From eel skin violins to paper flowers; from self-care compositions to performing with pressure sensitive floors, we meet a range of creatives for some making insights and some how-to inspiration.

Arts Week 2023 - Happy Making

Desert Mob, Dalisa Pigram, Ron Hurley

Raphaela Rosella, Mikaela Stafford

It's festival season! We catch everything from contemporary dance in Perth to Indigenous protest songs in Adelaide; from acrobatic Greek myths and puppets in Sydney to queer Australian elders on stage for WorldPride.

WorldPride, Adelaide & Perth Festivals

Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan reflect on their work for the AGNSW building; Thea Perkins returns to Arrernte Country ahead of her Carriageworks commission; Lisa Skerrett chats all things Oscars with Kate Jinx and Jamie Tram.

Sydney Modern, Thea Perkins, The Oscars

We see Women of Troy at Hobart's Ten Days on the Island festival; visit Burrup Peninsula's ancient petroglyphs with Perun Bonser; meet Sammy Hawker on the South Coast; and head to Hanging Rock with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Across the Regions: Hobart to Karratha

Thom Monckton's The Artist struggles to find his paintbrush; pianist Rose Riebl talks Icelandic influences; we meet Hobart street artist Jamin; and inflatable dancers take over Adelaide's Botanic Gardens as part of WOMAD.

The Artist, Rose Riebl, Dr Jamin, WOMAD

Choreographer Lucy Guerin reflects on 20 years in NEWRETRO; sheep aspire to be human at Adelaide Festival; we meet sculptor Matt Sloane; and we talk comedy and diversity with Aurelia St Clair, Sashi Perera and Jason Tamiru.

Lucy Guerin, The Sheep Song, Comedy Talk

Namila checks out Melbourne Now and meets artist Rel Pham; we head to HOTA for Pop Masters; translate architecture into music with Mia Salsjo as she composes the Sydney Harbour Bridge; and meet sculptor Jason Lim.

HOTA, Rel Pham, Mia Salsjo, Jason Lim

Namila's at Melbourne's NGV International; singer-songwriter Jen Cloher discusses their new album; cultural objects return to lutruwita for an important new exhibition at TMAG; and a performance by slam-poet Thabani Tshuma.

Jen Cloher, TMAG, Thabani Tshuma

Namila checks out what's on at Heide; Reuben Kaye talks cabaret, community and catharsis; we talk to Daniel Riley, Australian Dance Theatre's first Indigenous Artistic Director; and meet Malian musician Viex Farka Toure.

Reuben Kaye, Daniel Riley

The Poison of Polygamy appears at La Boite Theatre, we speak with wani toaishara about their photography practice. Bus Stop filmmakers interview ballet dancers at Queensland Theatre and we hear from a master of the Veena.

The Poison of Polygamy, wani toaishara

Indian artist Mithu Sen brings mOTHERTONGUE to ACCA in Melbourne. ABC Classic shares lesser-known music for kids, we meet Dr Kirsten Lyttle to learn about her multimedia art practice and hear from a master of the Bandura.

Mithu Sen, Classics for Kids, Bandura

Maggie Hensel-Brown shares her lacemaking practice, and we head to Perth Design Week. Bass guitarist Eric Avery shares his story on INSTRUMENTAL. We see how computers can make art and chat to Dr Leuli Eshraghi.

Lacework, Perth Design Week, Computer Art

We meet conductor and synesthete Jessica Cottis; Namila meets the "mother of contemporary African dance" Germaine Acogny before chatting with artist Nani Puspasari; plus a performance from slam poet Rania Ahmed.

Jessica Cottis, Germaine Acogny, Slammed

We meet Kaylene Milner, the designer working with artists and musicians to make iconic jumpers; chat with Nathaniel Youkhana ahead of their Australian Fashion Week debut; plus hear from Sudanese singer-songwriter Ajak Kwai.

WAH-WAH, Youkhana, Ajak Kwai

We meet the stars of Tina Turner: The Musical; Namila heads to the Fitzroy studio of acclaimed portrait photographer Rod McNicol; we get a lesson in ugly art; plus a spotlight on the work of Arts Project Australia.

