Richard speaks with Nicole Beyer, the Executive Director of Theatre Network Australia about the Federal Government's recently announced $250 million arts sector bail-out package. Beyer shared her cautious confidence in the government implementing a strategy that takes into account the long-term impacts of COVID.
Plus Richard chats with David Berthold, the executive chair of Playwriting Australia, about an exciting new work that speaks to the COVID experience. Dear Australia is a collaboration of 50 Australian playwrights creating 50 "postcards" which will be livestreamed. The works diverge, but Berthold said a theme that has emerged is 'hope'.
Finally Richard chats with Lesley Harding, the Artistic Director of Heide Museum of Modern Art, which is reopening with a retrospective of Joy Hester. Hester has been somewhat overlooked amongst her modernist contemporaries such as Albert Tucker and Sidney Nolan. This exhibition aims to showcase her powerful work to a wide audience.
About this program
Visual art, theatre, film and literature. Segments include:
- 'Art Attack' - fortnightly visual arts reviews with Ace Wagstaff and Tai Snaith.
- 'Shoot the Messenger' - fortnightly theatre news & reviews with Fleur Kilpatrick.
- 'Drawn Out' - monthly chat about comic books and graphic novels with Bernard Caleo.
Please email talks@rrr.org.au for all interview requests.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Richard Watts has many years experience working in the arts industry, including five years as the Artistic Director of the youth arts organisation Express Media, seven years on the Board of Melbourne Fringe (including three years as Chair), and six years on the Committee of Management at La Mama Theatre, where he currently serves as Chair. Richard has helped program a range of festivals including Next Wave, the National Young Writers' Festival, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and the Emerging Writers' Festival (which he founded) and he has written for various broadsheets, journals, zines and magazines. Currently he pays the rent by working as the Performing Arts Editor at www.artshub.com.au. In his spare time he watches old Doctor Who episodes.
The podcast intro and outro theme is Soft Illusion and was generously provided by Andras.
https://andras.bandcamp.com/track/soft-illusion
