Culture File

What kept the pioneering abstract paintings of Hilma af Klint out of art history until long after her death?

Artist and composer, Jennifer Walshe dares some old haunts from pre-pandemic London.

How the Chicago Word's Fair came to be graced with two "genuine" Irish villages, a long-running plot to bring contemporary art and contemporary schoolkids together, Marise Gaughan on a Spanish style lockdown, and Rob Long on the unpleasantness of getting (left with) the bill.

Art historian, Éimear O'Connor shares some of her favourite things in music, reading, watching, listening, eating and smelling

In his latest Martini Shot, writer and producer, Rob Long remembers some unpleasantness that used to accompany restaurant-going. You remember restaurant-going, don't you?

Historian, Eimear O'Connor on the sometimes wobbly cultural exchange between Ireland and the US in the early 20th century

Curator Jennie Guy has been introducing the world of school to the world of contemporary art practice

A new lockdown has encouraged/forced comedian and writer, Marise Gaughan to re-familiarise herself with the contents of her kitchen.

Felt virus artist, Niki Collier shares some of the good things in life, in reading, listening, tasting and smelling

This time, a journey deep into the darkweb with composer, Jennifer Walshe and her cat. Disco queen, Roísín Murphy starts up her machine, artist, Marie Brett rediscovers the strange tale of the Day of The Straws and writer and comedian, Rob Long, er, provides a sample.

Luke Clancy and guests explore cities: how they are - and how we dream they'll be; who they serve and who they hinder, with guests artist, Sven Anderson, architect, Noreile Breen, curator, Lar Joyce and scholar, Leslie Kern, author of Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World.

Are you curious about how life can be like a stool sample, and yet not 100% keen to find out? Rob Long examines the, er, issue.

Roisin Murphy on why creativity is like yoga - you have to do it every day - and other lockdown learnings

Artist, Marie Brett's new project was kickstarted by a strange tale from Ireland's 1832 cholera epidemic.

In her latest lockdown diary, Jennifer Walshe's cat, Nomi, leads the composer down into the darkweb.

The clandestine art of the WhatsApp audio message; a leap into Jess Shepherd's leadscapes; the latest volume on Paddy Woodworth's Naturalist's Bookshelf; and Rob Long's well-earned Martini Shot

Arklow-reared composer, vocalist and producer, Roisin Murphy shares some of her favourite watching, reading, listening, tasting and smelling

Rob Long carefully explains the creative benefits of hearing. Y'know, really hearing.

Are regular users of WhatsApp's audio messaging uncovering fresh avenues of expression and communication?

Botanical painter and sound recordist, Jess Shepherd, takes us kicking once more through the leaf-fall.

Paddy Woodworth's latest selection is Nan Shepherd's elegy to the Cairngorms, The Living Mountain, which spent 30 years resting in the writer's drawer

Consuelo and Lucie of the Franco-Italian folk duo, Varo share some reading, listening, watching, tasting, and smelling recommendations

This weekly, the place where cuddly felt figures meet deadly pathogens in the art of Niki Collier, Rob Long on why character is fate when it comes to coffee shops, Aisling Kelliher on spontaneous social apps, and Marise Gaughan on the resistible rise of the billionaires

In his latest epistle, Rob Long looks for validation at the coffee shop.

There are no good guys and bad guys when it comes to viruses, according to Niki Colliers, who creates felt sculptures of her favourite deadly microorganism.