Listen to An action plan for the performing arts, the role of arts in culture, and what it takes to be an Artistic Director in a Theatre Company46:5415 May 2020

Richard is joined by Evelyn Richardson, the Chief Executive of Live Performance Australia, to discuss the organisation's two-year recovery plan for the arts. Richardson would like to see live venues and their staff supported by the government until they can resume their work in a safe way.

Plus Kent Morris, the CEO of Torch Gallery, gets on the line to talk about Confined 11. It's the latest in their series of exhibitions featuring works from Indigenous artists who are or have recently been, incarcerated. Morris says "Interestingly, for First Nations Australians across the country we don't have a word for art because what is perceived as art is just part of our everyday life."

Richard debuts a new segment 'Demystifying the Arts'. He speaks with Sarah Goodes, the Associate Artistic Director at the Melbourne Theatre Company, about the role of a theatre director. Goodes sees her role as collaborative world building. She says "It should be the function of art to help us understand the times we're living in".

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

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