The value of cultural diplomacy and the winner of the Archibald Prize

Over the last few years, the European Union has set out to include art and culture in their diplomatic work in Australia. Around the opening of their latest exhibition, Inside Pompeii: Origins of a European Way of Life, the EU Ambassador, Gabriele Visentin, shares his perspective on the value of art, beauty, and cultural understanding.And Julie Fragar, the winner of the 2025 Archibald Prize, for her portrait of the artist Justene Williams takes us behind the scenes to find out what happened when she found out that she'd won, and why the portrait remains so important, even in the age of the selfie.Our track of the week is Mother's Love by Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou, chosen by Stéphanie Kabanyana Kanyandekwe.Stories mentioned in the headlines:Jude Rae wins the Wynne Prize and Gene A'Hern wins the SulmanFitzroy mural in Melbourne attracts more than 1,000 letters to Yarra councilProminent art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at 57Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by 4 former employees