| Namila Benson | |
| Birth Place: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Father: | Warium Benson |
| Occupation: | Radio and TV presenter at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Years Active: | 1994–present |
Namila Benson is an Australian radio broadcaster, podcaster and television presenter.
Benson was born in Australia of Papua New Guinean parents. She is a Tolai woman from Rabaul[1] in the East New Britain Province in Papua New Guinea, and was born in Melbourne, Australia.[2]
Her father, Warium Benson, worked as a broadcaster for 36 years with Radio Australia, between 1975 and 2011.[3]
Since starting in radio at Melbourne community broadcaster 3CR in the mid-nineties, Benson spent two and a half decades[4] working across a number of media platforms, including as a field reporter on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television arts show, Art Nation,[5] as a producer and presenter on Radio Australia's Pacific Service[6] and presenter on 3RRR FM radio.[7]
Between 2017 and 2019, she worked as a producer on the Radio National mornings program, Life Matters.[8] In 2019, she moved across to presenting and co-producing the national visual arts program, The Art Show, on ABC Radio National.[9] [10]
Between 2021 and 2023, she hosted a weekly arts show on ABC TV named Art Works,[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] with 100 episodes aired over the three seasons.
In November 2023, the ABC announced that Benson will host a new TV arts show, named The Art Of...[16] [17] [18] which began airing in June 2024. [19]
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.[20] Through her media presence, Benson has had a profound impact on how difficult social issues are addressed in Australia. She uses her platform to challenge cultural norms and encourage more meaningful discussions. Benson has been vocal about the need for Australians to engage in difficult conversations. In an interview with The Guardian, she stated, "A big part of our culture is denialism. We just don't know how to have difficult, open and honest conversations".[21] This philosophy underpins much of her work and public appearances, where she advocates for greater honesty and openness in discussing social issues.
Benson has acted as a mentor to help young people get into media in Australia and abroad.[22] [23] She has run workshops at radio stations 3CR, SYN, PBS 106.7FM and 3RRR.[24]
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 (NBC).
In 2019, Benson hosted talks with Jack Charles and various special guests at the Melba Spiegeltent in Melbourne.[25]
She hosted conversations with singer Uncle Archie Roach, and renowned First Nations elder, actor and activist Uncle Jack Charles, at the Stories of Song and Resilience Event on 4 December 2017 at the Sydney Opera House.[26] [27]
In 2019, Wil Anderson featured benson on episode no. 151 of his podcast, Wilosophy.[28] [29] In 2023, Benson hosted the annual Semi Permanent and Never Permanent design festivals, interviewing speakers including: Ta-ku, Sinéad Burke, wani toaishara, Samuel Leighton, Mona Chalabi, Mikaela Stafford, Mikaela Jade, Megha Kapoor, Liam Young, Angie Abdilla, Hector Ouilhet, Jesse Woolston, Justin Ridler, Serwah Attafuah, Jazz Money, Bijan Berahimi, Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, Filipe Carvalho and Megha Kapoor.[30] [31]
In March of 2024, she hosted the AIDC 2024 Awards (Australian International Documentary Conference) at ACMI, Melbourne. [32]
In 2019, Benson authored the memoir of Uncle Jack Charles: Jack Charles: Born-Again Blakfella,[33] published on 18 August 2020 by Penguin Books.[34] The memoir was shortlisted by the Australian Book Industry Awards as the 2020 Biography Book of the Year.[35]
Benson is the host and co-creator[36] of the ABC TV (Australian TV channel) show The Art Of... that began airing in June 2024 and is also viewable on ABC iView. [37]
| Episode | Episode name and guests | Date aired | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heartbreak: Celeste Mountjoy, Clementine Ford (writer), Emma Donovan, Josh Thomas (comedian), Yumi Stynes, Mary Mcgillivray | 4 June 2024 | |
| 2 | 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 (classicist), Mary McGillivray | 18 June 2024 | |
| 4 | Sex: Paul Yore, Kitty Obsidian, Michala Banas, Mary Beard (classicist), 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 (classicist), Mary McGillivray | 16 July 2024 | |
| 8 | Climate: Megan Cope, Yael Stone, Ghenoa Gela, Jessie French, Mary McGillivray | 23 July 2024 |
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.[20]
| 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 |
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.[20]
| 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 | |
| 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 |
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, Viex Farka Toure | 30 April 2023 |
| 9 | wani toaishara, The Poison of Polygamy, La Boite Theatre, Queensland Theatre | 7 May 2023 |
| 10 | Dr Kirsten Lyttle, Mithu Sen, Classics for Kids, Bandura | 14 May 2023 |
| 11 | Maggie Hensel-Brown, Dr 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, STCSA, Joseph Tawadros, Zahra Newman, Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio, Joseph Tawadros | 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, Dr. Iran Sanadzadeh | 24 Sept 2023 |
| 30 | Desert Mob, Dalisa Pigram, Ron Hurley, Laurie May | 1 Oct 2023 |