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Your ultimate guide for staying in the know and getting inspired. An essential wrap-up of arts news and the best interviews, brought to you by the Arts team at ABC Radio National.
42 Episodes
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Bad Bunny is one of the biggest musicians of the 2020s, with multiple hit records and a massive worldwide fanbase. With the recent announcement that he'll be headlining the Super Bowl half-time show, we look back at his 2025 album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, and discuss why the announcement has raised the ire of some people on the far right of American politics. Sky explains why The Lowdown, a Southern noir with a healthy dose of humour and a standout lead performance by Ethan Hawke, is making a play for best TV show of the year. Ce sells the comforts of Sherlock & Co, a podcast adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic mysteries.Dwayne Johnson is getting serious praise for his performance in The Smashing Machine, a biopic about the MMA fighter Mark Kerr, but is the film visceral enough to support the acting, or does it pull its punches?Plus a stunning new jazz album from precocious Australian saxophonist Tessie Overmyer, and a tour from the Luminescence Chamber Singers, inspired by Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights.
Two major prizes — The Prime Minister's Literary Award and the Queensland Literary Awards — have announced their choices over the last week, adding an exciting new pile of books to the must-read pile that we're all trying to work our way through. We meet two of the authors who are being recognised: Krystal Sutherland, winner of the Prime Minister's Award for Young Adult Literature for The Invocations; and Laura Elvery, winner of the People's Choice Award at the Queensland Literary Awards for Nightingale.And what impact does sound have on the way we experience a generated world? Pete Ward is the Audio Director for MachineGames, who were behind one of the biggest games of the last year: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. He's also one of the guests at High Score, a conference at the Melbourne International Games Week this weekend.Our track of the week is Big Feet, Bigger Shoes by Abby Wallace.
With two major films launching this week, The Screen Show's Jason Di Rosso pops in to share his thoughts.One of Hollywood's major auteurs, Paul Thomas Anderson, brings us his second adaptation of Thomas Pynchon, turning Vineland into One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in an alternate near future not too different than our own. It's a propulsive action film, with a healthy sense of absurdism, that's also an examination of political and state violence and what one generation leaves to the next - but the team is split on how effective it is on those themes.And Spinal Tap, one of the great mockumentaries, gets a sequel: The End Continues — but should it?Plus Ce Benedict recommends The Hack, a new TV show on Stan, and the new Neko Case album brings the team together.
Last week, ABC chose to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! from broadcast, after criticism from the Chairman of the FCC. The network has now reversed that decision and Kimmel will be back this week, but the decision has led to protests, boycotts, and a lot of concerns about the state of free speech in the US. David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, explores why ABC initially folded so quickly in the face of the Administration's concern.And reporting emerged last week that Melbourne University Press had commissioned an independent report into the sustainability of Meanjin in February this year. In July, they received the recommendations, which did not include shuttering the publication. By September, it was announced that Meanjin would shut down at the end of the year. Nick Feik, who's been writing about the decision for Crikey, breaks down his reporting.Our track of the week is Wreck by Neko Case.Headlines this week include:Sally Rooney chooses not to collect literary award over concern of arrestIsraeli Film Academy Awards Face Government Defunding After Anti-War Movie 'The Sea' Wins Top PrizeFrance selects It Was Just An Accident as its Oscar entry
Claire Nichols from The Book Show joins the team to talk through the biggest name in comedy at the moment: The Studio. With a record-breaking 13 Emmys at the 2025 awards, we share our takes on what's made the show such a critical darling. Sky makes the case for The Names, by Florence Knapp, a novel that hinges on a sliding door moment, but is actually a deep examination of the impact domestic violence leaves on a family and what it means to be a good person.Claire's had a chance to read the new Ian McEwen, What We Can Know, and says it may be one of his best.And Ce's thrilled to find 'the bigfoot of Bruce Springsteen recordings' finally surfacing after 40 years. Plus a tribute to Robert Redford: actor, activist, and giant of the film industry.
