We begin the new year with our bumper holiday issue. And what better place to start than a look at the arts on offer in 2022? Some arts organisations remain cautious but most appear optimistic, announcing full seasons, clearly hoping against hope that the lockdowns are behind us, given our strong vaccination uptake. We asked a team of specialist writers – Ian Whitney, Paul Ballam-Cross, Deborah Jones, Steve Dow and Jansson J. Antmann – to assess the arts programming across the country and across the year, in our cover feature 2022: Back to Normal?

This month’s cover image features members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra on the beach at Port Noarlunga. Photo © Matt Turner

Víkingur Ólafsson has been described as revitalising classical music. His work certainly feels revelatory as he redefines the piano recital and tops the charts. Clive Paget conducts an enthralling interview with the uniquely talented Icelandic pianist in his feature Grand Designs – though he admits his heart was in his mouth for some of it, as Ólafsson chatted to him via video while driving a hands-free car.

In 2015, Chi-chi Nwanoku established the Chineke! Foundation...