The Creative Conversations with Colour Box Studio podcast provides a behind the scenes look at the creative journeys of leading artists and cultural practitioners, delivering an insightful and connective listening experience.
Hosted by Māori visual artist and podcaster, Maria Birch-Morunga, the limited edition series aims to inspire audiences through laughter, engaging discussions and storytelling.
These conversations, recorded in front of a live audience at The Channel, Arts Centre Melbourne, feature creatives who are change-makers, innovators and leaders in their communities and the broader Australian creative industries.
Artists include: Wemba-Wemba and Gunditjmara woman, visual artist, curator, academic and writer Dr Paola Balla; Sri Lankan Australian lawyer-turned-comedian Sashi Perera; contemporary artist Jody Haines (Palawa) and African-Australian actor, writer and producer Esther Fwati.
Also showcased is: Aseel Tayah, a Palestinian mother, artist and creative director of participatory art collective Bukjeh; and collaborators Cyndi Makabory, a West Papuan activist and lawyer, and Yasbelle Kerkow, an Australian-born Fijian artist and emerging documentary filmmaker.
Carefully guided by host Maria, these phenomenal artists talk about their creative journeys and share with vulnerability about who they are as artists producing work that affects social change.
The podcast tackles vital issues at the heart of contemporary culture, including art and activism, on-screen representation, community-centered arts practice, navigating a social media presence, artists in academia, dismantling colonial narratives, the transformative power of public art and using creativity for healing.
Filmmaker, producer and Colour Box Studio founder, Amie Batalibasi, speaks to the significance of the podcast: “These conversations will make you laugh and they will make you cry. Each artist speaks to the power of art and creativity to cross boundaries, to heal personal hardships, inspire collective joy and communicate resistance. I couldn’t have found a more beautiful and powerful line-up of creative women who share their stories so openly and honestly.”
Host Maria Birch-Morunga reflects on how the podcast has affected her own creative practice: “One of the things I love about hosting these creative conversations is that we get to peek behind the curtain of these artists’ creative process – what inspires them, what motivates them. I’m an artist myself and I’m often working in isolation and I’ve been able to pick up some hot tips about how people navigate challenges, how they get motivated, how they find joy and just hear some really interesting stories.”
The first two episodes are now available with the rest to be released in March 2025.
LISTEN NOW
Follow and listen to Creative Conversations with Colour Box Studio on Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and YouTube Music.
- Episode 01: “Creative Resilience and the Healing Power of Art with Paola Balla” Maria Birch-Morunga interviews Wemba-Wemba and Gunditjmara woman, multi-disciplinary artist, curator, and academic, Dr Paola Balla. They discuss the role of community in Paola’s work, the influence of country and western music on blak culture, and the importance of finding joy and resilience in the face of trauma. Paola also shares her experiences as an Indigenous lecturer and her thoughts on the power of art to challenge colonial narratives and promote healing.
- Episode 02: “Humour in Hardship and How to Go Viral with Comedian Sashi Perera” Sashi Perera, a lawyer turned comedian is taking the comedy world by storm. Host Maria Birch-Morunga, chats with the hilarious Sri Lankan Australian comedian about everything from her viral “Browndaries” joke to the deeply personal experiences that fuel her comedy. Sashi shares how she balances her day job with her burgeoning comedy career, the challenges of going viral, and why she believes everyone has a funny bone. This conversation is as insightful as it is funny!
MORE INFORMATION & LINK TO SHARE
All episodes were recorded live at The Channel, Arts Centre Melbourne in 2024. This series was supported by Art Centre Melbourne’s PLAY program.
ABOUT COLOUR BOX STUDIO
With a mission to foster community engagement, Colour Box Studio provides a dynamic platform for artists, filmmakers, and storytellers to explore their creativity and connect with audiences. Through its curated programs and initiatives, Colour Box Studio offers a range of opportunities including workshops, events, an online artist interview series and community projects.
Website: https://colourboxstudio.com/
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