The state of television and streaming is perhaps more precarious than it’s been since before the “streaming revolution”... so what do this year’s Emmys tell us about which way the industry is going? ABC News' Velvet Winter takes us through the stats and the pleasant surprises. Arts Project Australia has been around for 5 decades now: the first full-time art studio in Australia for artists with an intellectual disability. It’s launched the careers of several internationally regarded artists. Now they’ve launched a big new commissioning series: Limitless. This series allows APA artists to take on works of a major scale - with the first exhibition, Embodied, being a year in the making. Sky Kirkham headed out to APA headquarters to meet the team behind the project.
Welcome to the Arts in 30 Weekender, where we're setting the news aside and sharing our tips on what to check out and what to skip from the world of the arts.With voting for the Radio National Top 100 Books well underway, we argue the case for genre fiction being among the best of the century and bring you some of our picks: China Mieville's The Scar and Terry Pratchett's Night Watch.Sky enthuses about Bleak Squad, a new Australian supergroup featuring members of The Dirty Three, The Bad Seeds, Magic Dirt, and Art of Fighting. And Ce urges everyone to check out the Mary Wallopers while they're on tour.Plus the joys of a fringe festival and In The Heights makes its way to HOTA, on the Gold Coast
Meanjin is set to shut down after 85 years, with the board of their publisher, Melbourne University Press, saying that it’s a purely financial decision. But is financial viability the metric that a literary magazine should be judged against? Former editor Jonathan Green takes us into the finances of running a literary magazine, and Ben Eltham explains why he's organising a protest to save Meanjin.And Anthropic, the developers of a major generative AI model, have agreed to pay $US 1.5 Billion in a settlement with authors and publishers who brought a class action suit against the company: $3000 per work, for 500000 works. Jennifer Mills, board member of the Australian Society of Authors, explains what this will mean for Australian writers.Our track of the week is What Is The Reason For It? by David Byrne [Ft. Hayley Williams]
Tropfest, the biggest short film festival in the world, has been resurrected six years after it was last staged. With a slew of sponsors and partners, the new Tropfest must contend with a world which has embraced short-form video as a sort of default mode of expression online. Founder John Polson shares his vision for the return of the festival in uncertain times.And Iranian documentary maker Shirin Barghnavard is part of ABC Radio National's Top 5 Arts residency, as a PhD candidate at Edith Cowan University. She shares her story of making films under government surveillance, and in diaspora. Our track of the week is Overdrive by Siobhan Cotchin.
After a challenging 12 months, which saw the exit of the CEO and artistic director and a ten million dollar operating deficit, Opera Australia has announced a new leadership team: new CEO, new Chair, and a new director of music, with the artistic director role now split between music and opera. Dr Caitlin Vincent, author of Opera Wars, looks at what we should expect from the company in the coming years and why one of Australia's most prestigious arts organisations has struggled with leadership and with their finances.And Campbell Addy is one of the most in-demand photographers of his generation, with a portfolio that includes names like Beyonce, Naomi Campbell, and Tyler, the Creator. He takes us behind the scenes of a magazine cover shoot and explores the intersection of art and fashion ahead of his exhibition, I Love Campbell, at the Ballarat Foto Biennale.Our track of the week is Dream 11 / Moth-Like Stars Pt 2 by Max Richter.Headlines this week include:The White House targets the Smithsonian and Kennedy CenterMelbourne International Film Festival prize winnersAli Tahayori awarded the NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging)
More than 50 writers pulled out of the Bendigo Writers Festival over the weekend, as did the festival's official bookshop, after organisers sent a code of conduct to some speakers less than 2 days before the festival was due to begin.The code included advice that speakers 'avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful'. It also included the Universities Australia definition of anti-Semitism.Randa Abdel-Fattah, one of the festival headliners, explains why she was one of the first to withdraw. And journalist Alex McKinnon shares his reporting about behind-the-scenes lobbying ahead of the event.And in the middle of Poetry Month and with voting for the Top 100 books set to kick off in September, poet and author Maxine Beneba Clarke shares her favourite poems of the Century so far and reflects on the enduring power of the formOur track of the week is The Highway Knows by Molly Tuttle.
