Australia heads to the polls on the 3rd of May to elect a new federal government. And while the campaign so far has centred on the cost of living, the result will also have a major impact on the arts.

What are the most important issues for those working in the industry? And what would they like voters to think about as they head into the booth? Sophie Cunningham, Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, Matthew Deaner, CEO of Screen Producers Australia, and Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS share their priorities.

Our track of the week is Hindsight by Ruby Mae

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Financial problems at Queensland Ballet could lead to job cuts

Academy Sets New Oscars Rules

Garry Starr wins Most Outstanding Show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The Academy Awards have announced a new category, which will recognise the best stunt design in a film, but what does it take to actually pull off those stunts safely? Keir Beck, who has worked on everything from James Bond to Mad Max, takes us behind the scenes.

The Art Gallery of NSW, one of the oldest and most prestigious art institutions in the country, recently announced a new director. Maud Page has become the 10th director and the first woman to take on the role. After making history in her appointment, what does the future hold for Page and for the gallery?

Our track of the week is Coming Home by Liz Stringer

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Prada acquires Versace

Writer-director James Toback ordered to pay $1.68 billion US in sexual abuse case

Committee investigating abuse in French arts publishes damning report

Rob Hirst reveals pancreatic cancer battle

The remote art centre collective at the heart of claims of white interference in black art has been cleared of any wrongdoing for the fourth and final time. But what was the cost for the organisations and the people who were caught up in the allegations?  Bruce Johnson McLean the former head curator, of First Nations Art at the NGA explains why he's left the major institutions behind for now.

From the Tate Modern in London to Sydney's White Bay, converted power stations have become some of the most interesting venues for art in major cities across the world. Now the Perth Festival is joining this tradition, with a new site for art and music at the East Perth Power Station. Festival director Anna Reece explores the past and future of the site.

We pay tribute to Uncle Vic Simms and his extraordinary album, The Loner, recorded inside the notorious Bathurst Gaol. 

After nearly two years of scrutiny, the remote art centre collective at the heart of claims of white interference in black art has been cleared for the fourth and final time. The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations has concluded their investigation and decided to take no action. Gabriella Coslovich looks back at where the claims began and the impact they've had on the artists, curators, and administrators involved.

And this year's Hottest 100 featured the fewest Australian songs in almost three decades. At the same time, long running music festivals are being cancelled or paused. Joe Hardy and John Watson explore what's happening to the Australian music scene.

And Casey Green shares the music you need to hear this week – Continuum 9 by Nala Sinephro.

While Karla Sofía Gascón became the first openly trans woman to be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars for her role in Emilia Pérez, former US president Donald Trump declared that "there are only two genders" and made sweeping changes to diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the country. Writer and artist Lucy Sante explores what this will mean for trans and gender-diverse artists in America.

In the wake of the fires in Southern California, with the loss of private collections and the threat to the Getty Museum, how are Australia's cultural institutions protecting their collections in an era of climate change?

We pay tribute to the writer, director, actor, and artist, David Lynch, and to the great Radio National broadcaster Julie Copeland.

And Ellie Parnell shares the music you have to hear - the first original song recorded by Roger Knox.

Your survival guide to arts and culture in Australia and across the globe, Arts in 30 with Daniel Browning is a new digest of the big stories in arts and entertainment. 

Get up to speed with the news you need to know, plus the best stories and conversations from the Radio National arts desk, and new tracks for your playlist from music correspondents across the ABC’s music networks..

Beyond the culture wars, Arts in 30 mines our cultural foundations in a non-extractive way and once we hit bedrock we go big sky, to dream about what Australian culture might be in the future.

Whatever their medium, artists deal with sensitive topics, often taking a critical, anti-establishment approach. But at the moment, some artists are finding that their art, and their opinions, can see them shut out of the business. Leading arts figure Louise Adler discusses what arts organisations and leaders should do to protect the independence of the arts, and the impact that changes to boards and funding have had on their preparedness to take a risk.

And a new report compares the jobs of the visual arts industry to the gig economy, with low wages, high levels of unpaid work, and a significant gender pay gap. Professor Grace McQuilten and Madeleine Thornton-Smith take us into the galleries and explore whether an art market with stable employment is a possibility.

Our track of the week is Young Americans by David Bowie

Stories mentioned in the headlines:Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

Additional charges laid against Sean (Diddy) Combs

Sundance Film Festival moving to Boulder, Colorado

The Stella Prize shortlist is announced

The NGA makes its biggest acquisition of the 2st Century, a work by Edvard Munch

In 2023, the Labor Government launched a major arts policy, Revive: a five year plan that promised substantial funding and a renewed focus on the arts by the Australian Government. 

