Lore is not simply stories of old. Lore is living narratives in a state of flux, as we grapple with the locus of our past and present - at Wollongong Art Gallery until September 5.

In this exhibition, artists from the Illawarra Association for the Visual Arts (IAVA) take on the intangibility of lore by exploring perception, memory, knowledge and the lure of place. Created for sensory engagement, the IAVA artists invite the public to touch, draw, listen, see and remember.

Alannah Dreise, Angela Forrest, Deborah Redwood, Jennifer Jackson, Karen Hook, Kate Stehr, Penny Hulbert, Peter Hewitt, Sue Smalkowski, Virginia Settre.

www.wollongongartgallery.com

Hip Hop Fundraiser

The Illawarra skating community is putting on a hip hop night including open mic, clothing sales and raffles (a Tony Hawk signed deck is up for grabs) at La La La's in Globe Lane from 7pm.

It's a fundraiser for their mate, legendary skateboarder - and double amputee - Steve Ellis who needs a modified car to get him and his kids around.

Music artist Salty and Anonimus Empire lead the lineup of the hip hop fundraiser , with Unomindz, Sludgeface, Funk Rat n Toffy, plus Azza D also sharing the stage.

Machteld Hali Exhibition

This body of work began in Len, a medieval city in Spain with its magnificent cathedral, as research into the value of ageing and old things but changed direction abruptly as Hali was forced to make a quick retreat home to her familiar environment, the chooks, garden and the sea and of course, her ever ready imagination.

The exhibition is at The Tempest Gallery, 21 Holden Ave, Kiama, until June 26 - 10am to 4pm.

www.machteldhali.com

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Comedian Paul McDermott

Veteran television personality Paul McDermott is set to shave off his COVID-19 beard and return to the comedy circuit, stopping by Anita's Theatre in Thirroul on Friday night.

The funnyman teams up with Glenn Moorhouse for the 'Plus One' musical production which presents a suite of beautiful damnation and the "usual standard of malarkey".

For more details and tickets, visit: www.anitastheatrethirroul.com/upcoming-events

StoryFest Writers & Arts Festival

StoryFest is a celebration of storytelling in all its forms - oral, written, prose, poetry, song or film - at some of the finest venues in Milton, Mollymook and Ulladulla from Friday to Sunday.

For the full program of events, visit: www.storyfest.org.au

Travelling Film Fetival

Travelling Film Festival is thrilled to be bringing the world's best cinema to Wollongong from June 18 - 20 , at Greater Union Cinemas.

After a break last year, the 2021 program will treat patrons to seven award-winning feature films, two highly anticipated documentaries and a perfectly crafted First Nations short film.

Headlining the programme is Molly Reynolds' MY NAME IS GULPILIL, an Australian documentary that celebrates the personal story and remarkable film career of iconic Australian actor David Gulpilil.

Molly Reynolds is this year's festival special guest and will be on attendance at the opening night Q&A, Fri June 18 at 7pm.

BAMA, follows the reflections of a young Aboriginal boy after his first day at school in the big city; and, COUSINS follows the lives of three New Zealand cousins who share a strong bond even as they are separated by unfortunate events; Academy Award nominated THE MOLE AGENT, follows a sweet-natured widower as he infiltrates a nursing home at the behest of a private detective agency; THE PERFECT CANDIDATE directed by Saudi Arabia's first female director Haifaa Al-Mansour, is a revealing look at the changing role of women in Saudi Arabia; and Toronto International Film Festival winner, MARTIN EDEN, a drama set in pre-war Italy follows a sailor who falls in love with a wealthy, young woman and seeks to climb up the societal ladder.

Additional highlights include FIRST COW an old West tale of love and money set in 19th century Oregon; LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM, was beautifully shot in the high-altitude peaks of the Himalayas; THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS, a hilarious feature from Spain, focussed on two couples who come together for an evening filled with shocking revelations and awkward moments;FALLING, a weary son who attempts to reconcile with his formidable father.

For more information, full program and bookings please visit: www.sff.org.au/tff/program/wollongong

Ignite Kiama

Free family festival with fire twirlers, mulled wine and fireworks.

Fire and glow is the theme of the free family-friendly event, which will kick off mid-afternoon with fire twirlers and glow dancers, live music and workshops, culminating in fireworks exploding near The Blowhole from 7:30pm.

Entertainment includes circus performers and aerialists, children's performers, the Junkyard Beats fire show and Doonoch Dancers. A neon face art station will be available for patrons to get into the theme, along with hair braiding, a sensory chill zone, plus workshops in rhythmic drumming and how to make a ceramic teelight.

For further information, visit: eventcreate.com/e/ignitekiama

Yoga Day

Heart and Soul Care are celebrating the International Day of Yoga at Govinda Valley, at Otford. Saturday is a full day of yoga starting at 7:00 am-5:00 pm.

Guest speaker on Saturday is Maggie Hamilton, https://www.maggiehamilton.org, author and social researcher will speak on "A New Way Forward for Men & Boys".

A Panel Discussion follows to discuss "Ending Domestic Violence - What Needs to Change". Trauma Informed Yoga teacher, Josephine Doyle, will provide a Trauma Informed Yoga class.

Sunday they will hold a Community Forum/Fundraising Luncheon with Domestic Violence Barrister Paul Glissan as Keynote Speaker.

www.facebook.com/Heart-And-Soul-Care

www.heartandsoulcare.org.au

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Free Music Festival

The Full Set Fest is a free mini music festival in Globe Lane, Wollongong, for Make Music Day.

The Yours and Owls crew are hosting some local favourites from 2pm. On the lineup is Good Lekker, Big Twisty and the Funk Nasty, Boomchild, The Hunts, Left Land and more.

Make Music Day originated in France in 1982 as the Fete de la Musique and now more than 1,000 cities around the world take part.

It is celebrated as part of the NSW Government's annual Festival of Place, which is a rolling program that highlights the importance and beauty of great public spaces and was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winter Mesangkepan (Soup Kitchen)

Wollongong's Balinese Spice Magic on Keira Street are having a pay-as-you-feel evening to raise money for the disadvantaged and feed the needy.

From 4pm until 9pm their winter soup kitchen will be open. It is free to book and people can make a donation or pay-as-they-feel on the night.

All proceeds will go to Kind Hearts Illawarra.

For all restaurant bookings please contact (02) 4227 1033. http://balinesespicemagic.com.au/

Steel City Strings Orchestra

Steel City Strings' biennial Celebration of Youth concert returns in 2021, showcasing some of the region's most talented young musicians.

Works from Mozart's Violin and Clarinet Concertos, Vivalidi and the premiere performance of the string orchestral work that won the SCS Youth Composition Competition.

Tickets to 'Celebration of Youth' are On Sale Now at www.SteelCityStrings.com.au.