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Ghosts of Abbotsford Convent exorcised by poetic and musical collaboration

Poet Nam Le and former ANAM resident artist, pianist Anna Goldsworthy, join ANAM students to explore the Convent’s ‘fraught history’.

19 Aug 2025 14:20

Richard Watts

ANAM students performing at Abbotsford Convent. The atmospheric photograph, taken in a historic venue with picturesque windows and a stage visible in the background, shows a seated audience listening to a group of six musicians, including strings, woodwind and a piano; one of the students stands behind a computer screen, suggesting the presence of electronics in the score being performed.

Performing Arts

ANAM students performing at Abbotsford Convent. Photo: Pia Johnson.

Ghosts of Abbotsford Convent: quick links

Despite being based in Adelaide, where she is currently the Director of the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide, the award-winning pianist, curator, festival director and writer Anna Goldsworthy has spent many an hour at Melbourne’s arts, culture and learning precinct, the Abbotsford Convent.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's former 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 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in early 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association in 2021, and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Photo: Fiona Hamilton. Follow Richard on Bluesky @richardthewatts.bsky.social and Instagram @richard.l.watts