With Australia heading to the polls on May 3rd to elect a new Federal government, how has the reality stacked up against the commitments? And what would Revive look like under a second Labor term?

Our track of the week is Love by Andrea Lam

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Monash University indefinitely postpones MUMA exhibition featuring Khaled Sabsabi's work

OpenAI produces work in the style of Studio Ghibli

Academy apologizes for not adequately supporting Oscar-winning Palestinian director

After internal documents from Meta were made public via a US court case, many Australian authors have found out that their work may have been used by the tech giant to train its generative AI model, Llama 3, without their permission. Jennifer Mills, an author and director of the Australian Society of Authors, discusses how authors can be protected from copyright infringement on this unprecedented scale.

And Three Dresses by Nukgal Wurra writer and artist Wanda Gibson became the first children's book to win the Victorian Prize for Literature at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. Gibson shares memories of her own childhood at Hope Vale mission and her family's two-day walks to the beach for holidays.

Our track of the week is Nonna's Trolley by Mika James.

Last year, the actor Blake Lively accused her co-star Justin Baldoni of inappropriate conduct on the set of their film, It Ends With Us. That's led to lawsuits and counter-lawsuits, but it's also created an industry of influencers with very strong opinions about the cases, and particularly about Blake Lively. 

Kat Tenbarge explains how celebrities are using social media to shape public opinions — and why women tend to get caught in the crosshairs.

Our track of the week is Wrong by Annie & The Caldwells.

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Creative Australia releases the terms of reference for the review into the Venice Biennale decision.

Initial hearings begin in the court case between Jayson Gillham and the MSO

President Trump and Vice President Vance receive very different receptions at the Kennedy Center

The parliamentary inquiry into the live music industry has been handed down with a range of recommendations. But at the same time, another music festival has been cancelled: Esoteric is the latest to join the ranks, only one day before it was due to begin. Dr Ben Green explains what’s going on with live music in Australia and what it will mean for fans. 

Claire Nichols explores her new series on the Book Show, My Biggest Book.

Plus, the track of the week, Oblivion by Al Di Meola

An exclusive conversation with the gallerist Josh Milani, who represents Khaled Sabsabi, the artist at the heart of the controversy engulfing Creative Australia. Milani explains how he believes the crisis can be mitigated, shares the importance of events like the Venice Biennale on the commercial art sector, and talks about the personal impact of Creative Australia's decision on Sabsabi and his team.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young joins us to explore the fallout from a fiery senate estimate involving Creative Australia's leadership. And with the federal election approaching, the Greens have launched their arts policy — the senator talks content quotas for the streaming platforms, a living wage for artists, and whether obtaining the balance of power would allow them to implement their policies.

Plus the track of the week, Emmanuele by Abel Selaocoe.

The fallout over Creative Australia's decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino as Australia's representatives to the 2026 Venice Biennale has continued over the last week. 

A tense meeting between the CEO of Creative Australia, Adrian Collette, the chair of the board, Robert Morgan, and senators during an estimates hearing on Tuesday marked the first public comment by the leadership of that organisation since the decision to remove Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino as the Australian representatives to the 2026 Venice Biennale.

Richard Bell, a friend of Sabsabi, adds his voice to calls for Sabsabi's reinstatement.

And Emma Maye Gibson, aka Betty Grumble, takes us to the Sydney Mardi Gras to explore how the festival helps to build community and whether those communities are colliding with corporate interests.

The decision by Creative Australia to cancel their own selection for Australia's representative at the 2026 Venice Biennale has led to shock and condemnation across the arts industry, with several high profile resignations.

The announcement came less than a week after Khaled Sabsabi was originally picked, and followed a question by the Shadow Minister for the Arts in Parliament about Sabsabi's work from the mid-2000s.

With Associate Professor Tully Barnett, Emeritus Professor John Clark and Penelope Benton, the Executive Director of NAVA, we explore whether there is a precedent for the decision, consider the art itself, and hear why NAVA has described the situation as "a devastating and terrifying moment for artistic freedom in Australia."

For almost a quarter of a century, Peter Rose has steered the Australian Book Review as its editor, giving a space for Australian writers to engage critically with the work of their peers, and the wider literary world beyond our shores. As Rose steps aside, he reflects on why criticism remains an essential part of the arts.

New research paints a familiar picture, with those working behind the scenes in the music industry reporting financial stress, underemployment, and skills shortages. Kirsty Rivers, General Manager of the Victorian Music Development Office, shares new research into the music sector and talks about the potential solutions.

