Talking Through Your Arts – Episode 7

The Torch program in Victoria provides art and cultural support to Indigenous offenders and ex-offenders in Victoria. Kent Morris is its founder, a Barkindji artist from NSW, living in Melbourne and one of the 67 finalists in this year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. He sheds light on his art and his work. We point you towards the 67th Sydney Film Festival and we hear on the outcomes of a recent online exhibition mounted in Sydney by Damien Minton.

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Kent Morris of the Torch Program
67 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists have been selected to exhibit in this year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. One of the finalists is Barkindji artist from NSW Kent Morris who lives in Melbourne. Morris is also the founder of the Torch Program which provides art, cultural and arts industry support to Indigenous offenders and ex-offenders in Victoria. The program aims to reduce the rate of reoffending by encouraging the exploration of identity and culture through art programs to define new pathways upon release. Kent talks us through, first about his art practice and then we hear about the Torch program and the annual exhibition Confined.

The Covid Shutdown Series
A few weeks ago, arts reporter Chris Virtue spoke to gallery director Damian Minton about an online exhibition: The Covid Shutdown Series; a collection of digital works by four artists especially commissioned by Damian to reflect living in a time of a pandemic. He discusses the implications for the future of galleries.

The Covid Shutdown Series

Sydney Film Festival
For the first time, Sydney Film Festival attendees will be able to buy tickets from around Australia as it goes virtual and national since it began 67 years ago. We hear from Jennifer Neighbour, who has been part of the Festival for more than 30 years. She’s the Head of Programs and Documentary Programs.

Sydney Film Festival 2020