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The Off Season

Imagine a place where scientists grace centre stage, microscopes live on bar tables, and late-night conversations have the potential to change the world. Welcome to Beaker Street Festival, where science brings us together. Beaker Street Festival is a week-long celebration of science in Lutruwita/Tasmania each August. Now approaching it’s ninth year, Beaker Street Festival promises a mix of wonder, flavour, and scientifically proven fun. The Festival invites adults from all walks of life to delve into today’s hottest topics with a packed program of science-infused entertainment and discussions, while experiencing the best of Tasmanian environments and culture.

The Off Season

This August, Tasmania's Central Coast transforms as Disrupted Tides lights up Penguin's coastline with an immersive sound and light show by artist Alex Moss, part of the Light Up the Central North West series. Projected onto the Penguin Uniting Church, this powerful piece invites you to reflect on the balance between progress and nature. Using the image of a single railway track, a symbol of human movement and industry, Disrupted Tides contrasts the quiet strength of the local landscape with the relentless push of progress, prompting us to consider what we gain and what we lose when we move forward without pause. Your winter weekend in Penguin doesn't stop there. Head to Penguin Beer Co for Crackle by Candlelight, where cosy fires and cold pints set the scene for a relaxed gathering with friends. Or venture underground for a guided tour of the Gunns Plains Caves, complete with a live didgeridoo performance by Charlie, adding a haunting, beautiful soundtrack to the natural wonder of the caves. It's a weekend of storytelling, art, connection, and celebration, set against the charm of a town full of history and heart.

The Off Season

Join us under the starry East Coast sky for Burning of the Canes, a rustic celebration marking the end of the winter pruning season and the rebirth of the vines. This annual tradition symbolises both the close of harvest and the spark of new beginnings. Gather around cozy fire pots at Devil's Corner as we ignite the canes - a breathtaking moment of fire, renewal, and community. Fire-twirlers will bring the flame to life in their roving performances, along with live music playing as you feast fireside on hearty spit roast from Big Pete's, Tutumaz and De Devil Food Van. Sip mulled wine and Devil's Corner vintages as you toast marshmallows over glowing coals. Lineup - Live Music with Pete Cornelius – Cane Burning Ceremony – Fire Twirling – Big Pete's Spit Roast+ Tutumaz and De Devil Food Van – Toasted Marshmallows, Cozy Fire Pots – Devil's Corner wines by the glass or bottle (Children under 18 are free but due to fire installations they must be accompanied by and stay with a parent/guardian and supervised at all times) Shuttle bus will be available from Bicheno and Coles Bay before and after the event. (be quick to grab your seat, limited numbers)

Featured

The Off Season

Presented by Hadley’s Orient Hotel, the Hadley’s Art Prize, Hobart is an acquisitive Australian landscape prize, which offers $100,000 to the winning entry. Hadley’s Orient Hotel has a long history with art starting with art-loving landlords in the late 1800s. The Hadley’s Art Prize contributes to the art community, celebrates excellence in contemporary landscape art, promotes cultural tourism in Tasmania, and restores art to the historic walls of Hadley’s Orient Hotel through a landscape prize similar to the competition won by Howard Hadley in 1895. Judged by a panel of art specialists, the prize is open to Australian artists over the age of eighteen working in two-dimensional media. Artists at all career stages are invited to enter.

The Off Season

Embrace Tasmania's Off Season with the immersive experience at Devil's Corner Cellar Door Your journey begins in the Devils Corner Lookout Tower, where you'll meet your host who will set the stage with captivating tales of the land. As you take in panoramic views of the vineyards, rugged Hazards mountains, and the tranquil expanse of Moulting Lagoon, you'll learn about Devil's Corner—from its humble origins to its dynamic evolution. Discover insights into the vineyard's sustainable practices, the distinctive local geography, and the vibrant birdlife that calls this place home. (Duration: 15–20 minutes) From the Tower, follow your guide down to the Cellar Door, pausing along the way to admire architectural details that echo the rugged beauty of the East Coast. Inside the tasting room, indulge in a guided premium tasting of the Hazards Range wines. Our expert guide will walk you through each exceptional pour, detailing the unique terroir, craft, and subtle complexities that define these exclusive wines. (Duration: 15–20 minutes) To complete this journey, relax and savor a beautifully presented Tasmanian charcuterie board, featuring a selection of local artisan cheeses, cured meats, and seasonal accompaniments. Enjoy these delectable bites as you soak in the sweeping views of the landscape—a perfect conclusion to an experience that celebrates the essence of place, history, and the art of fine wine.

