SmartArts

Bernard Caleo is back for ‘Drawn Out’, our monthly comics segment; Artist Robert Clinch discusses ’Romancing the Streetscape’, an exhibition at Hawthorn’s Town Hall Gallery celebrating streetscapes, parks and buildings iconic to Melbourne; Meanjin editor and arts advocate Esther Anatolitis dissects the new National Cultural Policy ‘Revive’, designed to renew Australia’s arts, entertainment and cultural sector. With presenter Richard Watts.

Cheyney Caddy and Issy Weiskopf talk about their work on Black Apple Theatre’s production of ‘Thrive: Queer voices out loud’ for the upcoming Midsumma Festival; Playwright Jo Clifford on another Midsummer highlight, ‘The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven’, showing at fortyfivedownstairs; Photographer Jason Edwards discusses ‘Icebergs to Iguanas’, his new nature photography book. With presenter Richard Watts.

In our final Smart Arts episode for 2022, Anne-Marie Peard casts her eyes back over this year’s theatre highlights in our fortnightly theatre review segment; Vincent Alessi talks stepping into his new role as CEO and director of Linden New Art, and the Linden Postcard Show; Artistic director Ruth Mackenzie discusses what’s in store for the 2023 Adelaide Festival program. With presenter Richard Watts.

TarraWarra Museum of Art curator Anthony Fitzpatrick discusses the current exhibition on Australian painter Peter Booth; Author Kath Kenny talks about her work of narrative nonfiction ‘Staging a Revolution: When Betty Rocked the Pram’ via Upswell Publishing; Chelsea Hopper on 99% Gallery’s latest show ‘The General Public’, an “open call” for the general public to submit their artwork. With presenter Richard Watts.

Andy Freer, the CEO and artistic director of the 30-year-old Melbourne puppet company Snuff Puppets talks about the world premiere of ‘SWAMP’; Heide Museum of Modern Art’s artistic director, Lesley Harding, on Heide’s latest exhibition ‘Barbara Hepworth: In Equilibrium’; Director Kirsten von Bibra joins Identity Theatre founder and performer Ray Swann to discuss their adaptation of TS Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’. With presenter Richard Watts.

Sydney Festival’s artistic director Olivia Ansell chats about what’s in store for the immersive 2023 program in January; Bernard Caleo talks all things comic books for the Drawn Out segment; Ella Caldwell, artistic director of Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, runs through their 2023 season. With presenter Richard Watts.

Artist Jeremy Blincoe chats about his boundary-blurring exhibition ‘The Fragile Skin of the World’ at Linden New Art; Next Wave’s CEO Jamie Lewis on opening the doors to more artists with the new learning program All School; Ewan McEoin, NGV's senior curator of contemporary art, design and architecture talks ‘Melbourne Now’. With presenter Richard Watts.

Malthouse Theatre’s artistic director Matthew Lutton introduces the 2023 season; Comedian, drag king, DJ and producer Natali Caro talks ‘Thanks For Having Me’, a FRINGE comedy night for PoC and queer artists; Two members of Head First Acrobats, Thomas Gorham and Cal Harris, discuss their FRINGE comedy circus show ‘GODZ’. With presenter Richard Watts.

The Australian Ballet’s artistic director David Hallberg talks the 2023 season program; Christian Cavallo on directing the queer drama ‘If We Got Some More Cocaine I Could Show You How I Love You’ for Melbourne Fringe; Friday Funny Bugger Nat Harris chats about her Fringe comedy show ‘Sal & Friends’; Dario Vacirca of the Nicholas Building Association explains the bold new vision proposed for the building. With presenter Richard Watts.

The Irish Film Festival’s director Dr Enda Murray talks about 2022’s hybrid program; Artists Sonia Leber and David Chesworth on the new exhibition ‘Where Lakes Once Had Water’, combining Indigenous thought, art and science at Tarrawarra Museum of Art; Curator Hannah Matthews discusses ‘Shelley Lasica: When I Am Not There’, a reflection on 40 years of Lasica’s choreographic practice at MUMA. With presenter Richard Watts.