Tina Turner, Rod McNicol, Ugly Art

We visit The Torch, a program for First Nations artists with experience of the prison system; head to VIVID; meld miniatures, theatre, live cinema and UFOs with re:group collective; and meet Nigerien guitarist Mdou Moctar.

The Torch, VIVID, UFO, Mdou Moctar

We meet 'the punks' updating the art of 17th century straw marquetry; Namila drops by the home of artists Nabilah Nordin and Nick Modrewski; we visit The Other Art Fair; plus, a performance by slam poet Zaynab Ibrahim.

Straw Marquetry, The Other Art Fair

Namila visits the enterprising not-for-profit, The Social Studio; we dive into the ABC archive in search of food; meet South African musician Desire Marea; get a lesson on managing envy; plus, Cash Savage performs.

The Social Studio, Food Art, Cash Savage

Art Works regular Rowdie Walden hosts our NAIDOC Special. We check out emerging First Nations artists in WA; meet artist Bobbi Lockyer; slam poet Dominic Guerrera performs; plus a masterclass in the yidaki from King Stingray.

NAIDOC Week Special

Artist Kasper Schmidt Mumm cares for a bully; Evi Ferrier invites us into her mosaic home; Namila chats with artist Aida Azin; Karen Marks performs her rediscovered 1981 hit song; while Jason Phu is coming for your toys...

ROCKAMORA, Evi Ferrier, Karen Marks

Namila chats costume, gender and the importance of role-models with The Huxleys; Congolese Afrofuturists Fulu Miziki transform garbage into music; we meet disabled artist Bruno Booth; plus, slam poet Sarah Lock performs.

The Huxleys, Fulu Miziki, Bruno Booth

We meet performance artist and Ramsay Prize winner Ida Sophia; Jamaica Moana gives us a lesson in ballroom; painter Paul Ryan talks to us about his collaborations with musician Bill Callahan; plus, Thando performs.

Jamaica Moana, Paul Ryan, Ida Sophia

This week, we go diving on the Great Barrier Reef with underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor; enjoy a classical concert by candlelight; meet artist and award-winning animator Tee Ken Ng; plus slam poet Mel Ree performs.

Underwater Sculptures, Tee Ken Ng

This week we find inspiration with Lindy Lee; meet Halo Vocal Ensemble and art influenced by dogs; Namila chats with Jordy van den Nieuwendijk; and the latest in our Instrumental Series with Koto master Satsuki Odamura.

Lindy Lee, Halo Vocal Ensemble

Namila visits GOMA; The Weekend puts ageing and female friendship centre stage; designer Gary Bigeni talks colour confidence; we visit Brendan Huntley in his studio; plus, Classic Duets with Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs.

GOMA, The Weekend, Brendan Huntley

This week, Namila is at Narrm's newest festival Now or Never; Zahra Newman embodies Billie Holiday; we get a synth lesson at Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio; and musical maestro Joseph Tawadros introduces us to the Oud.

Now or Never, STCSA, Joseph Tawadros

Guest host Rowdie Walden is at Moulin Rouge! The Musical; we look bravely at a new crop of Australian horror films at MIFF; things get absurd with The Chairs; plus a fresh perspective from Adelaide's Restless Dance Theatre.

Moulin Rouge, MIFF, The Chairs

Artist and filmmaker Charis Schwarz talks legacy and sex aids; we meet acclaimed Waanyi artist Judy Watson to discuss her expansive practice; meet WASO composer-in-residence Olivia Davies; plus Ernest Aines performs.

Erotic Films, Judy Watson, Olivia Davies

Namila meets digital artist Mikaela Stafford; artist Raphaela Rosella shares her co-created archive confronting incarceration at Brisbane's IMA; Art of the Cover with Sarah Mary Chadwick; plus, slam poet Huda the Goddess.

Guest host Rowdie Walden is at Desert Mob with Hetti Perkins; we meet Marrugeku's Dalisa Pigram in Broome; Angelina Hurley shares her father Ron's legacy; we follow the Journey Down; and slam poet Laurie May performs.

With in-studio segments, behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, playful explainers and deep-dive field reports from locations across Australia, this docuseries puts the spotlight on creativity as an overlooked but inherent part of our everyday lives.

Arts Week 2023 - Happy Making

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