In the depths of winter 2020, the golden child of the week – Friday night – got even better thanks to Kambri at ANU!

Streaming free via Facebook from the incredible Manning Clark Hall came the innovative program ‘Music on the Screens’ – a series of dance party sets featuring ANU student DJs, singer/songwriters and bands filmed on stage with decks, lighting and an audio-visual show that made viewers feel like they were right there in the venue.

For two Fridays during July, viewers were invited to leave the week that was behind with a two-hour set from Vessel Collective, breezing through an eclectic array of genres.

Performers included Shad (afrobeats, house, funk), Destiny (city pop, house, Japanese funk), Mim (funky house), Pranav (YNG Daku) (techno, hiphop), Mami (techno, rave) and Jasmine (techno, tech house, house).

For the third and final week, in partnership with ANUSA, it was time for a virtual party, with Bush Week 2020 ending with a lineup of all-star ANU singer/songwriter talents performing 30-minute sets.

Recording the musical acts in Manning Clark Hall – Kambri’s world-class live music venue that normally plays host to bands such Hermitude and The Chats – gave students the rare chance to perform in a space they would not normally have access to.

Along with giving students a foot in the door to the music scene, Music on the Screens was also a way to put familiar faces from around the university in front of new audiences – the equivalent of taking an intimate bar scene and translating it to a large, professional venue.

The partnership with Vessel Collective and the ANU students who performed during Music on the Screens has been one of the most positive aspects to come from a difficult year. Vessel Collective’s aim is to give anyone with an interest the opportunity to get behind decks and build their confidence, no matter who they are or what they’re into, and in the process create an inclusive dance floor.

For more information on how you can get involved in Vessel Collective, find them on Facebook and Instagram @vessel_djcollective

As we seek new ways to connect and entertain online – in lieu of events and gatherings – Music On the Screens was a brilliant opportunity for ANU students to get their music out there in front of the hundreds of people who tuned in.

If you have a burning idea for any future online student-based content, please reach out and contact [email protected]

Look around and uncover the award-winning design and architectural features of the Kambri precinct – they’re right before your eyes!

Long before the precinct burst to life in February 2019 with the daily bustle of university staff and students, the appointed architects for Kambri – BVN – were busy creating a united ensemble of six buildings around new public spaces, each with their own distinctive character and purpose. 

Kambri was envisioned as an inclusive space for students, staff and visitors, merging contemporary learning with an enriched cultural life to bring a diverse array of great thinkers, artists and creators together.

Surrounded by nature, Kambri has fast become Canberra’s social and cultural focus. It boasts plenty of green spaces, plus architecturally designed buildings offering the latest state-of-the-art technology and facilities, and an eclectic retail mix of restaurants, cafes and shops.

Reflecting on the design of Kambri precinct, ANU Vice-President for Engagement and Global Relations, Jane O’Dwyer, says, “It incorporates a number of elements that offer a new educational, physical, creative and social experience in a village setting, while also reflecting the Indigenous connection in its landscaping and native bush garden.”

The collaborators on the Kambri precinct included ANU (as the client), BVN (architect), ColonySix (development manager), Lendlease (builder), Civitas (urban designer), Aspect Studios and lahznimmo architects (landscape architect) who worked together on innovative approaches to create a modern university hub.

In June this year, Kambri at ANU was proud to win 2020 ACT Architecture Awards across multiple categories, including Public Architecture, Urban Design, Commercial Architecture, Educational Architecture and Sustainable Architecture.

The coveted Australian Institute of Architects Awards offer an opportunity for public and peer recognition of the innovative work of architects, with entries progressing to the National Architecture Awards (to be announced in early November).

One of Kambri’s most striking buildings, the Marie Reay Teaching Centre took away The Derek Wrigley Award for Sustainable Architecture, with the building expected to achieve the world’s best practice rating for ecological footprint across its lifecycle – the highest level of achievement for an educational building.

Sam Jordan, Director of ColonySix, said, “ColonySix is incredibly proud to be a part of the Kambri project, from helping ANU create concepts of cutting-edge quality, reinventing an ‘urban village’ in the centre of the Acton campus, delivering powerful and lasting experiences through built form and active public realm, as well as delivering leading sustainability outcomes for the precinct.”

