The Conversation

The Conversation Australia and New Zealand is a unique collaboration between academics and journalists that in just 10 years has become the world’s leading publisher of research-based news and analysis.

The Conversation's Latest Articles

Presented at OzAsia in 2025, Opera for the Dead has also been presented at AsiaTOPA, Sydney Festival and elsewhere. Photo: Michael Pham.
Analysis

OzAsia Festival to end after 20 years, in a huge blow for Asian‑Australian art and culture

This will be the last OzAsia, with Adelaide Festival Centre declaring a move to year-round programming of Asian voices instead.

Photo: Vidisha Sanghvi / Unsplash.
Features

Arts Centre Melbourne workers face a battle between industrial and cultural policy

Union negotiations at Arts Centre Melbourne show that in the arts, demands for better pay are often inseparable from questions…

Photo: Clem Onojeghuo / Unsplash.
Features

Who should assume the risk when art gets controversial – the artist or their employer?

Tensions around arts boards reveal divided opinions about artistic risk and freedom of expression.

All Together Now at Brisbane Festival in 2025. The festival Photo: Atmosphere Photography.
Analysis

Nearly every Australian engages with arts and culture – politicians should pay attention

The data shows arts and culture is woven into the fabric of Australian life.

The late, great Dolly Parton. Photo: Wes McFee on Unsplash.
Opinions & Analysis

Dolly Parton's genius in 3 great songs

Jolene, I Will Always Love You and 9 to 5 showcase the incredible talent of the late, great Dolly Parton.

Photo: Eric Nopanen on Unsplash.
Analysis

Why do lyrics touch us so deeply? We studied 35 years of hits to find out

Sometimes, the lyrics of a song can feel like they’re reaching into the very depths of our soul.

Photo: Jakub Kriz on Unsplash.
Opinions & Analysis

Maria Takolander’s The End of Romance follows a mother’s quest to save her son

The End of Romance creates a future that continues cycles of violence we know all too well.

Photo: Melanie van Leeuwen / Unsplash.
Features

Australian musicians hate AI using their songs, but have little legal protection

When it comes to AI, musicians are likely to find it much harder than authors to prove when a copyright…

Installation view of the Avatar: Forms of Vishnu exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, featuring works by Desmond Lazaro and Cambodian Vishnu statue from the early 800s, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter.
Features

Avatar: Forms of Vishnu at AGNSW offers a tonic for our times

Avatar: Forms of Vishnu at the Art Gallery of New South Wales presents 200 artworks spanning 1500 years.

Photo: Gowtham AGM on Unsplash.

Lyric essays are an antitoxin for a poisoned world

With lyric essays, readers must be willing to piece together disparate fragments: ideas, information and idiosyncrasies.

1 2 3 18