Local Beat: Art & Culture in the Month of May!

Today we bring you a selection of Sydney’s best exhibitions, cultural events and art installations that you must check out this May!

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018

Enter a journey of photographs, a journey of wonders, a journey of candid wildlife and landscape snaps. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world’s most famous prize for photos of this kind, and the 100 best pictures will be exhibited in a new venue, the Australian National Maritime Museum until 14^th October. This show is a must-see, not only because of the great imagery but also because this year’s Wildlife photography exhibition is more controversial than ever, with the recent scandal of the winning shot allegedly capturing a stuffed animal… Find more information here!

Alphabetical Sydney: Creative Lab

From the best-selling book Alphabetical Sydney by Hillary Bell and Antonia Pesenti (illustrator), comes one of the most creative and fun-loving exhibitions in Sydney this May. Taregeted to kids and families, it encourages you to think about the wonders, the everyday streets and iconic neighbourhoods of Sydney, through captivating activities that invite us to take the opportunity to write and draw our way through the city. Alphabetical Sydney will be displayed in the Museum of Sydney until the 12^th of August. Find more information here!

American Essential Film Festival

Following on from last month’s Spanish Film Festival, the time has come for the American Essential Film Festival which offers new American indie movies, documentaries and genre classics – handpicked to highlight the influence of American productions on the global cinema movement. The tour will stop by Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney and will show movies such as the classic Chinatown with ‘good ol’ Jack Nicholson, and award-winning film 55 Steps with the unbeatable Helena Bonham Carter. The festival runs from 8^th – 20^th May and will be screened in The Palace Platinum Central Cinemas. These are the movies!

Pretty Ugly Butterfly

David Porteus is the photographer behind a mysterious new exhibition at Stanley Street Gallery. The Melbourne photographer has curated an interesting collection of symmetrical mirror portraits; making of this impure reality a reality of morbid perfection, with the purpose of portraying the dangers of self-absorption and the pivotal importance of looks in today’s society. You can visit this exhibition from the 2^nd to the 19^th of May.

The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2018

The Archibald prize is awarded for the best portrait, the Wynne for the best Australian landscape or figure sculpture, and the Sulman for the best subject painting. The best art pieces from each prize category will be exhibited in NSW Art Gallery from the 12^th of May until the 9^th September and many of the pieces are worth a look or two. Find more information here!

Sunsets at Cockatoo Island

If you are looking to spend a relaxing afternoon with your friends listening to some amazing music in an awesome setting, we’ve got you sorted! Cockatoo Island, in collaboration with Venue 505, is hosting Sunset Music Sessions to bring you the best of underground acoustic talent in the local. And it couldn’t offer a better line-up this Saturday, with veteran diva Jo Fabro followed by the amazing underground alt pop-jazz group Contessa making their debut. The acoustic events are held on Saturday afternoons at 5 and 6 pm. Limited spots, concession available. Book your tickets here!

Have we missed any interesting local arts and entertainment events in our May guide? Let us know where you’ll be heading this month in the comments below!