Daniel Browning

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

In art, verisimilitude — representing things as they appear — is something like telling the unvarnished truth and it makes perfect sense that it's the form in which Vincent Fantauzzo is most comfortable.  His first commercial artworks were actually counterfeit 50 dollar notes, just one of the uncomfortable truths which he tells in his new autobiography, Unveiled.  Although his childhood in the outer suburbs of Melbourne was wracked by endemic poverty and a distant but physically and emotionally violent father, it was undiagnosed dyslexia that almost beat this Jack Rennie-trained boxer. But Fantauzzo has gone on to great success, and while his representational style isn't wildly popular with critics, his portraits are perennial people's choice award winners at the Archibald Prize.

The Lebanese-born Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi joins The Art Show exclusively to talk about the profound impact of the decision to unceremoniously dump him as Australia's representative artist to the 2026 Venice Biennale.  The decision exposed the arts funding body Creative Australia to claims of political interference, racism and censorship — emptying Australia's Pavilion in Venice after our most successful outing ever in 2024 and leading to a series of open letters from different parts of Australia's arts community which called for Sabsabi's reinstatement. In this exclusive conversation, Sabsabi shares the highs and the lows of his selection and removal, talks about the work that was called into question by the Liberal Senator Claire Chandler, and explores the ideas that are behind his proposed work for the Venice Biennale. The Art Show has made multiple requests to speak with the CEO of Creative Australia, Adrian Collette, and that invitation remains open.

Artist Khaled Sabsabi has described being dumped as Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale as "devastating" and says the decades-old artworks that triggered the decision have been "grossly misrepresented".

It was while researching the provenance of a child’s boomerang, found in topsoil near the site of Melbourne Zoo, that Kimberley Moulton found the key to her curatorial vision for We Are Eagles, the latest edition of the TarraWarra Biennial.  The Yorta Yorta curator worked with artefacts and other historical material at Melbourne Museum for years before moving into contemporary art in her current role at the Tate in London.  Kim explains how that boomerang unearthed a long-buried and disturbing history and earned its place in the biennial, which includes 20 new commissions from artists such as Lisa Hilli, Shireen Taweel, Iluwanti Ken, Nathan Beard and Warraba Weatherall.

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, Colora

They used to lay-buy contemporary art together when they were low-paid gallery workers, forging a business relationship early on. Now, Ursula Sullivan and Joanna Strumpf are one of Australia's most successful art partnerships in terms of the cultural impact of the artists they represent — Tony Albert, Lindy Lee, Polly Borland, ex de Medici, Sam Leach, and Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, to name a few. This year, they're celebrating two decades together at the head of Sullivan + Strumpf. What's even more remarkable is that after 20 years in the commercial gallery business they're still friends.

For almost a quarter of a century, Peter Rose has steered the Australian Book Review as its editor, giving a space for Australian writers to engage critically with the work of their peers, and the wider literary world beyond our shores. As Rose steps aside, he reflects on why criticism remains an essential part of the arts. New research paints a familiar picture, with those working behind the scenes in the music industry reporting financial stress, underemployment, and skills shortages. Kirsty Rivers, General Manager of the Victorian Music Development Office, shares new research into the music sector and talks about the potential solutions. Our track of the week is 5 O'Clock Shadow by Elliot Lamb Stories mentioned in the headlines: Harvey Weinstein retrial over rape and sexual assault charges begins Kneecap faces pressure in the US and UK over statements at concerts Australian Classification Review Board once again rules Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe is classified Unrestricted

NSW has become the first state to reinstate Michael's Rule for touring musicians, with the Minn's government offering a $20,000 discount on the hire of state owned venues for international acts that provide a platform for a local support act. Maggie Collins, the Executive Director of the Association of Artist Managers, talks about the impact that decision could have on the local industry. And Tian Zhang discusses how she became the inaugural Chief Curator of the Ulaanbaatar Biennale in Mongolia, which will be running for the first time in June this year with the title On the Horizon, Under the Moon. Our track of the week is Tomorrow Is A Long Time performed Ellen Stekert Stories mentioned in the headlines: Trump Seeks to Eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts Donald Trump announces 100 per cent tariffs on movies 'produced in foreign lands' STC's Broadway hit Dorian Gray nominated for six Tony Awards Brazil police thwart bomb attack on Lady Gaga concert Grand Theft Auto 6's Delay Just Affected t

The strange and disturbing phenomenon of exhibiting humans in zoos was once considered a European thing, but a boomerang found under topsoil in a Melbourne park contradicts that.