Western Australian animals have been targeted as pests by locals and farmers. Some have been exploited for profit and hunted to near extinction. Native fauna have been celebrated as emblems and studied by scientists. They have been captured in photographs and in cages. The stories in this exhibition are found in records created by government departments, including the CSIRO, Department of Defence and ABC. They show how Western Australians have interacted with the state’s unique wildlife and highlight changing attitudes towards animals and the environment. Which animal was the target of a military campaign? What now beloved animal was dismissed as an annoying rodent? Why is there a whale tooth in the national archival collection? Grab your binoculars, get out your field guide and spot your favourite animals in this expedition to the wild west.

Love in Bright Landscapes takes its title from the name of a 1986 album by former, now cult, Perth band The Triffids – a group that has contributed much to the city’s narrative of wide open roads, treeless plains and the relentless heat of a long, dry Perth summer. But this evocation of love – and with it the possibilities and pitfalls of infatuation and romanticisation – in a landscape stretched out beneath an expansive bright sky, might equally apply to an understanding of Los Angeles: a city that itself has long been steeped in lore and myth. As such, this exhibition considers Perth and Los Angeles as comparative case studies, bringing together a selection of artworks made in reference to the characters, qualities and topographies of the two west coast cities. Despite their inherent differences – in industry, scale, population, politics, public perception and self-image – and the distinct independent cultures of each city, Perth and Los Angeles share several commonalties: from indigenous and colonial histories to natural resource booms, sprawling suburbia, car culture, blazing sunsets and seamy underbellies.

Love is in the air in Athens – and it’s contagious. Besides the royal wedding, which is just days away, there are young lovers dreaming of enchanted futures together. Hermia and Lysander are besotted with one another, while Helena adores Demetrius. The only snag is that Demetrius loves Hermia - and he’s got Hermia’s father on his side. So nobody is happy. (Shakespeare wasn’t kidding when he said the course of true love never did run smooth.) Determined to be together, Hermia and Lysander meet in a moonlit forest, with plans to elope. Following hot on their heels is Demetrius, who in turn is pursued by a lovelorn Helena. But the young lovers are not alone in the forest. Nick Bottom and his hapless bunch of tradies have gathered to rehearse a play to be performed at the royal wedding. And, hidden from human eyes, a mischievous sprinkling of fairies are also in the forest that night. The three worlds collide in an explosion of comic confusion that throws the future of all the lovers into jeopardy.

This exhibition attempts to showcase works of art that reflect the depth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture, with other aspects of the Aboriginal condition. As a result, radical observations about the ups and downs of life will, at times, weave in and out of stories about Country. Equally, across the show, visitors will encounter passages of serenity, corridors of tradition, and trails that speak to the upheavals experienced by generations of Indigenous people. Balancing Act features the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists living and working across the State and Australia. Works of art by local Noongar artists such as Revel Cooper (dec.), Sandra Hill, Dianne Jones and Shane Pickett (dec.) sit loud-and-proud among those by Richard Bell, Karla Dickens, Julie Dowling and Brian Robinson to name a few of the many stellar artists in the show. Image - Richard Bell One more hour of daylight 2017-2019. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, three parts: 240 x 540 cm (overall). State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2019. © Richard Bell, courtesy Milani Gallery, Brisbane.

Scitech’s new exhibition, Earth Matters: Rethink the Future, is a multisensory experience exploring the changes in our natural environment. Come on a journey as you learn how to innovate solutions for a more sustainable future.

Explore the relationship between humans and habitat, dive deep into the science behind biodiversity, climate and carbon emissions and discover how the smallest of actions can have a big impact on the world around us.

See the inner workings of a tree, learn about endangered species and step into a banksia woodland to discover what effect your actions have on the fragile ecosystem. Use pedal power to explore electricity generation, storage and transfer and unearth ways to give nature a helping hand, starting with your own backyard.

Come and rethink the future with us! http://scitech.org.au/earth-matters/

$20 entry fee includes all art materials (paper, drawing board, charcoals) and a complimentary wine, beer or soft drink. Plus, they offer theatre-style buttered popcorn, straight from the machine. 

Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm sharp start. Get in early to find a comfy spot or grab yourself a beverage at the bar. 

Every week we'll show three short films from a given category and have speakers from related charities, NGOs, community groups, or sometimes government departments speak about their work within that category. Our current categories: Art, Education, Entrepreneurship, Equality, Girls To The Front, Human Rights, Indigenous, Innovation, Leadership, Mental health, Personal Growth, Physical Health, Sport, Travel, Youth