We head to three of Australia's summer arts festivals in Adelaide, Perth and Sydney, before we unpack the idea of 'art-washing': when organisations, individuals and even countries use art to distract from negative actions.

We meet Sidney Nolan by way of artist Dean Cross, visit Powerhouse Ultimo's exhibition Eucalyptusdom, as it interrogates colonial narratives, and find out about the playful self-portraits of textile artist Adrienne Doig.

Namila Benson explores the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, and Eloise Fuss the 23rd Biennale of Sydney. Daina Sgarioto explains how she got into hand-tufting and we discover the timely story of 91-year-old artist Tamara Bekier.

We stop by "world music" festival WOMADelaide, and an augmented reality exhibition in Melbourne. We meet artist Alex Seton, who makes sculptures out of marble, and Punjabi Australian musicians Parvyn and her father Dya Singh.

We talk to Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale, Marco Fusinato; hear Aussie comedians talk politics; see Louise Coghill's photographs of the WA bushfires; and enter Frida Las Vegas's colourful "Frida-verse".

We visit the new Bundanon Art Museum plus Aretha Brown and Emma Donavan talk album covers. Graeme McCullough speaks to us about the disappearing art of signwriting and we explore the food and art exhibition, Simmer.

We check out Somali Australian exhibition AQAL, and First Nations drone art event Sky Song. We unearth comedian David Quirk's unexpected day job, meet composer Caitlin Yeo, and learn about art therapy from Lissette Endacott.

We head to the National Indigenous Art Triennial in Canberra, this year titled Ceremony. Then we meet artist and film photographer Sammy Hawker, and get the lowdown on the latest in film and TV from critic Keva York.

We chat to artists using novel methods and materials: Safa El Samad, who uses embroidery to upcycle clothes; and Jordan Benson, who works with stained glass. We also meet comedian Gabbi Bolt and Bigambul poet Uncle Wes Marne.

We visit the Venice Biennale to catch up with Marco Fusinato, and Parrtjima in Alice Springs. Artist Deborah Kelly invites us to join her religion, and artist Christopher Zanko shares how he combines woodcarving and painting.

We witness the power of art therapy with Lissette Endacott. Artist Katie West shares how she uses weaving techniques and found fabrics in her work.

Namila Benson meets some of Australia's leading authors at Sydney Writers' Festival: Chelsea Watego and Clementine Ford, Eliza Hull and Debra Keenahan, and Tony Birch. We also talk to Nils Frahm ahead of his Australian tour.

We meet fashion designers Nicol & Ford, artist Dylan Mooney and recorder virtuoso Alicia Crossley. We catch new Tassie dance company Great Southern Dance's debut, before ABC Classic's Dan Golding shares his fave soundtracks.

We catch up with Luca French, one of the youngest artists exhibiting at Vivid Sydney. Namila talks to Amani Haydar about art grief and healing. We walk through Cut N Polish, Carriageworks car boot art sale in Sydney.

We head along to Melbourne's Rising festival. Zeina Thiboult shares the art of hair sculpture and Luke Arnold talks about creating change on social media through art. Richard Tognetti explains Bach's classical music mastery.

Sampa The Great shares how returning from her home in Zambia has guided her music. We get an in depth look into 'Still Lives' at Rising Festival. Ben Law and Vanessa Alexander unpack how filmmakers depict reality on screen.

We flash back to some great First Nations stories. Meet Dylan Mooney and see Eucalyptusdom. Emma Donovan and Aretha Brown do Art of the Cover. We meet Katie West, and finish at the National Indigenous Art Triennial.

We revisit some great stories from the regions. Meet artist Christopher Zanko, photographer Sammy Hawker and sign-writer Graeme McCullough. Plus, we head to Bundanon Art Museum and Parrtjima festival in the Red Centre.

We visit Dark Mofo to watch Alex Podger combine art, fire and ritual; Rising for a new work of dance and drums; and Sydney to check out an intimate music venue; and look at Naomi Hobson's photos of young people in Cape York.

We head to Brisbane Street Art Festival, and find out about Jess Ribeiro's day job. We talk to theatre group Second Echo Ensemble about their latest show Outside Boy, before Miles Brown teaches us how to play the theremin.

We meet the award-winning Back to Back Theatre; slow fashion designer Noah Johnson; and Koori artist S.J Norman, who takes us through his language reclamation work. We also visit experimental art and music fest Soft Centre.

It's Arts Week on Art Works! We check out a new stage adaptation of Looking for Alibrandi; head to Minjerribah to see Megan Cope build an oyster reef on Country; and explore National Gallery of Victoria's Queer exhibition.

We meet 80-year-old artist and furniture maker Gay Hawkes, and learn how artists like Abdul Abdullah work at the nexus of art and tech. We head to Queensland for a film fest in the outback and the opening event of BLEACH*.

Artist Kathryn Del Barton talks about her debut feature film Blaze; we meet the now-Australia-based Zahra Elman, the first woman to win Afghan Star; and Sarah L'Estrange unpacks the winner of this year's Miles Franklin Award.

Hear from the creator of the Aussie musical about fandom that has fostered its own devotees; a Canberra coin designer; and amateur musicians who performed with the WASO, as well as poems from the National Poetry Month Gala.