Five Tips - For Summer

Chekhov wrote "People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy." Well sorry Anton, but we think those first warm summer days are an incredible mood booster.

Summer has arrived and here's a collection of artsy summer activities that will keep you smiling this season and ensure that while your tan may fade, the summer memories will last all year round…

1) Sea of Dreams - Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery

Heading to the coast? Drop in to Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery where the exhibition Sea of Dreams tells the story of Port Phillip Bay and the integral role it played in the 19th and early 20th century. The best part? You can actually head down to Port Phillip Bay after and let it play an integral role in your day.

Find out more on the MPRG website

2) Visit Charles Conder's Ricketts Point - NGV Australia

If you can't actually get to the beach, head to NGV: Australia at Federation Square and marvel longingly at the Heidelberg School's beautiful paintings of the seashore at Rickett's Point, Mentone and Aspendale.

Charles Conder's Rickett's Point (1890) is a perennial favourite and was painted the summer before he departed for Europe.

Find out more about Charles Conder's work here

3) Free Outdoor Music

Melbourne is renowned for cranking up the music during summer and playing host to some seriously exciting and diverse musicians and musical events.

The St Kilda Festival is always a favourite and what's not to love about free concerts alongside extreme sports, dance, children's entertainment and great food with the gorgeous bay as the backdrop?

Prefer Rachmaninov to rock? Head to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for the MSO's Sidney Myer Free Concerts. On Wednesday and Saturday evenings through summer, bring a picnic and settle in to some delightful music.

4) Summer School

Everything is better in summer, even school. For the grown-ups, the State Library of Victoria is offering week-long courses this February focusing on rare books. Taught by leading experts you can choose courses covering everything from medieval manuscripts to contemporary handpress printing techniques.

For those looking for some stimulation for the little ones over the holidays, Museum Victoria has school holiday programs packed with activities and performances from dinosaur detectives to making mini aeroplanes.

Find out more about the State Library of Victoria's Summer school

Find out more about Museum Victoria's School Holiday program

5) Summer of the Seventeenth Doll - MTC

Looking for something to keep you cool on those hot summer nights? Melbourne Theatre Company is celebrating the season with Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, the ground-breaking 1955 play by Ray Lawler that marked the beginning of modern Australian drama.

It follows cane-cutters Roo and Barney who, each year, travel to Melbourne in the off season. After seventeen years, they come to realise that time has caught up with them.

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is sure to keep your mind ticking when you're lounging by the pool the next day.

Find out more about the Summer of the Seventeenth Doll here