting
• 7 March
Everyday resistance in Tuscany – A presentation by Judith Pabian
• 3 March
Carnevale – An event for adults and children
• 15 – 17 February
DAS Canberra @National Multicultural Festival
• 9 February
Aperitivo Italiano – An event for the younger Generation
2018 Cultural Activities
• 29 November
End-of-year function: musical entertainment including Dante Musica Viva Choir, cooking competition, refreshments
• 22 November
Presentation by Frank Pangallo (Former Mayor of Queanbeyan)
• 23 September
Drinks at the Movies: DAS Member’s Event at the Lavazza Italian Film Festival
• 16 August
Aperitivo Italiano – An event for the younger Generation
2017 Cultural Activities
• 23 November
End-of-year function: musical entertainment including Dante Musica Viva choir, cooking competition, refreshments
• 2 November
Literature: Joseph Falsone – The Truth of Fiction: Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels
• 5 October
Italian Trivia Night
• 14 September
Leonardo, we hardly knew you! – The transmission of the intellectual achievements of the Arab civilisaton and those it had inherited from its Babylonian, Greek and Indian predecessors to the scholars, artisans and merchants of Europe was one of the major sources of inspiration for the Renaissance. Come along to hear David Wilson outline the development of these ideas, their transmission to Europe and the role they played in its intellectual development – with a special guest star. Leonardo of course!
• 17 August (cancelled)
Hark the Heart – Hark the Heart Duo (Lydia Monzo and Rosanna Stevens) will brief the audience on a musical project which will see them travel to Italy to explore and reclaim identities that have been influenced by Italian migration and the consequent diasporic assimilation. They will also perform a selection of their repertoire. Not to be missed!
• 20 July
Literature: Rory Steele – The amazing life of mountaineer, diplomat and prisoner of war Felice Benuzzi
• 22 June
Politics: David Ritchie – Europe’s future, and why should we care?
• 6 April
Poetry: Mark O’Connor – Shakespeare as an Italian
9 March
Arts: Gordon Bull – the early-Renaissance painter Giotto
2016 Cultural Activities
• 24 February
Sports – Clinica Mobile for motorcycle racing around the world
• 17 March
Art and History – Sara D’Alessandro: “Perspective. From Brunelleschi to Michelangelo: a system for reading the world”
• 21 April
Cinema – Gino Moliterno: the life and work of Sofia Loren
• 21 June
Health – Videoconference on the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute of Bologna
• 21 July
Fashion&Style – Anna Rita Tamponi: the language of Italian fashion
• 29 September
History – Michael Alder: the rise and fall of the Roman Empire
• 27 October
Music – Christopher Latham: a tribute to Maria Callas
• 24 November
End–of year function – Dante Musica Viva, cooking competition, refreshments
2015 Cultural Activities
• 5 March
Food, Art and History – Grazia Miccichè, Dept of Italian at the ANU: “The art of cooking and eating in Italy”
• 6 March
Society – videoconference with Italian author and journalist Pino Aprile: “Terroni? Undeserved vilification of Southern Italians”
• 9 April
Science – David Wilson: Galileo v the Church – who was the hero and who the villain?
• 18 June
Literature – Gino Moliterno (ANU’s Film Studies): celebrating Dante’s 750th birth anniversary
• 16 July
History – Elizabeth Minchin, Centre for Classical Studies at the ANU: “The garden in the ancient Roman world: what can we learn from Pompeii and Herculaneum?”
• 1 October
Presentation – Mathew Trinca, Director of the National Museum of Australia: “The Italians in Australian Museums: how we represent the Italian diaspora through objects and their stories”
• 11 October
Poetry – Reading of Italian poetry at Manning Clark House
• 29 October
Music – Christopher Latham: Puccini – the populist revolutionary
• 26 November
End-of year function – Dante Musica Viva & other entertainment; culinary competition; refreshments
