Arts In 30 (ABC listen)

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

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.

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

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

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.