Namila Benson

Namila Benson
Born
Melbourne, Australia
Occupation(s)Radio and TV presenter
Years active1994–present
FatherWarium Benson

Namila Benson is an Australian radio broadcaster, podcaster, and television presenter, known for her work for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, on Radio National and ABC Television. From 2021 to 2023, she hosted a weekly arts show on ABC TV called Art Works, and is the host and co-creator of the ABC TV show The Art Of... that began airing in June 2024.[1][2]

Early life and education

Namila Benson was born in Australia of Papua New Guinean parents. She is a Tolai woman from Rabaul[3] in the East New Britain Province in Papua New Guinea, and was born in Melbourne, Australia.[4]

Her father, Warium Benson, worked as a broadcaster for 36 years with Radio Australia, between 1975 and 2011.[5]

Career

Since starting in radio at Melbourne community broadcaster 3CR in the mid-nineties, Benson spent two and a half decades[6] working across a number of media platforms, including as a field reporter on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television arts show, Art Nation,[7] as a producer and presenter on Radio Australia's Pacific Service[8] and presenter on 3RRR FM radio.[9]

Between 2017 and 2019, she worked as a producer on the Radio National mornings program, Life Matters.[10] In 2019, she moved across to presenting and co-producing the national visual arts program, The Art Show, on ABC Radio National.[11][12]

Benson, hosting Art Works, November 2021

Between 2021 and 2023, she hosted a weekly arts show on ABC TV named Art Works.[13][14][15][16][17] Benson hosted 100 episodes of the ABC Television show Art Works across three seasons (2021, 2022 & 2023). Art Works aired on ABC TV and ABC TV Plus, and continues to be viewable on ABC iView.[18]

In November 2023, the ABC announced that Benson would host a new TV arts show, named The Art of...[19][20][21] which began airing in June 2024.[22] Benson is the host and co-creator[1] of the ABC TV show The Art Of... that began airing in June 2024.[2]

Benson uses her platform to challenge cultural norms and encourage meaningful discussions. She has been vocal about the need for Australians to engage in "difficult, open, and honest conversations".[23]

Other activities

Jack Charles and Benson at the Melba Spiegeltent, March 2019
Benson, Jack Charles, and Baker Boy at "Night With Uncle Jack" at the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, November 2021

Benson has acted as a mentor to help young people get into media in Australia and abroad.[24][25] She has run workshops at radio stations 3CR, SYN, PBS 106.7FM, and 3RRR.[26]

In 2015, she worked in Papua New Guinea, running media training with producers, presenters and journalists from the National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea.[3]

In 2019, Benson hosted talks with Jack Charles and various special guests at the Melba Spiegeltent in Melbourne.[27]

She hosted conversations with singer Archie Roach, and renowned First Nations elder, actor, and activist Uncle Jack Charles, at the Stories of Song and Resilience Event in December 2017 at the Sydney Opera House.[28][29]

In 2019, Wil Anderson featured Benson on episode 151 of his podcast, Wilosophy.[30][31]

For the 22nd Biennale of Sydney in 2020, titled NIRIN: Art From the Edge, focusing on international contemporary art by First Nations artists, she hosted a six-part podcast series called "Behind the Biennale".[32][33]

In 2023, Benson hosted the annual Semi-Permanent and Never Permanent design festivals, interviewing speakers including: Sinéad Burke, Mona Chalabi, Mikaela Jade, Liam Young, and others.[34][35]

In March 2024, she hosted the Australian International Documentary Conference Awards at ACMI, Melbourne.[36]

Benson collaborated with Jack Charles on writing his memoir Jack Charles: Born-Again Blakfella,[37] published on 18 August 2020 by Penguin Books.[38] The memoir was shortlisted by the Australian Book Industry Awards as the 2020 Biography Book of the Year.[39]

List of TV series

Art Works season 1

Benson hosted 33 episodes of the first season of ABC Television show Art Works in 2021, which began airing on ABC TV on 5 March 2021.[18]

