No Money Weekend

SHORT FILM FESTS ARE THE BEST

The world's largest short film festival kicks off this saturday in Sydney, Centennial Park. And best of all it's free, so head on down for a chance to watch sixteen short films based around the concept of 'Mirror'. If you're not sure about it then let me suggest some of the best films from the last few years; Off The Meter, Revive (this won People's choice last year) or Better Than Sinatra (Second prize in 2013 Feb). The festival also features performances from Elizabeth Rose, Thelma Plum and Jane Tyrell. Trop Jr kicks off at 11am, Tropfest pre-show entertainment and live music from 3pm and the 16 Finalist Films will screen from 7:30pm. So get on down! - Liam Apter

Sat Dec 6, Centennial Park, Sydney. 11pm - late.

SHORT FILM FESTS ARE THE BEST PART 2

You probably read the first sentence of this and went, 'I don't live in Sydney, stop rubbing it in!' But luckily it's also being screened in Melbourne (HERE), Adelaide (HERE), Perth (HERE) and Canbbera (HERE). - Liam Apter

TAKE STOCK OF THE TALENT

If you hate any of these things: lining up to get into venues, paying money to get into venues, paying for expensive drinks inside venues, dealing with riff-raff individuals getting in the way of you having a good time with your mates...then there is an event that's the antithesis of all that, and it's Yardstock. Grab a longneck from Dan Murphys then join some music-loving Perth crew for a free stroll through a few backyards in the North Perth area and surrounds, where awesome local indepdent bands and artists will set up their gear and be playing super intimate, super lo-fi sets. Injured Ninja, MiteyKo, Diger Rokwell, The Weapon Is Sound, Dream Rimmy, Race To Your Face, Night Signals, Mei Saraswati, Emu Xperts, Spacehound, Erasers and Joni In The Moon have all signed up to play for you. This is always a total highlight on the Perth local music calendar and a bloody brilliant day where the community values of Perth's DIY indie music scene shine. BBQ at the second yard if you fancy a feed. - Dani Marsland

Sat Dec 6, 12pm - 10pm. Free, donations to the Refugee Rights Action Network appreciated on the day. Head to the Yardstock Facebook page where venues / set times will be released tomorrow.

Above: Dream Rimmy

MORAN O' MAN

Until Sunday 15th Feburary 2015, the Moran Art Prizes will be showcasing what they believe to be some of Australia's best portrait painting and photographs. It's open to those in High school; with a seperate categories for ages groups and a selection of the finalists on the display. You can check out some of the current and past portrait finalists HERE, photographic finalists HERE and the student catergory HERE. - Liam Apter

Juniper Hall, 250 Oxford St, Paddington, opposite Country Road. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Credit: Rhys Lightning by Matt Palmer

SODA TALENT STREAM

SODA is an acronym for 'School of Design and Art' and it's where Curtin University likes to hide our future artists and designers. Tonight, they're letting the creatives loose, for the annual graduate. The best of the best (80 students' worth) makes it into this show, and none of the rest. The works go the full medium spectrum: painting, printmedia, sculpture, digital and interdisciplinary art. The crowd's always younger and much more fun than your typical stodgy old school gallery exhibition opening lot, combine this with future-forward thinking from brihgt minds, and we have ourselves a deal. An art deal, even, if you throw some cash towards taking a rising art talent's work home. - Dani Marsland

Exhibition opens Fri Dec 5, 6pm. Runs until Dec 10. Gallery open 10am - 4pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays. Curtin University, Bentley.

FARSHUNS UNDER THE STARS

The QV will be opening up their green for this 40-stall market which highlights the best in independent Melbourne fashion designers like Neon Pear and Vicki Leigh. And throughout the day it's open it'll served by a pop-up cafe. And on Fridays (arguably the weekend) it'll be served by a pop-up bar and chill-out areas with music being played. - Liam Apter

QV Square, on the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston street. Monday - Thursday 10am to 5pm. running till 21 December. Friday 10am to 10pm. Weekends 12pm to 5pm.

HOW BAZAAR, HOW BAZAAR

Now that we’ve hit the final month of the year and the Christmas celebrations are looming, now is the perfect time to start looking for gifts. The people at the Fremantle Arts Centre have organised Bazaar WA’s Best Christmas Market, and its kicking off this Friday. With over 50 local traders showcasing their work, you’re guaranteed to find something special for a loved one, or perhaps yourself. Expect to see unique WA-designed jewellery, fashion, woodworks, ceramics, sculptures, textiles and more. Shop under the stars! - Jack Burton

Fri Dec 5, 5pm-10pm, Sat Dec 6-7, 9am-5pm, Front Garden, Fremantle Arts Centre. Fremantle. $2 entry. 

CRAZY FOR CREOLE

Afro-Creole Perth singer Grace Barbe is one of those 'challenge you not to shake your body to this' type live performers. Regardless of your music taste, she fully brings it with her band. Take a listen to her album Welele! here, then shoot down to RTRFM's open-air pop up bar The Courtyard Club to see her play this evening, with ultimate vinyl selector Jack Doepel, from RTRFM's Giant Steps contemporary jazz show, bringing it home. - Dani Marsland

Fri Dec 5, State Theatre Centre Courtyard, Cultural Centre Northbridge. Free. 

Above: Grace Barbe

 SEE A 26.5m TALL PUPPET IN SOUTHBANK 

This monstrously tall puppet is called Everybody and was made by the puppet company called Suff Puppets. It came out of a successful fundraiser and between this thursday to saturday it'll be out strutting it's stuff around Testing Grounds in Southbank. And what's most exciting about this puppet is that instead of the puppeters violently telling everyone NOT to touch you're actually encouraged to pull out it's various organs and do whatever you want! - Liam Apter

Testing Grounds, 1-23 City Road, Southbank.

ILLUMINATED STREETS

Leederville is one of those rare places that’s just as fascinating to wander around during the day as it is at night. This Sunday, The City of Vincent and Leederville connect have organised The Light Up Leederville Carnival, a day and night of food, drink and entertainment around the streets of Leederville. The festivities will be starting at midday on Sunday where you can expect to see a vast array of music, arts, fashion and performers. With an impressive 250 market stalls, eight stages and three family areas, the carnival is something to be enjoyed by people of all ages. - Jack Burton

Sun Dec 7, 12pm-8pm, Free entry. The full carnival program can be downloaded here. 

STEP BACK IN TIME

The Museum of Brisbane is bringing together costumes from the golden age of Hollywood, the 1920s to the 1960s. All these costumes were collected by Nicholas Inglis and he has now decided to put them on show. Featuring costumes worn by Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Grace Kelly and more. This won't be going anywhere else so if you dream of a time where everyone was far more fashionable, sauve and just knew how to throw a good party then this is for you. - Liam Apter

Museum of Brisbane, Level 3, Brisbane City Hall/Adelaide St. Saturday, 22 November - Sunday, 24 May. 

A FURRTASTIC LAUNCH PARTY

 Melbourne rockers The Furrs are throwing a free launch party this friday down in Fortitude Valley for you all to get jiggy at. They're also bringing The Trotskies and Soviet X-Ray Club in as support acts for the night. - Liam Apter

Black Bear Lodge, 322 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Friday, December 5, 8pm.