Australia’s longest running arts & culture current affairs radio program, Arts Alive, marks 28 years on air with the Community Radio Network (CRN) satellite broadcast on April 14.

A production of the Independent Media Foundation, Arts Alive was launched by a group of students at RMIT University in Melbourne and took over the time slot on the CRN of Careering Arts which was first heard on 3CR in 1994.

First co-presented by Nicole Foote and Vincent O’Donnell, Arts Alive was modelled on the ABC‘s AM and has, over the years, given professional broadcast experience to more than 250 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The program’s alumni include Alicia Loxley (nee Gorey) (Nine Network), Nick McKenzie (Age/SMH), Fiona Parker, Stephanie March, Melissa Clarke, Alice Walker (ABC), Federal member for Jagajaga Kate Thwaites and journalist turned barrister Kate Stowell.

Over the years, Arts Alive has received a LOUD award, a nomination for a Walkley Award for journalism, a citation from the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies in Canberra, a special mention in the annual Manning Clark House awards and was the first Australian radio program to publish its spoken-word content on the Internet as an E-journal.

At present (the now Dr) Vincent O’Donnell (pictured) continues the production and presentation of Arts Alive, in much the same as the original format: news, two or three current affairs stories and a weekly guest.  The program is heard on around 40 stations that are part of the Community Radio Network.