FCAC Radio

In this episode, Amy McMurtrie chats with artist Esther Tuddenham. Esther is a member of the ArtLife program here at FCAC and an ensemble member of Amplified Elephants with JOLT Arts. Esther is a poet, photographer and sound artist. Esther speaks with us about her process as a maker, claiming the title of artist and coming to positively identify with disability. Listen in for the interview and to hear Esther’s powerful poetry.

In this episode, Vyshnavee Wijekumar (FCAC Marketing Manager) catches up with Footscray based, Shanghainese writer and thinker Jinghua Qian before their Midsumma Festival appearance in SMUT: Queer Erotic Fan Fiction. Throughout the interview, they share their love of queer erotic fan fiction, interesting facts about Footscray and insights into their experiences of forging relationships online.

In this episode, Bernadette introduces the Eye to Eye exhibition by artists Julie Millowick OAM and Jody Haines, as part of PHOTO2021 and currently on at FCAC until 20 March 2021. This special episode features an audio conversation between the artists created on 21 January 2021.

Check out Eye to Eye:

In this episode, Jess chats with legendary hip hop artist N’fa Jones about the making and movements of Cool Out Sun. Plucking away at his kalimba, N’fa speaks on how he came to be connected with core band members Sensible J, Lamine Sonko and Nui Moon on the cross-cultural music project.

In this episode, Vyshnavee talks to Ruby-Rose Pivet-Marsh, the Artistic Director of Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF), about her literary journey, growing up in Footscray, and the strength and nuances of Latinx culture. This episode is released in line with the launch of EWF 2020 - a brilliant all-digital celebration of writing, arts and culture. Featuring a recitation of Ruby's written piece ‘Mariposa’ from a collaborative project with Mahla Karimian and Thao Ly as part of FCAC's Emerging Cultural Leaders program.

Check out EWF:

Stephen Pham is a Vietnamese-Australian writer from Cabramatta. He is the creative director of Sweatshop Literacy Movement. His writing has been published in Overland, Meanjin, Griffith Review, and Sydney Review of Books. In 2018 he received the Create NSW Writers Fellowship to commence work on his manuscript Vietnamatta.

Stephen was a contributing writer for ‘FCAC Writes’, a collection of new work by writers from Melbourne’s West and beyond, published online. The Series was curated by Bigoa Chuol. In this episode, the last for Season 1 of FCAC Radio, they talk about his piece “Life Drawing” and writing in the current climate of precariousness.

Check out Stephen's work:

H.Mur and Xen Nhà were both in a documentary production fellowship in New York City, when the impact of COVID 19 was continuing to unravel and international travel was facing significant restrictions. As Part of ‘FCAC Writes’, a series of new literary work, published on the FCAC website and curated by Bigoa Chuol. They wrote a collaborative piece about their decision to return to Melbourne. They chat to Bigoa about friendship, shared history and the importance of their collaborative practices.

H.Mur is a visual artist and educator based in Melbourne. They are concerned with the everyday poetics and politics of bodies at the margins of margins and work across projection art, the moving image and photography.

In this episode, Amy chats to singer/song-writer and guitarist for the Hackkets, Peter Tolhurst. Peter is a FCAC legend who has played and toured with The Hackkets for over 20 years. They discuss what it means to be an all-abilities band, how Peter finds inspiration for his music, and how the Hackkets have been using technology innovatively even before it was ‘cool’. Tune in to listen to one of the Hckkets’ catchiest tunes!

Check out Peter’s work:

In this episode, Urvi chats to literary powerhouse Leah Jing McIntosh. Leah is a writer and photographer as well as the founding editor of LIMINAL  magazine. The two discuss the types of authors and literature they never studied at Uni, what inspired Leah to start a powerful movement with LIMINAL, as well as the challenges she's faced in maintaining her anti-racist and decolonial practice. As a special treat for listeners, we hear a magical piece of performance poetry by Darlene Silva Soberano and Hannah Wu presented by LIMINAL for NIDA nights.

