CANBERRA.- Listen now to the first Australian edition of Katy Hessel’s Museums without Men audio tour, and a new season of the Artists’ Artists podcast.

Museums without Men audio guide

British art historian, broadcaster and international bestselling author of The Story of Art Without Men, Katy Hessel launches her first Australian Museums without Men audio tour with the National Gallery. Designed to spotlight works of art by women and gender nonconforming artists held in public collections worldwide, this series debuted in the United Kingdom and the United States for Women’s History Month in 2024 with guides for five international institutions.

Created to tackle the gender imbalance in museums and galleries, the National Gallery’s Museums without Men audio tour is part of the Know My Name initiative, celebrating the contribution of all women artists to Australia’s cultural life. Written and presented by Hessel, the audio tour features textiles, paintings, sculptures and installations; from across Australia and spanning over a century of art making. Hessel guides the listener through works of art by Anne Dangar, Grace Cossington Smith, Olive Cotton, Fiona Hall, Nora Heysen, Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr people, Bronwyn Oliver, Margaret Preston, Kaylene Whiskey, Yankunytjatjara people and the convict women on the HMS Rajah.

Katy Hessel: ‘The aim of these guides is to introduce gallery goers to women artists they may not have known before, and to draw attention not only to the incredible stories and works in the national collection but also to the important work the Gallery has been doing in collecting these artists and sustaining their legacies. It’s been a thrill learning about so many Australian women artists, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with listeners.’

Artists’ Artists podcast

The National Gallery has launched the second season of Artists’ Artists, a podcast series connecting audiences with works of art from the national collection. The new season features artists Urs Fischer, Juz Kitson, Archie Moore, Kamilaroi/Bigambul peoples, Ben Quilty and Jenny Watson.

The five-part series gives audiences insight into the personal experiences, perspectives and stories of Australian and international artists, as well as the chance to learn more about some of the treasures and lesser-known works in the national collection.

Artists’ Artists is hosted by Australian novelist, screenwriter, art critic and former editor of the London-based arts magazine, Frieze, Jennifer Higgie. Higgie's recent books include The Other Side: A Journey into Women, Art and the Spirit World and The Mirror and the Palette: 500 Years of Women's Self Portraits. She is also the presenter of Bow Down, a podcast about women in art history, and the editor of National Gallery publication The Annual.

Jennifer Higgie: ‘It has been a joy to have conversations with a brilliant cross-section of artists for the second season of the National Gallery’s Artists’ Artists podcast. Gaining new insights into the national collection through their selection of works of art and hearing their thoughts on what moves, inspires, and intrigues them has been incredibly enriching and illuminating - I’m sure it will be for listeners too.’