Episode Guests and topics Date aired
1 Uncle Jack Charles, Atong Atem, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran 5 May 2021
2 Ziggy Ramo, Airi Ingram 12 May 2021
3 Opera Australia, Mary Quant, Siobhan Reddy, Natalie Aroyan 19 May 2021
4 Museum of Contemporary Art Australia & ABC Classic 100 26 May 2021
5 Miss First Nation & the Ramsay Art Prize 2 June 2021
6 Archibald Prize, Peter Wegner, Guy Warren (artist), Archie 100 9 June 2021
7 Kate Just, Great Woy Woy Tea Cosy Showcase, Andre Sardone 16 June 2021
8 Hilma af Klint, Incognito Art Show, Sue Cramer, Nicholas Chambers 23 June 2021
9 Dark Mofo 2021 30 June 2021
10 Megan Cope, Richard Bell (artist), Brian Robinson and Toby Cedar, NAIDOC Week 2021 7 July 2021
11 Just Not Australian Touring Exhibition 14 July 2021
12 Arts Access Victoria Amplify Festival, Heesco 21 July 2021
13 Maree Clarke, Science Gallery in Melbourne 28 July 2021
14 Supercell Festival of Contemporary Dance, Elisa Jane Carmichael, Sophie Fleming, Kate Usher, Brisbane Comedy Festival 4 August 2021
15 Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Malthouse Theatre's Because the Night, Scattered, Anna-Wili Highfield 11 August 2021
16 Mo'Ju, Vipoo Srivilasa & The Wellness Deity Project 18 August 2021
17 Maxine Beneba Clarke, New Writers Collective & Alex Lahey 25 August 2021
18 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Ishmael, Stone Country, Lorraine Kabbindi White, Ida Sophia 1 September 2021
19 Kylie Bracknell (formerly Kylie Farmer), Lucy Irvine, Demolition, Janelle McMillan, Polytoxic 8 September 2021
20 Boy Swallows Universe, Murrniny, Ngaiire 15 September 2021
21 Daniel Lafferty, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, The Rivers Sing, Sami Shah 22 September 2021
22 Brenton E. McKenna, Mick Turner, Bukhchuluun Ganburged 29 September 2021
23 Claire McArdle, David Moran, Voices of Colour 6 October 2021
24 Lisa Waup, Sally Rees, Yhonnie Scarce, Nicolette Fraillon, Lee Lewis, Dalisa Pigram, Rachael Swain, #KnowMyName 13 October 2021
25 Muster, Terrapin, Dale Woodbridge-Brown 20 October 2021
26 First Nations Fashion and Design 27 October 2021
27 Bukhchuluun Ganburged, Vika and Linda, Jonathan Zawada, Ausmusic Month 3 November 2021
28 Art in the Vines, Patricia Piccinini 10 November 2021
29 OzAsia Festival, Koolbardi wer Wardong 17 November 2021
30 Neo Teen Takeover, Wendy Mocke, Fiona Lee 24 November 2021
31 Jazz Money, Tarnanthi, Serwah Attafuah 1 December 2021
32 Transformation, Time Pass, Baai 8 December 2021
33 La Mama Theatre (Melbourne), Stella Prize 15 December 2021

Art Works season 2

Benson hosted 37 episodes of the second season of ABC Television show Art Works in 2022 which began airing on ABC TV on 16 March 2022.[18]

