Being A Culture Vulture - On A Budget
January can be an expensive time of year. You might be still paying off credit cards from Christmas, or maybe you’ve gone on holiday with the family for a week or so. Don’t forget those school fees and related costs! Sometimes, the antidote to overspending is to enjoy a little cultural goodness in the city. Today, Chisholm and Gamon takes a look at some ways to nurture your cultural soul without having to reach into your wallet.
If you’ve been into the CBD recently, you’ve probably seen a brightly decorated piano or two out on the streets with the enticing invitation: “Play Me, I’m Yours”. Members of the public are welcomed to have a tinkle of the ivories, and if you stand within earshot for long enough, you’re sure to hear all kinds of music from a nervous rendition of “Chopsticks” to an impressive improvisation or a classical piece learned long ago. Find one of the 21 pianos in the CBD and Arts Precinct, and have a go!
When was the last time you visited the State Library? And when did you last take a look at one of the assorted free exhibitions on display there? The current exhibits available include Free, Secular and Democratic, which shows a history of the Library from 1853 to 1913; The Changing Face of Victoria, bringing together letters, diaries and iconic artefacts that tell the story of Victoria; Mirror of the World, a showcase of beautiful and rare historic books; and the permanent exhibition of the Cowen Gallery. And as a side note, should Melbourne be hit with another heatwave: the State Library stays nice and cool with all that stone and marble (and air-conditioning), so visiting these exhibitions is a great way to beat the heat on a budget!
If you haven’t had enough of exhibitions after the SLV, check out the National Gallery of Victoria. Currently on display (and offering free entry) are Three Perfections: Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting in Chinese Art, and The Ancient World which shows millennia-old artefacts from Mesoamerica, the Classical World and Egypt, and the Near East.