Last week, the productivity commission published their interim report on Harnessing data and digital technology. Among the ideas under consideration is a 'fair dealing exception' that would cover the text and data mining that is used to train generative AI models.The creative sector has been swift and vocal in their feedback, with key organisations across the country rejecting the idea. Professor Stephen King, one of the report's authors explores the thinking that informed the suggestion. And Simon Kennedy, president of The Australian Association of Voice Actors & Nicholas Pickard, executive director of public affairs and government relations at APRA AMCOS share the industry's response.And it's awards season in Darwin, with major prizes in visual art, music and fashion awarded over the last week. Rudi Bremer, the host of RN's Awaye, was on the ground and she brings us all the details and the action from this celebration of First Nations art.Our track of the week is Didn't Play Mull of Kintyre by Jerrah Patston
Two online game platforms, Steam and Itch.io, have removed hundreds or thousands of games that are tagged as including adult content. They've said that the move was necessary because they were at risk of losing access to the financial institutions like Visa, Mastercard, and Paypal, that allow them to process transactions. Rainey Reitman and Kath Albury explain why those payment companies have gotten involved, and what would it mean for financial groups to become the moral arbiters of art and commerce.And Sarah Lloyd and Ben Alldridge, two of the finalists of the Beaker Street Science Photography Prize, take us behind the scenes as they capture images of microscopic slime mould and bio-fluorescent quolls.Our track of the week is While I Got Time by Jessica Mauboy
What will the arts look like in Australia in a decade? And what could it look like with a plan and strategy that’s looking that far into the future? A new paper is recommending a 10 year national arts and culture strategy and a ministerial council that brings together federal, state and local representatives. Kate Fielding, CEO of A New Approach, explains why the Government should learn from their approach to sport and take a long view on the arts.And from illegal tags to corporate commissions, the public sentiment around street art has changed significantly over the last three decades. Tim Phibs looks back on the changing face of street art in Australia as he launches a new public installation in Newtown.Our track of the week is Kanana by BumpyStories mentioned in the headlines:Siang Lu wins Miles Franklin Literary Award for Ghost CitiesDirector and production company clash over film re-release featuring AI-generated endingFrench Culture Minister Rachida Dati to be tried for corruptionAmy Sherald Cancels Her Smithsonian Show, Citing CensorshipSydney Writers Festival launches year-round program
Winning a film festival prize can launch an independent movie far beyond the festival circuit, leading to critical attention and international distribution deals. But in a space as subjective as the cinema, how does a jury pick their winner? Two members of the MIFF Bright Horizons jury, director Charlotte Wells and composer and musician Caitlin Yeo, share their perspectives.And earlier this year Taylor Swift bought back the rights to her masters, after spending years re-recording her early work. But even before the purchase, her actions have inspired others, including Australian musician Pete Murray, who has recently recorded a new version of his hit single Better Days, with more to come. ABC digital reporter Megan Macdonald explains why some musicians have had to head back into the studio to claim back their own songs.Our track of the week is 3am by Sleepazoid Stories mentioned in the headlines:Questions around CBS' decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen ColbertAffair exposed at Coldplay concertVale Andrea Gibson'Make it stop' — Auckland moviegoers boo AI video depicting Māori and Russell Crowe
After a fourth round of layoffs have hit Microsoft's games division, what does it mean for the industry at large? And with comments from competitors like "I don't think Gamepass can co-exist with other models, they'll either kill everyone else, or give up," is Gamepass a boon for consumers or a death knell for artists? Jody Macgregor, weekend editor at PC Gamer, gets us up to speedAnd with 7.8 million dollars, spread across 20 projects in its first round of funding, the Creative Futures Fund has a goal of supporting ambitious work. The fund's director Wendy Martin discusses the philosophies and practicalities behind the decisions.Our track of the week is Gone A Long Time by Billy Strings.Stories mentioned in the headlines:UNESCO approves world heritage listing for WA's Murujuga rock artKPop Demon Hunters soundtrack dominating music chartsGao Zhen pleads not guilty in trial
