Haven’t had a chance to check out the SUB12 exhibition at The Substation yet? The good news is there is still time, Exhibition Series Four runs from 11th September – 27th September.

The exhibition will be open from 6.30pm on Friday, 11th September, the fourth and final opening night.

SUB12 is a 12 week exhibition series that promotes excellence in contemporary visual art, comprising four distinct exhibition blocks, from July through September, each with its own opening night and diverse mix of emerging and established artists.

SUB12 is a partnership between the Council and The Substation to promote excellence in contemporary visual art within Hobsons Bay.

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St. Martins popular drama and acting holiday program is coming to Hobsons Bay.

St. Martins is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young people between the ages of five and 25 in the performing arts, by initiating hands-on projects, creative opportunities and exposure to artists and theatre practices of the highest standard.

An integral part of the Melbourne theatre community, St. Martins has spent over 25 years providing and resourcing hands-on performing arts experiences to Victorians aged between five and 30.

The St. Martins Holiday Program is renowned for developing young people’s creative skills and confidence, and of course, for being fun. St. Martins is thrilled to bring week long drama and acting programs to Hobsons Bays' residents.

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Damian Callinan's Spaznuts and The Grimstones - Hatched on sale now. 

Damian Callinan's Spaznuts - Friday, 11th September at 8.00pm
Damian brings the audience into the waiting room of the infertility clinic as he procrastinates for an hour in the austere sperm delivery suite. Hilarious comedy you won't want to miss.

The Grimstones - Hatched - Saturday, 19th September at 2.00pm and 6.30pm
This magical puppet peformance takes the audience through the rich and full world of the tale of Grimstones. The show is ideal for children aged six and over, and is also presented with people who are deaf in mind.

Tickets for shows and more information can be found at www.hobsonsbaytickets.com.au 

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Find out more about the history of Williamstown on a guided walking tour.

On Fridays and Sundays during September, October, and November local guides with an excellent knowledge of the area will run two tours each day.

Walking tours depart from the Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre, Commonwealth Reserve, Williamstown.

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What led an unassuming churchman to overthrow thousands of years of science and astronomy in one single act?

Set amongst the spectacular 180° star-filled skies of the Melbourne Planetarium’s Skydome, Copernicus is a solo physical theatre piece by Melbourne artist Sam Davison, taking audiences on a dreamlike voyage inside the mind of the brilliant, yet shy, Polish renaissance astronomer.

Before Galileo there was Copernicus, who in 1543 while on his deathbed, published the groundbreaking theory that the sun, and not the earth, was the centre of the universe and the hub about which all planets revolved. 

His theory was first published in 1543, however he wrote it some thirty years previously. Why would he withhold it for so long?

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Part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Elemental is a performance of poetry, music and video at the Melbourne Planetarium on Thursday, 15th, Sunday, 18th and Thursday, 22nd October at 7.30pm.

Elemental is a unique exploration of science, mind and the infinite universe showcased under the spectacular dome theatre of the Planetarium. Poets, musicians, sound and video artists – and world renowned science writer John Gribbin – have collaborated to present the world of the most literary, dazzling and passionate stars.

The artists involved in this show explore four different theories of the beginnings of the universe: The Big Bang Theory, The Theory of Everything, Dark Matter and M Theory. Are these the lost poetic lectures of the beginning of time?

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Now showing at Scienceworks until 3rd Nov 2009.

Journey into a galaxy far, far away and discover the science behind the Star Wars films. Could cars that hover above the ground become the mass transit of the future? Will we ever have droids like C-3PO? Fantasy and reality join forces in Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.

The exhibition features authentic costumes and props from the entire Star Wars saga, such as Darth Vader’s menacing attire and Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

This is the first exhibition to showcase more than 80 costumes, interactive displays, models and props from all six Star Wars films, together with modern technologies that offer the potential to one day make the world of Star Wars a reality.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.museumvictoria.com.au

Always wanted to cycle over the West Gate Bridge? Then why not take part in this year's Around the Bay in a Day?

Last year’s event raised over $400,000 for The Smith Family and brought over 2000 riders taking part in the 50km ride into Altona for the Altona Beach Break in Logan Reserve.

There are a number of different rides available, from 50km to 250km and there’s still time to enter. Entries for the 50km ride to Altona close on Thursday, 8th October. For more information visit Bicycle Victoria at www.bv.com.au

If you don’t want to ride you can head down to Logan Reserve, Altona and support the riders. Enjoy free music and entertainment and pop into the local shops and cafes for a coffee or bite to eat.

Upcoming markets - 5th September, 3rd October, 7th November, all held indoors at The Substation on the first Saturday of every month from 10.00am - 4.00pm

Showcasing works of art which are both unique and of the highest quality, the Substation Artists’ Market has exploded onto the local art scene.

Artworks include textiles, print, paintings, photography, jewellery, sculpture and more. Exhibiting, demonstrating and discussing their work will be many local artists as well as those from further afield, both emerging and well established. A truly eclectic collection of art and artists have been sourced.

