Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Awards in this year’s Australian and International Artists of the Year Awards.

Its Create Grants program awards writers and artists a living allowance, enabling them to create new work.

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music has announced the next cohort of composers who will take part in the program, led by Liza Lim.

The winners were announced at the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address at Melbourne Recital Centre, presented this year by Deborah Cheetham.

Dasika will use the $20,000 prize to commission new works for double bass by composers who have worked between Western and Carnatic music traditions.

The summer exhibition for next year will be a major, Sydney-exclusive Matisse exhibition from the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The classical music category was introduced by the National Live Music Awards this year.

Musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe will be amongst the guest artists at the first ever Bendigo Chamber Music Festival.

Other items up for auction include two premium tickets to Yo-Yo Ma's Sydney performance, with proceeds going to Gondwana's programs for children.

Highlights include a new work by Tim Finn, the return of Emma Matthews, and a production from Glyndebourne.

The Ballet companies’ fundraising campaign to fit out its new Academy home at Kelvin Grove State College exceeded its target by $170,000.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales will host an unusual performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy over the next two weeks.