Khaled Sabsabi is once again Australia's representative to the 2026 Venice Biennale, after the Board of Creative Australia reversed their previous decision to rescind his invitation. Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, the former director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, says that Instead of shying away from controversy, a strong agency would embrace it and work to engage the public. But after an independent review that spoke a lot about risk management, what will happen to Creative Australia's appetite for risk?And Emily Kam Kngwarray is one of Australia's most renown artists and one of the most expensive. This week, a major collection of Kngwarray's art opens at the Tate Modern in London. Featuring more than 70 pieces, it's the first exhibition of this scale of her work in Europe. Danielle MacLean, director of Emily: I am Kam, explores the life, the Country, and the politics behind the art.Our track of the week is Something About A Cake Shop by Stiff Gins.Stories mentioned in the headlines:Sean Combs, aka Diddy, found guilty on two charges, but acquitted on three othersGareth Sansom wins the Sorrento Art PrizeMuseum of West African Art announces first public exhibitionActor Julian McMahon dies at 56Actor Michael Madsen dies at 67
UK punk duo Bob Vylan have the political world in an uproar after their set at Glastonbury Festival, which included some inflammatory language about Israel and Gaza. But Bob Vylan were far from the only act to speak out from the stage. UK journalist Ash Sarkar takes us into the battle of words between the government and musicians in the UK.Anna Wintour is stepping back from her role as editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years. Wintour isn't moving away from the industry, but it marks a significant shift for Wintour and for the magazine. Former Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Kirstie Clements explores Wintour's impact and the role of fashion magazines in 2025.And Brett Adlington looks at regional galleries in NSW, who face significant budget shortfalls after the latest round of funding announcements by Create NSW. Our track of the week is Blissing Part I & II by Freyja Garbett
For decades, the assumption has been that if you're from one of the smaller towns in Australia and you want a career in the arts, you'll have to move to Melbourne. But, according to a new report tabled in the Victorian parliament last week on the cultural and creative industries, "It has never been harder for Victorians to make a living in the creative sector". Georgie Purcell, who headed that inquiry, shares the lessons she's hoping the government (and governments around Australia) can learn.And La Mama Theatre survived a fire and the pandemic, but has had to pause performances this year to try to figure out how to build a more sustainable future. CEO Caitlin Dullard explains what's led to that pause and what the future might look like — for La Mama and for independent theatre across Australia.Our track of the week is Bawuypawuy by Drifting Clouds, chosen by Sara Glaidous.Stories mentioned in the headlines:NSW government unveils $380m arts packageMiles Franklin shortlist announcedMan Sits On and Breaks Crystal-Encrusted 'Van Gogh' Chair in Italian Museum Before FleeingGlobally recognised Lockhart River Art Centre on verge of collapseRudi Bremer, Teresa Tan, and Daniel Browning win mid-year Walkley for art journalism
"A bottomless pit of plagiarism." That's how Disney and Universal have referred to Midjourney — a generative AI platform — in a new lawsuit that alleges significant copyright infringement. Reid Southen shares what he discovered in his research, which is quoted extensively in the lawsuit.Last year, the Triple J Hottest 100 had among the fewest Australian artists ever in the countdown. This year the network plans to put things right, with a Hot 100 of Australian music. And most of us say we love Australian music, but the amount we consume seems to be going steadily down. Creative Australia have been working to find out what's driving that trend, Dr Christen Cornell talks about their Listening In reports.Our track of the week is Sae Slight a Thing by Quinie, chosen by Ellie Parnell.Stories mentioned in the headlines:Brian Wilson dies, aged 82Harvey Weinstein found guilty of one charge, acquitted of one charge, and third charge ends in mistrialSly Stone dies, aged 82Yael van der Wouden wins Women's Prize for Fiction
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