The Kambri precinct embodies the spirit of Canberra, connecting public spaces to culture, entertainment and education through a vibrant mix of eateries, art, film, music, theatre and thought, all set amongst cutting-edge award-winning design and architecture.

Looking for a change of scenery while you hit the books? aMBUSH Gallery Kambri has opened its doors as a study space.

We all know the saying ‘A change is as good as a holiday’, and with holidays as we know them currently off the cards, aMBUSH Gallery Kambri are adding an element of fun into daily life by inviting students into their gallery to study.

aMBUSH is much more than a physical exhibition space – it’s a hub where you can crack into your uni work in the company of art, music and big ideas. Located on the second floor of the Cultural Centre (above Harry Hartog Booksellers), there are floor to ceiling windows that flood the space in natural light, plus neighbouring retailers to keep you fed and caffeinated, and furniture with charging stations to settle into comfortably as you listen to your lectures.

It’s also a great way to take some time out to view the current exhibition – a retrospective of Australian street art that is part of the aMBUSH Collection, showcased in the groundbreaking Outpost Project – the biggest street art festival in the world – on Cockatoo Island in 2011.

If the idea of a change of environment appeals, simply turn up to aMBUSH Gallery during their normal hours of 10 to 6pm weekdays and 12 to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. There’s no need to book – simply sign in and choose your spot.

You can enjoy the serene atmosphere with low level, laid-back music providing the perfect backdrop, and if you BYO cup there’s even free tea and coffee. (Food can be brought in but must be consumed on the undercover balcony area).

As an added bonus, Vessel Collective will be conducting free one-on-one DJ tutorial sessions on equipment use on Fridays and Saturdays (contact them direct via their Facebook page or email for more information).

Normal social distancing rules apply, as do all the standard hygiene measures. The space is cleaned regularly and thoroughly, and hand sanitiser is available. For those looking for a quieter study space, some tables and chairs will also be set up in the hallway next to the gallery.

Whether it’s a quick meeting, hanging with your friends or a whole day of study on the cards, come and pull up a seat amongst the art and like-minded people – the friendly crew from aMBUSH Gallery look forward to seeing you there!

Contact the Kambri concierge at [email protected] for more information, and look for aMBUSH Gallery on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

aMBUSH Gallery in partnership with Kambri at ANU are launching The Hero’s Journey Art Prize 2020 – a time capsule exhibition and social experiment in one.

The Hero’s Journey is a classic narrative arc shared by almost every story ever told: a character ventures out to get what they need, faces conflict, and ultimately triumphs over adversity. The year 2020 is our hero’s journey, and aMBUSH Gallery want to know how artists have responded.

Life in countries all around the world has been thrown into uncertainty: the Australian bushfires, COVID-19, self-isolation, social distancing, Black Lives Matter protests, political acts of ignorance and infamy, swarms of locusts and killer bees, and the widespread global economic impacts from the pandemic, are just a few of the trials we’ve faced.

To document this important time in world history and understand how the call of 2020 has been heeded, aMBUSH Gallery are inviting visual artists, graphic designers, and digital agencies from around Australia to capture the essence of this year in the form of a poster. How does it feel? What does it look like? Is there treasure to be salvaged and lessons to be learnt? And what will life look like when we emerge from this tumultuous year?

Curated and presented by aMBUSH Gallery in partnership with Kambri at ANU, finalists will be chosen by aMBUSH to be featured in an online exhibition at Kambri. One winner will be selected by an independent panel to receive an AU$3,000 cash prize.

Dependant upon on social gathering restrictions for the remainder of the year, there may also be an exhibition at aMBUSH Gallery (Kambri at ANU) where finalists’ artwork will be printed, exhibited and sold on their behalf, with no commission taken on sales.

The Hero’s Journey Art Prize 2020 promises to be a compelling artistic examination of how the world has responded when unprecedented historical events forced us all to be heroes.

Visit www.ambushgallery.com for more information, and look for aMBUSH Gallery on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

View the artist callout doc here for more info on how to enter.