Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts

Richard Watts's Latest Articles

A close-up photo of an electric guitar played by a person wearing a white T-shirt.
News

Peak bodies welcome re-elected Albanese Government and call for greater commitment to live music and visual arts sectors

NAVA and 20 contemporary music organisations have welcomed Labor’s re-election and are collectively calling for stronger focus by the new…

Timothy Jones outside the Seymour Centre.
Features

Timothy Jones: What I’ve learned after 16 years at the Seymour Centre

Tim Jones reflects on the highlights and challenges of his 16 years at Seymour, and shares his firmly held beliefs…

ArtsHub's On the move column is a weekly summary of Australian arts sector appointments. The photo depicts two hummingbirds in flight, wings blurred as they flap rapidly.

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

Our weekly round-up of appointments and departures in the Australian arts sector.

South Melbourne Town Hall in happier days. Formerly the home of ANAM, the building has been closed since 2020. The photo shows a brightly lit Victoria-era edifice at dusk, including its dominant central clock tower.

Labor and Greens commit to supporting ANAM redevelopment

$12.5 million has been promised to help complete structural building works at South Melbourne Town Hall, ANAM’s former home.

A group of people jogging on a running track; they are grouped in an arrow-head like formation, running towards the left of the photo. The image is taken from above, and shows their shadow stretched out beside them on the running track.
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

Our weekly round-up of Australian arts sector appointments and departures from around the country.

MICF 2025 award winners group photo; Garry Starr (aka clown Damien Warren-Smith) reclines at the front.

Garry Starr wins Most Outstanding Show award at Melbourne International Comedy Festival

A one-man clown show about Penguin Classics has won MICF 2025's Most Outstanding Show award; a range of other comedians…

'Night Visions' promotional image.

Illuminate Adelaide reveals centrepiece work Night Visions in first 2025 program tease

A sensory journey through Adelaide Botanic Garden created almost entirely by Australian artists will be the centrepiece of Illuminate Adelaide…

Nominees for MICF 2025 Most Outstanding Show and Best Newcomer. Front Row (L-R): Rosie Dempsey, Olga Koch, Ahir Shar, Lou Wall and Anisa Nandaula. Middle Row (L-R) Nicola Dempsey, Brett Blake, Greg Larsen, Scout Boxhall and Garry Starr. Back Row (L-R): George Fouracres, Robyn Reynolds, Meg Jäger, Kura Forrester, Rapha Manajem and Ethan Cavanagh.
News

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025 award nominees announced

Nine shows are in the running for MICF’s Most Outstanding Show award this year; nominations for Best Newcomer were also…

Crying with laughter at the Brisbane Comedy Festival.
Features

Laugh your cares away at Brisbane Comedy Festival 2025

Like a swarm of LOLcusts, the country’s best comedians – and local talents aplenty – are about to descend on…

On the move.
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

Our weekly round-up of appointments and departures in the Australian arts sector.

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