László Krasznahorkai wins the Nobel Prize for Literature and how the arts engage with politics and the environment

A “compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” That’s how the jury for the Nobel Prize for Literature described the work of Hungary’s László Krasznahorkai, who was awarded the 2025 prize. For those of us who haven’t had a chance to dive into the novels, Julian Murphet, Jury Chair of English Language and Literature at the University of Adelaide, is here to give us the cliff notes. And from funding decisions to censorship, we report a lot about how politics impacts the arts. This week, we turn our gaze the other way. How do the arts impact policy, politics, and the way we see the world. Freyja Gillard from the Environmental Film Festival, Claire G Coleman from The Centre for Reworlding, and Angharad Wynne-Jones from Creative Climate share how artists are working to change our perspective on the environment.Our track of the week is Track 3 from Gift - Our Breath of Life by William Barton and Omega Ensemble.Headlines include:Tasmanian government cuts funding to TAFE arts coursesHuman Rights Watch refuses donations from Riyadh Comedy Festival performersCreative Australia announces $1.6 million in new commissionsJulia Gillard to chair the jury of the 2026 Prize for Women's FictionLargest ever international touring exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art delayed by US Government shutdownDiane Keaton dies at age 78