Jane Howard
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
Jane Howard
@janeannehoward.bsky.social
860 followers 220 following 200 posts
Arts and culture editor, The Conversation Au+NZ
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janeannehoward.bsky.social
😭
Image from the musical. Paddington sits, pensive, on a bed.
November 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
The trouble is the decade this critic was talking about was the naughties.
“The most remarkable achievement in theatre not only of this year but also of this decade.” The New York Times
October 27, 2025 at 4:49 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 6:52 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
Went on a spring run and saw a pair of rainbow lorikeets feeding a chick!
October 7, 2025 at 6:43 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
I actually don't understand how ai is so bad?
Screenshot of a google search for 'Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs sundance'. AI Overview reads: 'Quentin Tarantino did not premiere Reservoir Dogs at the Sundance Film Festival; the film had its actual premiere at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival'
September 17, 2025 at 5:49 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
Always weird when artistic directors describe something they're "working on" and what they're working on is ... their one job.
While this season does not contain a premiere of an original Australian play, Flack stresses Belvoir is "not walking away from playwriting". "Australian playwriting is absolutely essential to the future of the art form," he says. "A lot needs to be done at the moment to create a revival for playwrights and playwriting in Australia, and that's something we're working on."
September 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
If Runt doesn't have an actual dog on stage then there is no point to live theatre. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Neither Craig Silvey nor Eamon Flack know how they are going to bring the dog, Runt, to the stage. "It might be puppetry," Silvey suggests. "There might be a stage dog out there that's waiting for its time to shine. It might be someone in a suit. Who knows?"
September 8, 2025 at 11:28 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
Gmail suggesting AI emails to reply to my therapist checking in after a particularly intense session 💀💀💀
Three google AI responses: 'Yes, everything is fine.'; 'So far so good'; 'Not really.'
September 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
Found in the local little library tonight 👀👀👀
Book cover: the salt path
July 7, 2025 at 9:33 AM
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The full report is worth reading creative.gov.au/sites/creati...
There was no single or predominant failure of process, governance or decisionmaking that resulted, ultimately, in the decision to rescind the selection of award-winning multidisciplinary artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as the Australian Representatives for the 2026 Venice Biennale.  There were, however, a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities that meant neither the leadership of Creative Australia, nor the Board, were well placed to respond to, and manage in a considered way, any criticism or controversy that might emerge in relation to the selection decision. The express wish of Federal Parliament to encourage and uphold freedom of artistic expression1 and to support arts practice that reflects the diversity of Australia2 , a wish supported by many artists themselves, has collided with other obligations, expectations and stakeholder interests. As with conflicts everywhere in society, many are hurt, including emotionally, financially and reputationally. For those in arts administration whose role it is to weave a path between different expectations and interests, the experience can feel like threading a needle in a high wind. Decision-makers may face hostility and ridicule, whatever decision they make. Many current and past Creative Australia staff members report receiving considerable, and abusive, feedback on decisions made by them, or others at Creative Australia3 What is critical is that the organisation is well-prepared and, as far as possible, not taken by surprise. This was fundamentally not the case with Creative Australia. If there is a dominant theme in the findings of this report, it is that much pain, anger, damage and anxiety could have been avoided if Creative Australia had been appropriately prepared for what, inevitably, was going to be a controversial decision – not controversial for any reason caused by the artist or curator, or any collection or particular piece of work, but controversial because of the broader fraught environment within which the decision was being made. The failure of Creative Australia to be adequately prepared is not the fault of any one person or group of individuals. In the Panel’s opinion, there were multiple oversights, misunderstandings, missteps and assumptions made that contributed, and there is no single causal factor that resulted in the outcome. The process leading to the first decision was set out in the previous section. Given that there were heightened sensitivities around anything connected with the conflict in the Middle East, including aspects of that conflict in Lebanon, Israel and Gaza, and given that a number of cultural organisations had already faced considerable controversies as a result, it is remarkable to the Panel that, in the context of the Biennale, Creative Australia did not have a fully developed, carefully considered and well-documented risk identification process and communications and crisis management plan in place and agreed across all key staff and the Board. Such a process and plan would have allowed Creative Australia to respond to any sensitivities or contentious issues that emerged from the selection of the Australian Representation at the Biennale, regardless of which artistic team was selected.