Check out Leah's work:

In this episode Bigoa chats to Atong Atem, a South Sudanese artist and writer from Bor living in Birraranga, Melbourne. Her 2015 Studio series was recently acquired by National Gallery of Victoria as an integral part of the NGV Contemporary Australian Collection. She shares the interwoven experiences of art and identity and where lately, she finds joy. Atong “is alive and doing OK.”

Check out Atong's work:

In this episode, Vyshnavee talks to film-maker, journalist and author Santilla Chingaipe about what inspires her to work across multiple art forms to express the stories of Australian migrants. The two discuss strategies for early-career film-makers, re-defining beauty on a personal and political level and the complexities that come with being a ‘Third Culture Kid’. Tune in to hear about Santilla's exciting upcoming projects that are creating real changes to the way we tell stories about ourselves and others.

Check out Santilla's work:

In this episode, Adrienne chats to local classical musician Ben Opie about the origins of his love for the oboe and the different directions his career has taken as a professional musician and facilitator. The two discuss Ben’s ensemble Inventi and his passion for musical outreach programs, especially in the digital age, to connect with those who may otherwise remain isolated.

Check out Ben’s work:

In this episode Ben chats to local hip-hop artist Henoke Nega (HANCOQ) about what inspires him musically and his nuanced journey to becoming a producer and owning his own record label. They discuss the importance of work ethic, the intersection of music with dance and film, as well as the need for more representation of the African diaspora within the arts industry.

Check out HANCOQ’s work:

In this episode, writer, editor and publisher, Kent MacCarter, shares his experiences in each of these roles within the arts industry. We hear his valuable insights into the processes of arts funding in Australia, how his education and life experiences led him to becoming the managing editor of the much-loved Cordite Poetry Review and how literary communities support emerging writers, particularly from disparate backgrounds.

In this special episode, we hear a soulful original from Kalala and Diego, the duo who make up GOOD LUCK OMEN. Arthur talks to Diego and Kalala about how they started their band, their process  creating albums as well as Kalala’s transformational experience performing with the legendary Sampa the Great.

In this episode, Jess Ankomah speaks with Melbourne lyricist Remi Kolawole about his connection with Footscray and what it means to be part of the city’s Black art scene. Remi speaks intimately about his identity, wellbeing, and choosing to delay his forthcoming album. Listen in as the rapper reveals he may have a future in music beyond hip-hop.

Check out Remi:

In this episode, Urvi chats to stand-up comedian and writer Sonia Di Lorio about the value of consistently pactising stand-up comedy and the difficulties that women and people of colour can face in the scene. They also talk about ways to approach writing and Sonia's new podcast 'Who The Bloody Hell Are We'. Throughout the conversation the two discuss how our cultural identities can be a complex source of both joy and pain, all of which can ultimately be expressed in creative ways. 

Check out Sonia's podcast 'Who The Bloody Hell Are We' on Spotify, Apply Podcasts or wherever you like to listen from!

Check out Sonia Di Lorio:

In this episode, Adrienne chats to local sculptor and designer Jos Van Hulsen. He talks about his passion of finding hidden treasures from the local environment which ignites ideas for his designs. We hear about his custom designs for Post Industrial Design store and other commissions that can be seen around the area.

Check out Post Industrial Design:

In this episode, Arthur Tanzi chats to rapper, producer and DJ, Dominic Wagner, aka Cazeaux O.S.L.O. The two discuss what inspired Dom as a child to pursue music, his creative process, the different scenes he has contributed to, and the upcoming projects he's currently working on.

In this episode, Jess Ankomah talks to in-demand emcee, JessB - a rapper and former professional netball player in New Zealand. They talk about how Jess’s life changed from netball to music, how music is changing in both NZ and Aus culture and the pressure Jess faces as one of the first recognisable Kenyan-Kiwi musicians.

In this episode, Robyn Gawenda talks to James Hale, a queer artist living and working in Melbourne. James makes colourful text based paintings on cardboard that stem from an examination of, and connection with, LGBTQIA+ intimacy and culture. Robyn and James talk about James’ creative process, motivation and place within the Melbourne Art Scene.