February
View to a killing: can Jeff Bezos be trusted with James Bond?
A scheming billionaire has once again put the British agent in peril. Fans are hoping Amazon won’t milk the living daylights from the 007 franchise.
Creative Australia defends quick dumping of Venice artist
In a heated Senate hearing, the federal arts agency’s officials said that its “social licence” demanded they sack Khaled Sabsabi without a right of reply.
Sydney Writers’ Festival ex-chair breaks silence on resignation
Kathy Shand says she was not aware of any plot to remove her from the Sydney author talkfest’s board, although sources said her pro-Israel views had left her “isolated”.
Seven shows you must see in March
From a Michael Jackson musical to an anniversary tour of Green Day’s breakthrough album, there are plenty of performances to get you off the couch.
Sydney Writers’ Festival chair quits as culture war spreads
The proxy war being fought in Australia’s arts community over the Israel-Palestine conflict has claimed another high-profile representative.
Galleries ‘too afraid of donors’ to speak against Biennale backflip
A week on from Khaled Sabsabi’s sensational sacking from the Venice Biennale over a Hezbollah-linked work, there has been silence from major arts institutions – until now.
Meet the rare male soprano shaking up concert halls
Samuel Marino is one of just a handful of professional male singers with the voice type, but his significance is more than musicological.
Simon Mordant calls for arts body bosses to go after ‘tragic mess’
The major Venice Biennale donor says the positions of Creative Australia’s CEO and chair are untenable after it dropped its 2026 entrant following political scrutiny.
This 4000-year-old story could be fresh off the front page
Sanskrit epic Mahabharata showing at Perth Festival has an urgent message for all of us – particularly for some in the WA capital.
Government accused of caving in to pressure in dumping Biennale team
Khaled Sabsabi, who had previously depicted a Hezbollah leader has also criticised Islamic State, but his invite to the Venice event next year has been ripped up.
Australia dumps Biennale artist in late-night crisis
Khaled Sabsabi had previously depicted a Hezbollah leader while also protesting Islamic State - but his invite to Venice Biennale next year has been ripped up.
Sex still sells: Museum Of Desire extends Melbourne season
A Collingwood warehouse featuring an “orgasm harp”, a pubic hair display and a ball pit full of rubber breasts has defied the cost-of-living crisis.
From Chengdu to Woolloomooloo for this arts boss
The new director of Artspace, a centre for contemporary art in Sydney, is a rare executive in the local scene who has curated in mainland China.
‘He was Switzerland’: Edgar Myer to chair MSO as court battle looms
The anthropologist and lawyer turned fund manager and philanthropist takes the orchestra’s helm ahead of a court date with pianist Jayson Gillham.
Meet the ex-rapper representing us at the arts ‘Olympics’
A refugee from Lebanon’s civil war who grew up in western Sydney will be Australia’s representative at next year’s Venice Biennale.
How the Back To The Future musical appeased worried superfans
The 1985 time travel movie attracts pedantry like few others, so the makers of a stage version coming to Australia had a novel idea.
Wuthering Heights gets a folk-protest remix in new musical
The rebellious British director Emma Rice has made a version of Emily Bronte’s gothic classic that leans into its darkness and sense of injustice.
January
Eight shows you must see in February
From Billie Eilish to a big surprise out of Arthur Boyd’s Bundanon, here are the artistic events with which to round out your summer.
Star deal crowns Sydney’s media-shy theatre king
Star’s sale of its Sydney events centre means that by 2026 the city will have three major commercial theatres under the control of one owner, Stephen Found.
Opera Australia took director loan amid cash crunch
CEO Fiona Allan is leaving Australia’s largest performing arts company, as the fallout from its staging of Sunset Boulevard widens with the revelation it accepted a director loan to stave off a cashflow crisis.