Section

Culture

Insights into art, music, literature, and the trends shaping contemporary society.

A visually striking image showing a human hand interacting with a luminous, abstract AI interface, surrounded by digital art and classical sculptures, symbolizing the ethical challenges and creative potential of artificial intelligence in art and design.

A Guide to the Principles of Ethical AI in Art and Design

The rise of AI in art and design presents complex ethical challenges, from copyright and consent to algorithmic bias. This guide unpacks the core principles needed to navigate this new creative frontier responsibly.

Elise Marrow· Apr 7· 9 min
Diverse community members actively collaborating on a large, colorful public art installation in a city park, symbolizing social practice art's focus on interaction and shared creativity.

What Is Social Practice Art? A Guide to Art as Community Action

Social practice art redefines creativity, trading traditional mediums for collaboration and community dialogue. Discover how this movement uses human interaction to forge connections, stimulate discourse, and empower participants.

Adrian Vale· Apr 6· 8 min
Human hand reaching for a glowing digital canvas showing abstract AI art. Blends classical architecture with futuristic data streams, symbolizing art and technology's fusion.

What Is Generative AI Art and How Does It Work?

Generative AI art is rapidly transforming the creative landscape, enabling machines to produce unique visual works. Discover how this technology works, its impact on artists, and why it's becoming an essential part of digital literacy.

Theo Ashford· Apr 5· 8 min
A vibrant, large-scale mural transforming an old warehouse in a revitalized city district at dusk, with people enjoying the urban space.

What Is the Role of Public art in Urban Regeneration?

Public art is increasingly vital in urban regeneration, transforming neglected city spaces into vibrant hubs. It's a strategic tool for community engagement, revitalization, and forging distinct local identities.

Adrian Vale· Apr 5· 7 min
A diverse urban community thriving with cultural activities, showcasing street art, music, and markets integrated with architecture, symbolizing culture as vital infrastructure.

What Is Culture as Infrastructure? A Guide to How Arts Build Communities

Discover how 'culture as infrastructure' redefines community building, treating arts and heritage as vital public assets. This guide explores its meaning, components, and profound benefits for social and economic health.

Elise Marrow· Apr 4· 7 min
A bustling city street at dusk, showcasing historical buildings, modern art, and diverse people interacting, symbolizing culture as vital urban infrastructure.

What Is the 'Culture as Infrastructure' Concept? An In-depth Guide

The 'culture as infrastructure' concept suggests that a city's arts, heritage, and shared traditions are as essential to its survival and well-being as its physical infrastructure. This framework is crucial for urban resilience and recovery in an era of compounding crises.

Elise Marrow· Apr 3· 9 min
A diverse group of people engaging in creative activities within a beautifully lit cultural arts center, showcasing community interaction and artistic expression in an urban setting.

How Cultural Arts Centers Foster Community Development and Heritage

Cultural arts centers are transforming communities, acting as essential engines for social and economic well-being. They foster engagement, preserve local heritage, and drive urban development through creative placemaking.

Elise Marrow· Apr 2· 9 min
A vibrant, futuristic cityscape where digital art seamlessly integrates into urban life, featuring holographic sculptures, augmented reality overlays on buildings, and people interacting with interactive digital installations.

What Is the Impact of Digital Art on Contemporary Culture? An Explainer

The profound impact of digital art on contemporary culture lies in that gap. It has escaped the white-walled gallery to become an integral, often interactive, part of our daily lives.

Theo Ashford· Apr 1· 7 min
A thoughtful curator in a modern art gallery, surrounded by diverse exhibits like an ancient pot and modern art, symbolizing cultural curation and exhibition planning.

How Cultural Curation Works: A Complete Guide to Exhibition Planning

Cultural curation transforms collections into resonant experiences, blending art, science, and storytelling. Discover the meticulous process of planning and executing impactful cultural exhibitions.

Elise Marrow· Mar 30· 8 min
Diverse visitors of all ages engaging with vibrant abstract art in a modern gallery, fostering community and cultural dialogue through shared experience and discussion.

How Art Exhibitions Foster Community Engagement and Cultural Dialogue

Art exhibitions are powerful spaces that go beyond showcasing beautiful objects; they actively foster community engagement and cultural dialogue. They serve as vital arenas for connection, reflection, and shared understanding.

Elise Marrow· Mar 30· 8 min
Emerging artists in a contemporary gallery, inspired by a glowing abstract sculpture, representing new financial opportunities in the art world.

New Financial Backing Propels Emerging Artists

New financial awards and diverse exhibition platforms are actively cultivating and supporting emerging artists, signaling a seismic shift in the art world.

Theo Ashford· Sep 7· 4 min
Diverse art enthusiasts observing a vibrant, abstract sound sculpture in a modern gallery setting during an exhibition opening.

Influential Contemporary Art Exhibits Redefining Culture

From September 23 to 26, 2026, the Barbican Centre transforms into a sonic landscape.

Elise Marrow· Aug 30· 4 min
A historic small town theater marquee at dusk, with fading light casting a melancholic glow on the quiet street.

America's Underrated Arts Towns Face 2026 Challenges

The Williamstown Theatre Festival, a Tony Award-winning institution, is skipping its 2026 summer season, pushing its next full festival to 2027, according to WorldAtlas .

Theo Ashford· Aug 23· 3 min
Diverse crowd watching colorful hot air balloons ascend near vibrant street art at a fall cultural festival.

Fall Cultural Festivals and Events to Experience in 2026

This fall, you can witness the world's largest graffiti festival or a balloon spectacle with hundreds of hot air balloons for absolutely no admission fee.