Our track of the week is 5 O'Clock Shadow by Elliot Lamb

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Harvey Weinstein retrial over rape and sexual assault charges begins

Kneecap faces pressure in the US and UK over statements at concerts

Australian Classification Review Board once again rules Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe is classified Unrestricted

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 Bumpy

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Siang Lu wins Miles Franklin Literary Award for Ghost Cities

Director and production company clash over film re-release featuring AI-generated ending

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati to be tried for corruption

Amy Sherald Cancels Her Smithsonian Show, Citing Censorship

Sydney Writers Festival launches year-round program

K.A. Ren Wyld won the Black&Write! Fellowship, only to have it withdrawn at the last minute over comments she had made on social media. Since then, at least seven judges have stepped down from their roles on the Queensland Literary Award in protest, and an open letter from First Nations writers has been published in support of Wyld. Evelyn Araluen, one of the judges and the organiser of the open letter, shares why she felt it was necessary to take a stand.

Michelle de Kretser, winner of this year's Stella Prize for her experimental novel, Theory & Practice, talks about the book, about the censorship around speech in the arts, and about having been on both sides of a judging panel.

Our track of the week is Wishing by Lonelyspeck

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Creative Australia chair Robert Morgan retires

Postponed Stolon Press show featuring Khaled Sabsabi to open at MUMA

Prize winners announced at the Cannes film festival

Rock art expert says WA government doctored elements of Murujuga rock art report

Member of Kneecap charged with terror offence for displaying Hezbollah flag at concert

Eurovision is a phenomenon in Australia, with more than 450-thousand people tuning in for the final this year. But what's it like to compete in this global extravaganza? And what impact does it have on a musician's career? Electric Fields, who represented Australia in 2024, share their experience at the competition.

Hasib Hourani reads his NSW Literary award-winning poem you can start anywhere, you'll still hit all the service stations, originally broadcast on Line Break

Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet have each announced losses of more than nine million dollars for the 2024/5 financial year. That follows on from leadership changes at both companies. Samuel Cairnduff says that this is more symptom than cause, and there are bigger issues facing the arts sector.

Our track of the week is Heartbreak by Tune-Yards

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Cannes attempts to institute new fashion rules on the red carpet

Gen Z gets a seat on NSW arts boards

Winners announced for the NSW Literary Award

Elton John brands government 'losers' over AI copyright plans

Over the last few years, the European Union has set out to include art and culture in their diplomatic work in Australia. Around the opening of their latest exhibition, Inside Pompeii: Origins of a European Way of Life, the EU Ambassador, Gabriele Visentin, shares his perspective on the value of art, beauty, and cultural understanding.

And Julie Fragar, the winner of the 2025 Archibald Prize, for her portrait of the artist Justene Williams takes us behind the scenes to find out what happened when she found out that she'd won, and why the portrait remains so important, even in the age of the selfie.

Our track of the week is Mother's Love by Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou, chosen by Stéphanie Kabanyana Kanyandekwe.

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Jude Rae wins the Wynne Prize and Gene A'Hern wins the Sulman

Fitzroy mural in Melbourne attracts more than 1,000 letters to Yarra council

Prominent art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at 57

Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by 4 former employees

NSW has become the first state to reinstate Michael's Rule for touring musicians, with the Minn's government offering a $20,000 discount on the hire of state owned venues for international acts that provide a platform for a local support act. Maggie Collins, the Executive Director of the Association of Artist Managers, talks about the impact that decision could have on the local industry.

And Tian Zhang discusses how she became the inaugural Chief Curator of the Ulaanbaatar Biennale in Mongolia, which will be running for the first time in June this year with the title On the Horizon, Under the Moon.

Our track of the week is Tomorrow Is A Long Time performed Ellen Stekert

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Trump Seeks to Eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts

Donald Trump announces 100 per cent tariffs on movies 'produced in foreign lands'

STC's Broadway hit Dorian Gray nominated for six Tony Awards

Brazil police thwart bomb attack on Lady Gaga concert

Grand Theft Auto 6's Delay Just Affected the Entire Video Game Industry

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 Colbert

Affair exposed at Coldplay concert

Vale 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 speed

And 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 art

KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack dominating music charts

Gao 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 others

Gareth Sansom wins the Sorrento Art Prize

Museum of West African Art announces first public exhibition

Actor Julian McMahon dies at 56

Actor 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 package

Miles Franklin shortlist announced

Man Sits On and Breaks Crystal-Encrusted 'Van Gogh' Chair in Italian Museum Before Fleeing

Globally recognised Lockhart River Art Centre on verge of collapse

Rudi 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 82

Harvey Weinstein found guilty of one charge, acquitted of one charge, and third charge ends in mistrial

Sly Stone dies, aged 82

Yael van der Wouden wins Women's Prize for Fiction

Marg Horwell has taken home the Tony Award for best costume design for a play for the Broadway production of The Picture of Dorian Grey, adding to her collection after taking out the Olivier Award for the West End production last year.

