Arts Incite - Ballarat Arts Alive

Merle Hathaway

Arts Incite is a podcast series brought to you by Ballarat Arts Alive. We talk to arts people about all things related to music, visual art, theatre, heritage, film, architecture, writing and more.

  1. Sep 30

    Moreno Giovannoni - writer of The Immigrants & The Fireflies of Autumn

    Moreno Giovannoni's beautiful and much-celebrated books deal with the experiences of being an immigrant; an outsider. His books are influenced by stories from his life, including his family's inability to settle comfortably in either the small village of their birth - San Ginese in Tuscany, or their new country, Australia. But in this conversation he also reveals much of his creative writing processes, as someone who has come late to the art of writing. His first book, The Fireflies of Autumn was followed a year later by The Immigrants, 2025. The first was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Award and for Readings Prize, while the most recent one is The Age Book of the Year, and NSW Premier's Prize for Fiction. It's been short-listed for the Victorian Premier's Prize for Fiction, and the Prime Minister's Prize. It's also long listed for the Voss Prize, selected by University Heads of Literature. Moreno visited Ballarat during the Bonegilla: the migrants journey a multi-media performance by Simon Reich.

    Moreno Giovannoni - writer of The Immigrants & The Fireflies of Autumn

  2. Sep 14

    Andrew Chapman exhibition & Philip Quirk at The Green Bus exhibition.

    The Green Bus: Andrew Chapman's 55-year photographic journey through the streets of Melbourne. This delightful exhibition at CIty Gallery, Melbourne Town Hall features 55 photographs of Melbourne, from 1971 to today. They tell the social history and community life in Melbourne's city streets and public places through the constant & discerning eye of photographer / curator Andrew Chapman, The exhibition runs 3 September 2026 - 19 February 2027. There are free guided tours and a wonderful small, free catalogue. It's a beautifully designed exhibition too - the work of Stephen Banham. The City Gallery entrance is in Swanston Street, through the Customer Service area. It's a small gem well worth a trip to Melbourne for its always interesting exhibitions. Andrew Chapman and Philip Quirk, are both alumni of Prahran College photography department - a key, creative training ground in the 1970s & 80s, for many of Australia's significant photographer / artists. Phil & Andrew were interviewed 4 September 2026. As it was unplanned, and in the exhibition space, the sound varies and an interview with the City Gallery Registrar had to be omitted due to too much background sound. I hope to do further interviews later this year. Interview & production: Merle Hathaway

    Andrew Chapman exhibition & Philip Quirk at The Green Bus exhibition.

  3. Sep 6

    Lorena Carrington - Illustrator & writer

    Lorena Carrington talks about her work as an illustrator and writer, mainly in the genre of fantasy and fairytales for children, young adults and adults. Based in regional Victoria, she now has 16 books for which she's designed, often using collaged photographic images. Her most recent book is "A Puzzling Pursuit", which combines a murder mystery with puzzles, taking us on a journey to all sorts of sites across Australia. In Ballarat, you can find her books at the Lydiard Street Collins Bookstore, and her website contains teachers notes, and intriguing glimpse into her latest puzzle book, and links to purchase. Facebook Instagram Interviewed 5 September 2026 by Merle Hathaway Production: Merle Hathaway

    Lorena Carrington - Illustrator & writer

  4. Aug 24

    Amanda Western - linocut and immersive, multi-arts installation artist

    Amanda Western has quickly risen to prominence in the arts. Here she talks about her growing interest in immersive installations, after an initial focus on linocuts. Her work reflects her deep interest in the environment and history. She collaborated with Deborah Parkinson in the current collaborative Infuse Art Prize at Ross Creek Art Gallery until 30 August. Now she is working towards a complex project, Red Bricks, at the East Loddon Woolshed, Serpentine. It's part of the 2026 Loddon Valley Arts Trail. Here's links to Red Brinks and to book a seat on the bus leaving Ballarat at 9am, Sunday 4 October.Tickets to Red Bricks: https://events.humanitix.com/red-bricks-what-the-woolshed-remembers Tickets to bus tour (includes Red Bricks entry): https://events.humanitix.com/red-bricks-ballarat-day-tour Links here to her website, Facebook, and Instagram. Interview & production:: Merle Hathaway 25 August 2026

    Amanda Western - linocut and immersive, multi-arts installation artist

  5. Aug 20

    Julie Burleigh & Pegs Marlow - Infuse Art Prize collaboration

    Ceramicists Julie Burleigh and Pegs Marlow talk about collaborating for the Ross Creek Gallery's Infuse Art Prize. Although they've known each other for years, this is the first time they've worked together to create one artwork. The result is a delightful miniature of the Ross Creek Art Gallery with an exhibition being installed. (You can get an idea of the size of the work by the photo of Julie peering through one of the windows.) More images are here. The Infuse Art Prize and Peter Pilven Ceramic Award is on at Ross Creek Gallery until 30 August 2026. Interviewed by Merle Hathaway 7 August 2026 Production by Merle Hathaway

    Julie Burleigh & Pegs Marlow - Infuse Art Prize collaboration

  6. Aug 15

    Infuse Art Prize, Seona Murnane & Marg Jeffery

    The Infuse Art Prize is showing at Ross Creek Gallery until 30 August 2026. This is an annual prize for collaborations between artists. Thirty finalists were selected by a panel, with Dr Deanne Gilson judging the $3,000 Infuse Art Prize, and the $1,000 Peter Pilven Collaborative Ceramics Award. Merle Hathaway talks here to Seona Murnane and Marg Jeffery about their charcoal, pastel & graphite on wood panels. See their work here on Facebook. Winner of the Infuse Art Prize: Pauline Doren, Nick Doran-Adams & Ross Adams. Winner of the Peter Pilven Prize: Camille Ducret & Jerome Moreau Interviewed by Merle Hathaway Produced by Alan Mallows and Merle Hathaway

    Infuse Art Prize, Seona Murnane & Marg Jeffery

  7. Aug 9

    Beth Lamont, General Manager of Ballarat Performing Arts Centre

    Beth Lamont is the General Manager of BPAC. This is an adventurous project to purchase four buildings from the former Neil Street Uniting Church in Soldiers Hill, Ballarat. The two halls and church offer a variety of performance, rehearsal and meeting spaces for arts groups. Already many groups are based there and their performance programme is lively and varied. Facebook Website Interviewed by Merle Hathaway 30 July 2026 Production by Alan Mallows

    Beth Lamont, General Manager of Ballarat Performing Arts Centre

  8. Aug 8

    Sylvia Hollis artist and teacher

    Sylvia Hollis modestly says she "just makes art". As with so many artists, she draws and makes exquisite small sculptures of nudes. She also organises life drawing classes at Sebastopol Community Centre and teaches art for correctional services. Regular life drawing and modelling informs an art practice that focuses on the nude figure, psychologically enhanced to deter objectification. See her works in progress and drawings on Facebook and Instagram. Interview by Merle Hathaway 29 July 2026 Production by Alan Mallows

    Sylvia Hollis artist and teacher
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Arts Incite is a podcast series brought to you by Ballarat Arts Alive. We talk to arts people about all things related to music, visual art, theatre, heritage, film, architecture, writing and more.

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