Theo Ashford· Aug 22· 4 min
Diverse audience enjoying a vibrant international art festival with colorful banners and dramatic lighting, celebrating global culture.

Top 2 International Art Festivals in 2026 for Unique Cultural Experiences

In 2026, the Edinburgh International Festival will host 2,000 artists from 46 countries, showcasing a broad spectrum of artistic endeavors.

Elise Marrow· Aug 11· 3 min
A large crowd admires an 11-tonne white marble egg sculpture by Koen Vanmechelen at an international art festival.

Underrated Global Art Festivals and Exhibitions

An 11-tonne white marble egg sculpture by Koen Vanmechelen anchors one of Europe's most significant, yet often overlooked, art festivals.

Elise Marrow· Jul 19· 4 min
Diverse crowd at a futuristic festival with holographic global news projections, symbolizing cultural events shaping worldwide conversations.

5 Influential Cultural Events Shaping Global Conversations in 2026

In 2023, Coachella's livestream alone garnered over 250 million views across platforms, according to YouTube Music .

Elise Marrow· Jul 17· 4 min
A diverse crowd gathers under twilight sky, illuminated by traditional Thai lanterns and a modern art installation, celebrating a fall cultural festival.

Top 6 Art Exhibitions & Cultural Festivals for Fall 2026

Thailand's Tourism Authority is already unveiling a new cultural festival, 'Chiang Mai Voyage of Light 2026', years before many fall art exhibitions even open.

Elise Marrow· Jul 8· 4 min
Diverse attendees enjoying an intimate outdoor arts festival in a scenic Northern California setting with art installations and a stage.

Top 3 Emerging Cultural Arts Festivals to Experience in 2026

At Wildhaven Sonoma Glamping, a new festival called Analog Reunion offers an intimate Northern California experience, a stark contrast to sprawling desert events like El Cosmico.

Elise Marrow· May 20· 4 min
A modern museum lobby with visitors interacting with a holographic display, symbolizing the evolution of cultural institutions.

Top US Museums: Rankings and Evolving Trends

In 2024, an auto museum in Naples, Florida, was ranked the No.

Elise Marrow· May 19· 4 min
A dynamic city square filled with diverse people enjoying art, music, and performances, symbolizing a vibrant cultural center.

Top Cultural Centers in the US for 2024

Santa Fe, NM, a city of just over 80,000, just snagged the #1 spot for arts vibrancy among medium communities in 2024.

Theo Ashford· May 13· 4 min
Futuristic cityscape with floating digital art installations and a holographic AI-generated artwork in the foreground.

5 Influential Art Movements Reshaping the Global Scene

In 2025, the digital art collective 'MetaMakers' sold a single generative AI artwork for $1.

Elise Marrow· Apr 23· 3 min
Collage of global art masterpieces and cultural symbols from 2026 exhibitions, representing diverse artistic movements and international locations.

6 Must-See Global Art Exhibitions & Cultural Events to See in 2026

In 2026, art lovers can choose between experiencing 80 masterpieces at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum or exploring 180 artists at The Superfair in San Francisco, with tickets ranging from free to $150.

Theo Ashford· Apr 16· 3 min
A lively historic city street showcasing the successful integration of preserved landmarks with modern economic activity and community life.

Preserving Landmarks Isn't Just History; It's Your Community's Economic Future.

More than $800 million is invested annually in New York’s historic buildings, creating jobs for 9,000 New Yorkers and providing paychecks of over $500 million each year, a testament to preservation's

Theo Ashford· Sep 20· 4 min
Young Japanese woman weaving on a traditional loom with a holographic YouTube tutorial projection in the background, symbolizing the fusion of tradition and digital learning.

Digitalization threatens local arts, creating hybrid identities by 2026.

In a small village in rural Japan, a centuries-old weaving technique, once passed down orally, is now primarily learned through YouTube tutorials.

Elise Marrow· Sep 19· 4 min
A futuristic cityscape where human artists and AI-generated art coexist, with clear economic models supporting creative endeavors.

Arts Ecosystems Can Thrive Without Public Funding. History Shows How.

In 1942, American Federation of Musicians president James Petrillo compelled major record companies to pay into a fund for live musicians.

Theo Ashford· Sep 8· 3 min
Diverse community members actively participating in a museum exhibition, filling bottles with memories and stories.

Cultural institutions navigate community engagement hurdles

At the Denver Community Museum, visitors filled bottles with their memories, creating an exhibition entirely sourced from the community itself.

Elise Marrow· Sep 1· 3 min
Diverse group of children displaying colorful artwork in a global hall, symbolizing unity and hope for peace.

Art and culture: Fostering global peace efforts in 2026

Three-quarters of the world's major conflicts have a cultural dimension, yet global leaders increasingly turn to art exhibitions by schoolchildren aged 6-14 as a key strategy for peace.

Elise Marrow· Aug 31· 4 min
A busy 1970s New York subway station transformed into an art gallery with spontaneous chalk drawings on advertising panels.

Pop culture's influence democratizes traditional art, making it accessible to all.

In 1978, Keith Haring began drawing chalk figures on empty advertising panels in New York City's subway stations, often leading to his arrest for vandalism.

Theo Ashford· Aug 30· 3 min
Diverse digital artists collaborating in a futuristic cityscape, surrounded by holographic art installations, symbolizing innovation and community in Australian arts funding.

Australian arts funding boosts digital artists, challenges bias

On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the inaugural AusArt Day mobilized 323 participants in a digital fundraising campaign, signaling a new, grassroots approach to arts funding in Australia.

Elise Marrow· Aug 24· 3 min