As part of their exploration of reforms begun last year, the Productivity Commission has called for submissions into "Harnessing data and digital technology" including the use of AI. Claire Pullen from the Australian Writers' Guild shares the hopes and concerns from her sector of the arts.

And the board of the Perth International Cabaret Festival has announced that the 2025 Festival will not proceed and that they will cease operations effective immediately. Ali Welburn, one of the festival's founders, explains what happened and looks to the future.

Our track of the week is Final Days by Lucius, chosen by Ce Benedict

Stories mentioned in the headlines:

Winners of the Tony Awards include Sarah Snook

Police investigating the killing of Jonathan Joss as a possible hate crime

Austin Mackay misses music festival performance after being detained at LAX

MSO records significant loss over last financial year

Lost Turner oil painting found after 150 years

Tom Cruise scores Guinness World Record for most burning parachute jumps

The Federal Government has given a proposed approval for an expansion of Woodside's North West Shelf gas project near Karratha in Western Australia. But Professor Benjamin Smith — an expert in world rock art — claims that the rock art at Murujuga, which is up to fifty thousand years old, is being degraded by recent industry and that the State Government is ignoring the evidence.

The Ramsay Art Prize is the biggest award for a young artist in Australia, with a prize of $100,000 and national recognition. You'll meet the winner of this year's prize, Jack Ball, and find out how the Australian Queer Archives in Melbourne inspired their exhibition, Heavy Grit.

And Daniel Browning reflects on his time in arts journalism as he leaves the ABC after 31 years. 

Our track of the week is Signs by Ólafur Arnalds & Talos 

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

Featuring troubled children in a small American town, an outsider who can sense that something is wrong, and hints of the supernatural, Wayward seems influenced by the work of Stephen King, but Ce argues that the new Netflix series fares a lot better than most of King's actual adaptations.

The new Luca Guadagnino film, After the Hunt, is aiming for ambiguity, but lacks the strength of its convictions, with Sky calling it one of the worst prestige scripts of the year. In apology, he offers up The Beast, the latest film by Bertrand Bonello, which is new to streaming. 

The Key's Under the Mat, the new Mick Hewson exhibition at The Tank in Sydney is a delight that shares its pleasures in person, rather than on social media. And Heide's combination of Man Ray and Max Dupain is a cleverly curated combination of surrealist photography and history.

In music, Sky offers up Blight, the new album by The Antlers, while Ce is excited about Sam Fender taking out the Mercury Prize.

And bonus offerings include Lesbian Space Princess, Bleak Squad's live tour, and Opera Australia's production of Rent.

A “compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” That’s how the jury for the Nobel Prize for Literature described the work of Hungary’s László Krasznahorkai, who was awarded the 2025 prize. For those of us who haven’t had a chance to dive into the novels, Julian Murphet, Jury Chair of English Language and Literature at the University of Adelaide, is here to give us the cliff notes. 

And from funding decisions to censorship, we report a lot about how politics impacts the arts. This week, we turn our gaze the other way. How do the arts impact policy, politics, and the way we see the world. Freyja Gillard from the Environmental Film Festival, Claire G Coleman from The Centre for Reworlding, and Angharad Wynne-Jones from Creative Climate share how artists are working to change our perspective on the environment.

Our track of the week is Track 3 from Gift - Our Breath of Life by William Barton and Omega Ensemble.

Headlines include:

Tasmanian government cuts funding to TAFE arts courses

Human Rights Watch refuses donations from Riyadh Comedy Festival performers

Creative Australia announces $1.6 million in new commissions

Julia Gillard to chair the jury of the 2026 Prize for Women's Fiction

Largest ever international touring exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art delayed by US Government shutdown

Diane Keaton dies at age 78

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 Center

Melbourne International Film Festival prize winners

Ali 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 form

Our track of the week is The Highway Knows by Molly Tuttle.

Taylor Swift's twelfth album, Life of a Showgirl, has broken sales records and immediately jumped to the top of the charts across the world, but critical praise has been in shorter supply. Has a return to the production team of Max Martin and Shellback led to a reinvigorated pop star? Or are the lyrics to Wood a sign of things to come?