July 2, 2025 at 7:54 AM
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Wowee, the outgoing director of Festivals Adelaide has some pretty strong words about the sector. www.indailysa.com.au/news/busines...
Jochym said she had “witnessed several ways in which we collectively have been abdicating responsibility for this remarkable industry”. “We do it by burying our heads in the sand for fear of upsetting someone above; creating environments where people bury their heads in the sand; minimising our worst; ignoring the real and daily anxiety our teams feel about the precarity and seasonality; failing to properly value the labour, skill and sacrifice required to deliver festivals and events; under resourcing, underpaying, essentially dehydrating this industry and expecting over-delivery; acting like crabs in a bucket; holding onto decades-old grudges or institutional mistrust. “Pretending like there’s no existential threat to this sector when I’ve cried too many times with people who feel like they’re drowning. Businesses on knife’s edge, contracts drying up and people walking away from careers they love because they can no longer afford to stay.
June 18, 2025 at 3:17 AM
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Delighted to be nominated for two SA Media Awards this year. What brilliant company to be in.
Culture and Arts Report: - Jack Evans, ABC, ‘BTN High – Class of Cabaret’ - Jane Howard, Guardian Australia, ‘Adelaide Biennale 2024: Light Takes Centre Stage in ‘Tender’ Survey of Australian Art’ - Sarah McLean, ABC, ‘South Korean Recluses’ Freelance Journalist, proudly sponsored by Media Super - Ian Henschke, Freelance screened by Run Nation Film Festival, ‘The Golden Mile’ - Jane Howard, Guardian Australia & The Saturday Paper, ‘Body of Work’ - Megan Spencer, Freelance for Virtual War Memorial Australia, ‘Bringing His Spirit Home: Private Arthur Thomas Walker, Ngarrindjeri ANZAC’
June 10, 2025 at 11:04 AM
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Me: trying to remember the play Lungs by Duncan Macmillan
AI: would you like some absolute slop?
Screenshot of a google search for "play about climate impact of having children". AI Overview says what the play could "explore" and gives a "possible structure and some potential themes", with an act breakdown. Screenshot of "possible dialogue examples". They are all dross.
May 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
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I admire and respect Margaret and David as much as the next person, but isn't it depressing they've been off air for a decade and they're still the only public face of criticism in Australia?
Randwick City Council and Ritz Cinemas Randwick are proud to present a very special event, An Evening with David & Margaret, on Sunday 1 June at 4pm. This one-hour live show will bring together two of Australia’s most beloved film critics, David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz, for a nostalgic and entertaining look back at their 28 years on television.
May 8, 2025 at 2:06 AM
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Me seeing art to review / me actually writing the review
@screaminbutcalm tweet that reads, 'Me sowing: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!! / Me reaping: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.'
March 10, 2025 at 11:10 PM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
Did you know one potato makes the perfect single serving of fresh gnocchi?
Before: a potato, a tomato, some basil and two garlic cloves. Gnocchi with tomato sauce and fresh basil leaves.
January 12, 2025 at 9:46 AM
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okay not everyone 😂
Screenshot: Not sure if feeling excessively proud of one's achievements is sustainable as a long-term treatment for anxiety. Smugness has a lot of negative associations with self-importance, self-rightousness, arrogance, superiority, complacency, especially in the way it annoys other people.
January 2, 2025 at 9:46 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
People are being nice to me in the comments 😊 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Screenshot: Good for you Jane. Keep feeling smug, it's a good feeling. For me, it's cycling. Sorry I couldn't take your call, I say, I was riding. Smug. Others may think it's negative one-upmanship, but I see it as a self-satisfied demonstration that they could do it too. Keep it up!
January 2, 2025 at 2:10 AM
janeannehoward.bsky.social
Not typically one for speculative fiction, but if anyone can make me love the genre it's Ali Smith. Would follow her to the ends of the earth
Book cover: Ali Smith's Gliff
December 30, 2024 at 10:25 AM
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I loved Mish Grigor's Class Act, and the script, as You Beauty, is the most interesting, compelling publication of a script I've ever had the pleasure of reading. For fans of Claire Thomas' The Performance, even if you didn't see this performance. About theatre, class, Australia and My Fair Lady.
Book cover: You Beauty by Mish Grigor
December 26, 2024 at 7:44 AM