Richard Watts
Richard Watts's Latest Articles

Ministerial meddling in arts funding met by sector outrage
NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin went against Create NSW recommendations and reallocated $404,000 in funding, earmarked for 11 organisations and…

How philanthropy is encouraging creative risk-taking behind the scenes
As arts funding becomes harder to obtain, the role of philanthropy in supporting the creative developments of more challenging projects…

Review: Dancenorth's Dust, Brisbane Festival
A powerful piece of contemporary dance that flirts with potentially heavy-handed imagery but never succumbs to the obvious or the…

Review: Séance, River of Light, Life – The Show, Brisbane Festival
Impressions of three very different events at this year’s Brisbane Festival, ranging from a homage to horror and a retelling…

The art of displacement: how OzAsia Festival celebrates contemporary practice
From contemporary dance to Chinese comedy, this year’s OzAsia Festival explores themes including post-colonialism and global inspiration across 18 days…

Why the arts sector needs to let Australia’s First Peoples lead
In his keynote speech at the recent PAC Australia conference, Dr Richard Walley OAM urged arts leaders to step back…

Review: Kilter, There, Pining for Affection, Melbourne Fringe
New circus, a remounted theatre work, and a musical comedy about a talking tree: three works hint at the breadth…

The art of tradition
Why do some events resonate so strongly with audiences that they become instant favourites, whereas other programming decisions quickly fall…

$2 million boost for First Peoples with new Creative Industries Action Plan
The Victorian Government’s Action Plan is designed to boost employment opportunities for First Peoples in the creative industries, and raise…

Can a new arts precinct put Karratha on the cultural map?
A major new arts precinct in the heart of the Pilbara demonstrates how the arts enrich community while also strengthening…