Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne

Don't miss two outstanding exhibitions at The Ian Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne: Susan Norrie: Field Work 2006–2016 (on now until 3 July) and Max and Olive: the photographic life of Olive Cotton and Max Dupain (on now until 24 July). The latter show explores the photographs taken by Cotton and Dupain between 1934 and 1945 (when they were married). During those rich and productive years, they produced their most famous modernist work. ABR readers will remember Helen Ennis's ABR George Hicks Foundation Fellowship essay 'Olive Cotton at Spring Forest', published in 2013.

Susan Norrie's masterful new video work aftermath builds on her work HAVOC (2006–07), which impressed Arts Update at the 2007 Venice Biennale. The new work further explores the site of the infamous Lusi mud volcano in eastern Java, Indonesia. Norrie's assured camerawork, fine editing, and subdued palette have produced a compelling and moving work of drama and beauty.

Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson will appear on the new US $5 bill. This is very fitting, though the denomination seems low for this greatest of contraltos, who was the first African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955. Nellie Melba of course appears on our loftiest banknote – $100.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra in June

On 17 and 18 June, the SSO will be performing Hollywood Rhapsody, an evening of music from the golden age of Hollywood, which introduced many to the power of orchestral music for the first time. Films include Casablanca (1942), Ben-Hur (1959), Citizen Kane (1941), and Psycho (1960).

From 23–25 June, Channel Crossings takes us across the British Isles, with Arnold Bax's Arthurian epic, 'Tintagel' and Vaughan Williams's magisterial vision of London in 'A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)'. A detour is then taken – across the channel – to Paris in the Jazz Age with Ravel's 'Piano Concerto in G'.

The Dark Heart of Winter

On 10 June, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) the lineup for its annual Winter Solstice arts festival, Dark Mofo. Since its inception in 2013, the festival program has featured provocative performance pieces and live music that revolve around themes of 'life, death, sex, and rebirth'. Dark Mofo continues until 22 June.

Shakespeare on Film

ACMI, in association with the University of Melbourne and program partners The British Council and the British Film Institute, will be showcasing eleven film adaptations of the Bard's works to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his death as part of their program Shakespeare on Film (14–26 July 2016).

The selection on show ranges from a compilation of silent shorts that include scenes from King John (1899) – the first Shakespeare film ever made – to Australian director Justin Kurzel's critically acclaimed Macbeth (2015). Selected films will be accompanied by introductions from University of Melbourne faculty and visiting academics, as well as a pre-recorded discussion with Sir Ian McKellen and Richard Loncraine following the screening of Richard III (1995).

The Beethoven Project Giveaway

Thanks to Melbourne's Cinema Nova ten current or new ABR subscribers will receive a double passes to The Beethoven Project, which is screening at Cinema Nova on Saturday 25 June and Sunday 26. The Beethoven Project features Simon Rattle leading the Berlin Philharmonic as they present Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 and Symphony No. 7 and the documentary Living with Beethoven which includes interviews with Rattle and members of the Philharmonic.

To be eligible you must be a current or new paid subscriber to the print edition of ABR or to ABR Online. To be in the running for this special offer, email Grace Chang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your full name and contact details.

Arts Update is generously supported by The Ian Potter Foundation.