This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak explore everything from prehistoric cave paintings to modern marketing strategies — and even the potential future of UK arts under Andy Burnham.

We talk:• Old‑school vs digital marketing• Art on the Edge in Newport• Physical Education at Swansea Grand• Burnham’s cultural vision• Cave paintings and early artistic genius• Two big listener questions on marketing and UK arts policy

Warm, witty, insightful and rooted in Welsh creativity — this is Pain in the Arts at its most curious.

This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak battle a Welsh heatwave to bring you a packed episode covering:

• Thespians at the New Theatre• Fawlty Towers at the Wales Millennium Centre• The Future Commissioners Conference• A Creative Cardiff showcase• FFO x Music Theatre Wales’ modern opera• The Annen Prize and the rise of immersive art• Heledd Fychan’s new culture strategy• Disabled artists & criticism• Why known IP is taking over theatre

Warm, insightful, political and full of creative optimism — this is Pain in the Arts at its sweatiest.

This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak explore the future of Welsh arts — from community‑led opera to cutting‑edge immersive tech, and a major new culture announcement from Wales’ new Culture Minister, Heledd Fychan.

We talk:• FFO x Music Theatre Wales’ modern opera• The Annen Prize and the rise of immersive art• Whether VR will replace traditional theatre• Heledd’s new culture & sport strategy• Arts and health• Why Wales is becoming a leader in immersive storytelling

Plus: two big listener questions on immersive art and the future of the sector.

Warm, insightful, political and full of creative optimism — this is Pain in the Arts at its best.