The Off Season

Embark on a culinary journey this winter with our exclusive workshop series, designed to immerse you in the rich traditions of Italian-inspired charcuterie and advanced meat preparation techniques. Hosted by Rob Perry, the master of flavours, and his expert team from Casalinga Gourmet Meats, these workshops offer a unique opportunity to learn from Tasmania's finest artisans. Limited to 50 tickets per workshop. Thursday 26 June 2025 Smoker Secrets: Perfecting Your Meat Cut Selections Dedicated to teaching you how to select the best meat cuts for your smoker, guided by the Casalinga team. You'll learn how to achieve perfect textures and flavours. Thursday 31 July 2025 Festive Feasts: How to Impress with a Celebration of Flavours Embrace the spirit of Christmas in July as we explore festive specialty products that can be enjoyed year-round, highlighting hearty preparation techniques. This event will emphasise making hosting a festive experience an enjoyable one, ensuring you impress your friends and family with a delightful celebration of flavours, featuring products like ham on the bone, turducken, and pork porchetta. Thursday 28 August 2025 Smoke and Spice: Understanding the Charcuterie Process Discuss the craftsmanship behind our authentic Tasmanian Casalinga charcuterie & smallgoods products, covering essential topics such as produce selection, curing, pickling, and smoking techniques.

The Off Season

Join us this winter for a vine pruning masterclass. Explore the art of crafting exceptional sparkling wine from grape to glass with a guided tour of our vineyard in winter, where you’ll experience hands-on pruning and witness an integral cycle of wine growth. Then, delve into Clover Hill’s sparkling wine portfolio with a tasting masterclass spanning 15 years, accompanied by a cheese platter. This session concludes with a glass of Clover Hill sparkling and cheese platter to enjoy, whilst taking in the dramatic panoramas of the Clover Hill Vineyard and Lebrina Valley.

The Off Season

Artificial Intelligence was born in 1956, went through some awkward teenage years (also known as "AI Winters"), and then, to almost everyone's surprise, came roaring back with tools like ChatGPT. Today, AI is the fastest-growing industry in the history of capitalism and devours around 20% of the world's research and development (R&D) budget. That's a lot of brainpower (artificial or otherwise). Join Dr Karl as he connects the dots between the tech booms of yesterday, from the family car to the first home computers and today's mind-bending AI explosion. Along the way, he'll share how AI has been used to attack and discredit him, and how he's now turning the tables to make it a Force for Good. Expect real science stuff, genuinely funny (not artificially generated) stories, a few unexpected detours and of course, question time with prizes.

The Off Season

Ignite curiosity about the natural world as Wildlife Photographer of the Year returns exclusively to QVMAG in Tasmania. The world-renowned exhibition, now in its sixtieth year and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, features exceptional images that capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Using photography's unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images shine a light on stories and species around the world and encourage a future of advocating for the planet. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world for nearly 60 years. Launching in 1965, today the competition receives entries from 117 countries and territories all over the world, highlighting its enduring appeal. This year's award-winning images will embark on an international tour that will allow them to be seen by well over a million people. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Exclusively showing in Tasmania at QVMAG.

The Off Season

During a walk in the forest, naturalist and internationally celebrated slime mould expert Sarah Lloyd will describe the life cycle of slime moulds and their role in the ecosystem. Sarah will indicate the sort of places slime moulds inhabit, how and where to find them, and outline the difficulties of identifying Australian species, many of which require DNA sequencing to confirm their identity. We will get the chance to view numerous species under a microscope, and Sarah will demonstrate the photo stacking technique used to view the detail in these mostly small and very beautiful organisms. This is a rare opportunity to walk alongside one of science's self-taught experts, in an exceptional natural laboratory. Sarah has spent the past 15 years studying and collecting slime moulds (myxomycetes) in the wet eucalypt forest and based on her work, the area is now recognised as one of the world centres of myxomycetes diversity. Note: Photography will not be allowed during the tour. There will be a 2.5 km walk (each way) through the forest, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.