Episode Guests and topics Date aired
1 Summer Arts Festivals, Arts Washing. Featuring Rachael Maza, Gabrielle de Vietri, Ali Murphy-Oates, Joshua Thompson, Sera Waters, Daniel Jaber 16 March 2022
2 Dean Cross x Sidney Nolan, Eucalyptusdom, Adrienne Doig 23 March 2022
3 Lorne Sculpture Biennale, Biennale of Sydney, Daina Sgarioto, Tamara Bekier 30 March 2022
4 WOMADelaide, Jaslyn Hall, Alex Seton, Parvyn Singh, Dya Singh 6 April 2022
5 Marco Fusinato, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Louise Coghill, Frida Las Vegas 6 April 2022
6 Bundanon, Aretha Brown, Emma Donovan, Graeme McCullough 13 April 2022
7 AQAL, David Quirk, Caitlin Yeo, Sky Song 20 April 2022
8 National Indigenous Art Triennial, Sammy Hawker, Keva York 27 April 2022
9 Safa El Samad, Gabbi Bolt, Jordan Benson 4 May 2022
10 Venice Biennale, Deborah Kelly, Marco Fusinato, Parrtjima, Christopher Zanko 11 May 2022
11 Lissette Endacott, Katie West, Tamworth Country Music Festival 18 May 2022
12 Sydney Writers Festival, Chelsea Watego, Clementine Ford, Debra Keenahan, Eliza Hull, Nils Frahm, Tony Birch 25 May 2022
13 Australian Fashion Week, Dylan Mooney, Nicol & Ford, Alicia Crossley, Great Southern Dance, Dan Golding 1 June 2022
14 Vivid Sydney, Luca French, Billie Robertson, Sue Cato, Tiyan Baker, Tully Arnot, Amani Haydar, Cut N Polish 8 June 2022
15 Rising (arts festival), Zeina Thiboult, Luke Arnold & Richard Tognetti 15 June 2022
16 Sampa the Great, Rising (arts festival), Benjamin Law and Vanessa Alexander 22 June 2022
17 Dylan Mooney, Emma Donovan, Aretha Brown, Katie West and the National Indigenous Art Triennial 29 June 2022
18 Christopher Zanko, Sammy Hawker, Graeme McCullough, Bundanon Art Museum and Parrtjima Festival 6 July 2022
19 Dark Mofo, Alex Podger, Naomi Hobson, Cement Fondu, Stephanie Lake, Robin Fox and Phoenix Central Park 13 July 2022
20 Brisbane Street Art Festival, Jess Ribeiro, Second Echo Ensemble, Outside Boy and Miles Brown 20 July 2022
21 Back to Back Theatre, Noah Johnson, Soft Centre and S.J Norman 27 July 2022
22 Arts Week, Looking for Alibrandi, Megan Cope and the National Gallery of Victoria's Queer Exhibition 10 August 2022
23 Gay Hawkes, Abdul Abdullah, Dr Josh Harle, Tactical Space Lab, BLEACH and the Royal Theatre Winton 17 August 2022
24 Del Kathryn Barton, Blaze, Zahra Elham, Afghan Star, Sarah L'Estrange, the Miles Franklin Award 24 August 2022
25 Fangirls, Yve Blake, Kirli Saunders, The Minties, Omar Sakr, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Blaze, Eunice Andrada & the National Poetry Month Gala 31 August 2022
26 Sydney Theatre Company, Bharatanatyam, Rukshikaa Elankumaran, Matthew Backer, Kip Williams, Rosie Dennis, Christine Johnston, Jordan Morrison, The Scramble Project 7 September 2022
27 Anna Cordell, Whitefella Yella Tree, Dylan Van Den Berg, Callen Purcell, Guy Simon, Vanessa Tomlinson, Cat Jones 14 September 2022
28 Dr Fiona Foley, COVID sonification, Dr Mark Temple, Holly Greenwood, Broome Performing Arts Co-Op, Justine De Bruyn, Amanda Riley, 21 September 2022
29 Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Somebody's Daughter, Fiona Hall & AJ King 28 September 2022
30 Brisbane Festival & Club Weld, Dr Anita Heiss, The House of Alexander, Nina Gotsis, Olana Janfa, Jerrah Patston, Sam Worrad, Charbel Nehme, Club Weld, Joseph Williams, Erica Izett, Rupert Betheras 5 October 2022
31 Waru, Janice Wong, Nadurna, Ben Nguyen, Hunter Page-Lochard 12 October 2022
32 Virginia Gay, Cyrano, William Barton, Aunty Delmae Barton, Donna Kendrigan, David Humphries, Handmade Universe at the State Library of Victoria 19 October 2022
33 Rodney Bell, Alter State, Rooke Circus, Luke Whitten 26 October 2022
34 Jonathon Oxlade, The Australian Ballet, Tasman Keith, Keva York 2 November 2022
35 Bell Shakespeare, Gerwyn Davies, Kurt Boseke, FUNPARK arts festival 9 November 2022
36 Maria Tran, Gemma Black, Night Songs, Unpopular at the Powerhouse Museum, Liveworks Festival of Experimental Art 16 November 2022
37 Bangarra Dance Theatre, AI Art, Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra, Heather Rose 23 November 2022

Art Works season 3

Benson hosted and/or appeared on the following episodes of the third season of ABC Television show Art Works in 2023:

