Melbourne Weekly Guide: 20 to 26 July

With so much to see and do, there's never a dull week in Melbourne.

Here's what's in store for you.

20- 24 July: Sugar Republic's Rainbow Walk Art Exhibition

Photo courtesy of Sugar Republic

If your brisk walks to the grocer or pharmacy takes you towards Degraves or Flinders Street, take the Rainbow Walk through the underground arcade linking both streets. Melbourne’s Sugar Republic creative team has 12 installations that take us on a journey through the pandemic landscape into the ‘new normal’ to look at how we can use our experiences to envision a better future.

The display windows of the 1950s pink-tiled Campbell Arcade will carry visual messages of resilience and positivity. They are conveyed boldly in an ‘experience museum’ format using everyday objects against colour blocked backgrounds. Paint, reflection, light and texture are used in unexpected ways to stop people as they pass through the arcade. The feelings evoked are then taken away into their day. Your journey will end at a ‘pot of gold’, a display case of classic yellow post-it notes carrying Melburnian's hopes and ideas for better days.

Time: 7:00am - 7:00pm daily

Location: Degraves Subway Campbell Arcade, 6 Degraves St, Melbourne 3000

Price: Free

23 July: Hidden Thoughts II by Katy Abbott

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Digital Concert Hall

This world premiere performance of Katy Abbott’s “Hidden Thoughts II: Return to Sender” for string quartet, narrator and mezzo-soprano is a musical response to letters of comfort and encouragement to asylum seekers detained on Nauru. Nearly 2000 of those letters were returned unopened, marked “Return to sender”.

Live streamed on Melbourne Digital Concert Hall and performed by Flinders Quartet, Richard Piper (narrator) and Dimity Shepherd (mezzo soprano), this performnce also uses incredibly moving text by Australians compelled to connect with people they’d never met. Half of the profits from this performance will be donated to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Purchase your ticket at this website.

Time: 7pm AEST

Price: Adult / general $24, Senior $24, Student / concession $24

25 July: Melbourne International Jazz Festival's These Digital Times

Photo courtesy of Melbourne International Jazz Festival

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival brings you performances from some of the best in Australian and international jazz and contemporary music. Due to COVID-19, these performances are direct to your living room in high definition from ALV Studios in Melbourne.

These Digital Times was conceived and developed in conjunction with The Vizard Foundation and is also supported by the Victorian government through Creative Victoria and the City of Melbourne. The 25 July program includes a rare solo performance from Australian music luminary Paul Grabowsky AO; a collaboration between Taylor McFerrin and Marcus Gilmore direct from USA; the debut of new work by the Holly Moore Sextet; the premiere of Erica Tucceri's first release in four years, Vacilando; Barney McAll's Precious Energy, a new album with an all-star Melbourne line-up; a DIY music-making workshop for the whole family; and industry panels for those working in the music industry.

This is free. Visit the website for the full program.

25 & 26 July: Open House Melbourne

Photo courtesy of Open House Melbourne

Sit back, relax and enjoy access to over 50 buildings from the comfort of your own home. This year's Open House Melbourne presents the largest collection of virtual tours in Australia. You can learn from Melbourne’s favourite architects, listen to music performed in historically significant buildings and gain behind-the-scenes access to publicly restricted infrastructure.

Virtual tour experiences are already available online, with a range of live events, tours and programs presented digitally over the weekend of July 25 and 26. This is free. Visit the website for the full program