Sky makes a pitch for The Invocations, a great YA novel that just won the PM's Literary Awards.

And why does it seem so hard to make a successful mid-budget caper movie this year? The team take on one last job as they catch Play Dirty, Caught Stealing, and Eenie Meanie, but find their best laid plans don't lead to much of a payoff.

The Riyadh Comedy festival continues this week and while comedians like Louis CK and Bill Burr defended their decision to perform, many of their colleagues and fans have been forthright in their critiques. 

The festival is one small part of a major investment in the arts by Saudi Arabia as part of their Vision 2030 strategy. Andrew Leber, assistant professor of Political Science at Tulane University explains the background behind Vision 2030 and explores whether the initial international response matters or whether the Saudi regime is playing a longer game.

And, as part of mental health week, Beci Orpin and Maria Bradshaw talk about the workshop and series of murals at the Women's Recovery Network, a mental health ward in Melbourne.

Our track of the week is Beautiful Strangers by Mavis Staples.

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 arrest

Israeli Film Academy Awards Face Government Defunding After Anti-War Movie 'The Sea' Wins Top Prize

France 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. 

Ce and Sky share their favourite picks of 2025.

Movies mentioned includes Freaky Tales, KPop Demon Hunters, Twinless, Sirat, The Secret Agent, Sinners, One Battle After Another, and One of Them Days.

Music mentioned includes Kathryn Joseph - We Were Made Prey, Ethel Cain - Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You; Perfume Genius - live & Glory; Billy Woods - Golliwog; Backxwash - Only Dust Remains; Abel Selaocoe - Hymns of Bantu; Ganavya; Jaime Martin & the SSO - Bolero.

Theatre mentioned includes the Siegfried and Roy opera, Hadestown, Beetlejuice, and Scout Boxall's God's Favourite.

And in poetry: Evelyn Araluen's The Rot and The Nightmare Sequence by Omar Sakr & Safdar Ahmed.

Rudi Bremer from Awaye joins the team to take us to the NGA where After The Rain, the fifth National Indigenous Art Triennial is bringing together a remarkable collection of work under the supervision of Artistic Director Tony Albert.

And with Summer holidays ahead, we recommend our TV shows of the year for your binge-watching pleasure. Ce chooses Wayward, Sky picks The Lowdown, and Rudi argues for The Residence.

Hidden Rivalry might not make the end of years list, but it has Ce and Rudi watching and fondly reminiscing about Yuri! On Ice!!

Sky looks ahead at some of the most interesting art-house releases of the Summer season, including The History of Sound, Sentimental Value and No Other Choice.

Ce is very unimpressed with Maggie Nelson's new book, which tries to compare and contrast the work and lives of Taylor Swift and Sylvia Plath.

And the biggest hip-hop artist in the world, Kendrick Lamar, is currently on tour around the country.

The board of the Australian Design Centre has announced that the centre will close on June 30, 2026, unless additional funding can be secured. The call comes after the centre lost out on significant ongoing funding from both Federal and State governments. CEO Lisa Cahill discusses the ADC’s options going forward.

Ahead of International Day for People With A Disability, we’re looking at accessibility in the arts - not just for audiences, but for performers and crew. How have things changed, what’s working, what isn’t, why oes it matter, and what exciting projects are on the horizon? Chaos Fae and Frankie Dyson Reilly from Vulcana Circus and Genevieve Clay-Smith from Bus Stop Films share their experience.

Our track of the week is Rocking Horse by Lauren Tsamouras and Tom Avgenicos.

It's Halloween, so Ce and Sky are diving into horror films and exploring what they love about the genre alongside a few picks - some famous and some a little more niche.

One horror film that's out this week is Bugonia, by Yorgos Lanthimos. It's a remake of the South Korean film Save The Green Planet, which is, if anything, better than the original and marks another chapter in the Lanthimos-Emma Stone-Jesse Plemons era. It's not for everyone, but Sky gives it his full-throated endorsement.

Twinless, a comedy that traces the friendship between two men who meet in a support group for people whose twin has died gets two thumbs. And Sky rates Happyend, a new Japanese film by Neo Sora, as one of his favourites of the year so far.

In music recommendations, Ce thinks West End Girl by Lily Allen is the perfect Halloween trick - at least for David Harbour, and Sky picks the remix version of A Fragile Geography by Rafael Anton Irisarri.

And in quick notes, the team are looking forward to a condensed Melbourne season by Opera Australia, and the ACO's Cocteau’s Circle.