Episode Guests and topics Date aired
1 WorldPride, Adelaide & Perth Festivals 12 March 2023
2 Sydney Modern, Thea Perkins, The Oscars, Kate Jinx, Jamie Tram 19 March 2023
3 Women of Troy at Hobart's Ten Days on the Island festival, Perun Bonser, Sammy Hawker, Nick Cave, and Warren Ellis 26 March 2023
4 Thom Monckton, Rose Riebl, Jamin, WOMADelaide 2 April 2023
5 Lucy Guerin, Adelaide Festival, The Sheep Song, Matt Sloane, Aurelia St Clair, Sashi Perera, Jason Tamiru 9 April 2023
6 Home of the Arts, Gold Coast, Rel Pham, Mia Salsjo, Jason Lim 16 April 2023
7 Jen Cloher, TMAG, Thabani Tshuma 23 April 2023
8 Reuben Kaye, Daniel Riley, Vieux Farka Touré 30 April 2023
9 wani toaishara, The Poison of Polygamy, La Boite Theatre, Queensland Theatre 7 May 2023
10 Kirsten Lyttle, Mithu Sen, Classics for Kids, Bandura 14 May 2023
11 Maggie Hensel-Brown, Leuli Eshraghi, Lacework, Perth Design Week, Eric Avery, Computer Art 21 May 2023
12 Jessica Cottis, Germaine Acogny, Slammed, Nani Puspasari, Rania Ahmed 28 May 2023
13 Ajak Kwai, Kaylene Milner, WAH-WAH, Nathaniel Youkhana 4 June 2023
14 Rod McNicol, Tina Turner, Ugly Art, Arts Project Australia 11 June 2023
15 The Torch, Vivid Sydney, UFO, Mdou Moctar 18 June 2023
16 Straw Marquetry, The Other Art Fair, Nabilah Nordin, Nick Modrewski, Zaynab Farah 25 June 2023
17 The Social Studio, Food Art, Cash Savage, Desire Marea 2 July 2023
18 Bobbi Lockyer, Dominic Guerrera, King Stingray 9 July 2023
19 ROCKAMORA, Evi Ferrier, Karen Marks, Kasper Schmidt Mumm, Aida Azin, Jason Phu 16 July 2023
20 The Huxleys, Fulu Miziki, Bruno Booth, Sarah Lock 23 July 2023
21 Jamaica Moana, Paul Ryan, Ida Sophia, Thando 30 July 2023
22 Tee Ken Ng, Jason deCaires Taylor, Mel Ree 6 Aug 2023
23 Lindy Lee, Halo Vocal Ensemble, Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, Satsuki Odamura 13 Aug 2023
24 Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, The Weekend, Brendan Huntley, Gary Bigeni, Nardi Simpson, Kaleena Briggs 20 Aug 2023
25 Now or Never Festival, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Joseph Tawadros, Zahra Newman, Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio 27 Aug 2023
26 Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Melbourne International Film Festival, The Chairs, Restless Dance Theatre 3 Sept 2023
27 Charis Schwarz, Judy Watson, Olivia Davies, Ernest Aines 10 Sept 2023
28 Raphaela Rosella, Mikaela Stafford, Sarah Mary Chadwick, Huda the Goddess. 17 Sept 2023
29 Arts Week 2023, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Nat Bartsch, Where Water Meets, Alice Lindstrom, Iran Sanadzadeh 24 Sept 2023
30 Desert Mob, Dalisa Pigram, Ron Hurley, Laurie May 1 Oct 2023

The Art Of... season 1

Benson is the host and co-creator of the ABC TV show The Art Of...[1][2]

Episode Episode name and guests Date aired
1 Heartbreak: Celeste Mountjoy, Clementine Ford, Emma Donovan, Josh Thomas, Yumi Stynes, Mary Mcgillivray 4 June 2024
2 Being Imperfect: Amanda Palmer, Audrey Powne, Yhonnie Scarce, Mary Mcgillivray, Richard Lewer 11 June 2024
3 Masculinity: Courtney Act (guest host), Winston McCall, Gil Jenek, Fez Faanana, Thomas Worrell, Dylan Rodriguez, Briefs Factory, Billy Bane, Mary Beard, Mary McGillivray 18 June 2024
4 Sex: Paul Yore, Kitty Obsidian, Michala Banas, Mary Beard, Vanessa Hughes, Mary McGillivray 25 June 2024
5 Making A Difference: Angélique Kidjo, Kutcha Edwards, Bimini, Mary McGillivray 2 July 2024
6 Rage: Nazeem Hussain, Christos Tsiolkas, Del Kathryn Barton, Barkaa, Mary McGillivray 9 July 2024
7 Being Funny: Shaun Micallef, Zainab Johnson, Dane Simpson, Badiucao, Mary Beard, Mary McGillivray 16 July 2024
8 Climate: Megan Cope, Yael Stone, Ghenoa Gela, Jessie French, Mary McGillivray 23 July 2024
9 Hair: Patricia Piccinini, Nyadak ‘Duckie’ Thot, Zeïna Thiboult, Manu Harrison, Mary McGillivray 30 July 2024
10 Starting Over: Osher Günsberg (guest host), Sam Kissajukian, Emma Watkins, Gavin Wanganeen, Audrey Griffen, Carl Villis, Mary McGillivray 6 August 2024
11 Motherhood: Del Kathryn Barton, Atong Atem, Ella Ganza, Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich, Prof. Mary Beard, Mary McGillivray 13 August 2024
12 Food: Matt Preston (guest host), Kirsten Tibballs, Ben Shewry, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, Mary McGillivray 20 August 2024
13 Ageing: Yumi Stynes (guest host), Lindy Lee, Kathy Lette, Meryl Tankard, Maree Clarke, Mary McGillivray 27 August 2024
14 Sport: Elise Kellond-Knight (guest host), Otis Hope Carey, Michael Wilson, Tamara Oudyn, Mary McGillivray 3 September 2024
15 Money: Daniel Browning (guest host), Michael Zavros, Kay Abude, Richard Bell (artist), Andrei Molodkin, Mary McGillivray 10 September 2024

