On August 4th, 1986, it was discovered that the most expensive painting in Australia, 'The Weeping Woman’ by Pablo Picasso, was missing from the National Gallery of Victoria's collection. Turned out it had been abducted by a cheeky new organisation no-one had ever heard of: the "Australian Cultural Terrorists” (the A.C.T) who were holding the painting ransom. Their demands? Increase funding to the arts, or the painting would be incinerated. 

Was this really a crime? Or was it more of an act of protest? Or a piece of performance art? Whatever the ACT intended it to be viewed as, it’s hilariously funny. 

Jacob shares the story with long time friend of the podcast and guest host Stuart Semple. Follow Stuart on Instagram @stuartsemple

Skip straight to the story: approx 13:21

We give you Just The Gist, but if you want more, there's this:

Watch the fantastic documentary “Framed” 

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/framed 

Read this article from the day after the painting was found to be missing 

https://www.theage.com.au/culture/art-and-design/from-the-archives-1986-victoria-refuses-stolen-picasso-ransom-demand-20210730-p58ei5.html 

Check out these articles, written 30 years after the painting went missing, featuring a few theories about who the Australian Cultural Terrorists were… 

https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/thomas-dixon-first-person-weeping-woman-20160623-gpqixc.html 

https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/08/31/who-stole-picassos-weeping-woman-2/ 

To enjoy the Google reviews some folks have left for the Ann Freedman’s new gallery, just google Freedman Art and scroll through reviews like this one: 

“On the way out, a thin, curly, gray haired lady whispered that she could get me a Picasso for $500. I talked her down to $325!  Paint was barely dry!  It looks great, hanging over the cat litter box!”

If you haven't heard Jacob's episode about the fued between Stuart Semple & Anish Kapoor, scroll back in your feed to episode #35 'Stuart Semple vs Anish Kapoor'

Jacob caught up with Stuart last year too, scroll back to episode #99 'CHATTING WITH STUART SEMPLE’

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