To become a stallholder or to find out more information, visit www.thesubstation.org.au

"Sometimes you're happy and sometimes you're sad – but the world goes round."

This is the theme of Altona City Theatre’s next musical production The World Goes Round. Life – with its glories, indignities, hopes and quiet dreams – is the subject of this stunning revue of the beloved songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb, the writers of well known musicals such as Chicago and Caberet.

Providing high quality musical theatre to the Hobsons Bay community since 1972,  Altona City Theatre’s October production will not disappoint. With a stellar cast, moulded by the multi talented Scott Ponsford, Minna Ikonen and Daniel Heskett, this show is not to be missed.

The World Goes Round will be performing at the Altona Theatre, 115 Civic Parade from 2nd to 10th October 2009. For more information and booking details visit www.altonacitytheatre.com.au

Bold, original, surreal, disturbing, thought-provoking and alarmingly funny.

Assassins is perhaps the most controversial musical ever written. This American musicals lays bare the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States, in a one-act historical 'revusical' that explores the dark side of the American experience.

From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, assassins from different historical periods meet, interact and in an intense final scene inspire each other to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream.

Assassins is presented by the Williamstown Musical Theatre Company from 13th to 28th November at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute, 5 Electra Street, Williamstown. Tickets and further information are available at www.wmtc.org.au

Expressions of Interest are invited from national artists or teams of artists for a major artwork to be located within a new entry forecourt to be built in early 2010 at Laverton Train Station, Melbourne.

Download the Project Brief [PDF 267KB]. The budget is $85,000. More information and a copy of the brief can also be obtained by calling Tania Blackwell on tel: 9932 1000 or  via email: arts@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Submissions are due by 5.00pm, Friday, 18th September, 2009.

This project is funded and supported by Department of Transport through its Train Stations as Creative Community Hubs Initiative, Hobsons Bay City Council and the Laverton Train Station.

Toyota Community Spirit Gallery will launch its fifth annual indoor/outdoor sculpture exhibition on Wednesday, 7th October 2009. The launch is the gala event for the gallery's program and will also feature the announcement of the winner of the $10,000 Toyota Community Spirit Artist Travel Award for 2009.

The sculpture exhibition will feature the works of 59 artists showcasing the diversity and excellence of sculpture practice in Victoria. The exhibition continues until March 2010.

Toyota Community Spirit Gallery is at Toyota Australia's Corporate Headquarters, 155 Bertie Street in Port Melbourne. Entry is free and gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, excluding public holidays.

Art in Public Places 8th March – 18th April 2010.

Art in Public Places is an award winning project that exhibits the artwork of western region artists in businesses and various venues across Hobsons Bay.

Participation in Art in Public Places is an effective way to promote local businesses and artists due to the various marketing and media attention surrounding the project, thrusting participating businesses into the public eye.

The project is a community building project that enables stronger partnerships between artists and businesses in the local community.

If you are an artist or business that would like to take part, Expressions of Interest open on Monday, 7th September. For more information call Tania Blackwell on tel: 9932 1000.

Cargo by artists Mike Nicholls and Jonathan Leahey, was installed in Cyril Curtain Reserve, Williamstown in August. This is the final public artwork commission for the Bay Trail Series.

Cargo is a contemporary sculpture that references the ongoing and historical maritime links Williamstown has to transportation, industry and navigational aids. Cargo’s rusty hull suggests a raw state of construction, relating to the ships under construction in the BAE shipyards. Its geometric proportions allude to early shore based warning signals such as the Time Ball Tower on Point Gellibrand.

Mirroring and complementing the tower’s vertical profile, the sculpture acts as a land based object, which could become another navigational marker used by fishermen to take sightings from sea.

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The members of the Laverton Arts and Culture Forum are currently developing their arts and culture plan for 2009-2012. The group is committed to maintaining a regular calendar of exhibitions and events, which will link with the Laverton Festival and Art in Public Places.

Young people will also be a priority, and the work of the StreetsmART Project continues to influence direction, with opportunities for further workshops and events for young people high on the agenda.

Networking opportunities for local artists has also been identified as an important focus for the group, which is always happy to welcome new members or visitors.

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If you love fine art, fine wine and fine food accompanied by fine music, you will not want to miss tantalising your senses over this weekend.

Hosted by the Rotary Club of Altona, the 32nd Annual Art Exhibition will feature over 450 works of art from across Victoria, complemented with over 20 gourmet local and regional food and wine exhibits.

Where: Seaworks, 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown
When: 12th and 13th September
Cost: $15/$10 concession

For more information visit www.altonarotary.com.au or call Therese McKenny-Campbell on tel: 0412 315 450.

OZACT, Australia's leading environmental outdoor Shakespeare company, brings Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream to the Williamstown Botanic Gardens this spring.

Performances will be held on 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th November at 2.00pm. For bookings call tel: 0419 330 156 or visit www.ozact.com