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Art Of - Episode 7 Credits" (PDF). Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c O'Brien, Kerrie (4 June 2024). "Divorce parties and sex scenes: How the ABC's new show breaks the mould". The Age. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "A Salute to Radio" (PDF). Air Niugini Paradise Magazine. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  4. ^ Bridget McManus (2 May 2021). "ABC arts host Namila Benson relishes being seen as well as heard". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ^ "A Pacific engaged Australia's relations with Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific". Australian Parliament. Commonwealth of Australia. 12 August 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  6. ^ "ABC Namila Benson". ABC.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. ^ Gina Fairley (9 April 2021). "Same, same but different – ABC announces new arts program". performing.artshub.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Artist Insider: Namila Benson". National Art School. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  9. ^ Three Triple R (16 November 2009). "Wax Lyrical's Namila Benson with The Mad Professor". flickr.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Life Matters with Hilary Harper, Michael Mackenzie - Namila Benson". ABC Radio National. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  11. ^ Richard Watts (4 May 2021). "Bringing a new lens to arts coverage on the ABC: Namila Benson talks Art Works". performing.artshub.com.au. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Namila Benson". ABC Radio National. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  13. ^ "ABC announces Art Works hosted by Namila Benson". Mediaweek.com. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  14. ^ Perry, Kevin (9 April 2021). "New Weekly Half-hour Show Art Works to Premiere on ABC TV plus". tvblackbox. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Art Works - ABC unveils new weekly arts show". help.abc.net.au. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  16. ^ Julian Meyrick (6 May 2021). "ABC's new arts show walks the line between high and low brow — and it works". The Conversation. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  17. ^ Julian Meyrick (13 May 2021). "TV review: ABC's Art Works". artsreview.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  18. ^ a b c "ABC iView Art Works". Australian Broadcast Corporation. 25 December 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  19. ^ "ABC in 2024 – all the feels for all Australians". ABC. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  20. ^ "ABC set for a British invasion in 2024 with 'Return to Paradise', 'Austin'". if.com.au/. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  21. ^ "2024 Upfronts: ABC". tvtonight.com.au. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  22. ^ Thornton, Isabella (5 June 2024). "How to watch The Art Of… in the UK on ABC iView for free". Reelgood. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Namila Benson: 'A big part of our culture is denialism. We just don't know how to have difficult, open and honest conversations'". The Guardian. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  24. ^ Benson, Namila (1 January 2015). "Namila Benson". Cram Guide. No. 2015. p. 13. Retrieved 14 March 2021 – via informit.org. PDF
  25. ^ "Humans of the Islands - Namila Benson". www.thecoconet.tv. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Tuesday Breakfast - Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit, fashion show fundraiser, Namila Benson, Remuse Equinox V Vênus VAMFF Offsite Runway". www.3cr.org.au. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Whats On at The Melba Spiegeltent". The Melba Spiegeltent. March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  28. ^ Cassie McCullagh (21 January 2018). "Best of the Festivals with Cassie McCullagh - Stories and Songs of Resilience". abc.net.au. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Stories and Songs of Resilience". Archie Roach. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  30. ^ wilosophy (3 December 2019). "Wilosophy Episode #151". tofop.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  31. ^ wilosophy (14 March 2021). "Wilosophy". wilanderson.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Namila Benson". Biennale of Sydney. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  33. ^ "22nd Biennale of Sydney". MCA Australia. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  34. ^ Bianca Davino (27 April 2023). "Semi Permanent Will Return to Sydney for Vivid 2023 with a Stacked Creativity and Design Program". refinery29.com. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  35. ^ "Permanent Record". semipermanent.com. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  36. ^ Paul Dalgarno (9 March 2024). "AIDC 2024 documentary award winners – and a tribute to ScreenHub's David Tiley". www.screenhub.com.au. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  37. ^ "Namila Benson". M Pavilion. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Jack Charles Born-again Blakfella". Penguin Publishing. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  39. ^ "Australian Book Industry Awards". 28 April 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.