Insights

Canterbury Cathedral will showcase a striking new art exhibition this month as French artist Renaud Muraire brings modern interpretations of religious iconography to the historic Eastern Crypt. Titled Sacred Resonance, the exhibition runs from 21 May to 7 September 2026 and features ten paintings that reimagine familiar biblical figures and stories through a contemporary lens. Muraire’s works draw inspiration from traditional Orthodox Christian iconography, using bold block c

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery is set to open a major new summer exhibition celebrating archaeological discoveries and the excitement of uncovering ancient treasures. Treasure! will run from 13 June to 13 September 2026, offering visitors a fascinating journey through Britain’s past. The exhibition will feature remarkable artefacts from prehistory, Roman Britain, Viking settlements, and Anglo-Saxon history, while placing a special spotlight on Dorset’s rich archaeological herita

BFI has unveiled its upcoming Blu-ray and DVD releases for July, August, and September 2026, featuring a strong mix of classic cinema, British filmmaking, and cult favourites. Leading the July lineup is On the Beach, arriving on Blu-ray on 27 July. Directed by Stanley Kramer, the post-apocalyptic drama stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins. The film explores humanity’s final days after nuclear fallout devastates the planet. On 10 August, The Mahab

BFI has unveiled an exciting lineup of screenings and special events for London Climate Action Week 2026, bringing climate-focused cinema to audiences throughout June at BFI IMAX and BFI Southbank. The month-long programme explores climate change, wildlife conservation, and humanity’s relationship with nature through documentaries, classic films, family favourites, and expert-led discussions. One of the biggest highlights is the European premiere of Force of Nature on 22 June

Tate Liverpool has announced that acclaimed artist Asad Raza will create the first major commission for its brand-new Art Hall, a landmark space set to open when the gallery reopens in 2027. The announcement was made during a fundraising event and marks a major milestone in the transformation of one of the UK’s leading modern art institutions. Known for creating immersive, multi-sensory installations, Asad Raza transforms traditional gallery spaces into interactive environmen

Can a drawing change the way we see the built world? The winners of the 8th edition of The Architecture Drawing Prize suggest it can. The annual award, a partnership between Make Architects, the World Architecture Festival and Sir John Soane’s Museum, celebrates drawing as one of architecture’s most powerful tools for thinking, imagining and communicating ideas. From January, the 2025 winners will go on display at Sir John Soane’s Museum, offering visitors a compelling snapsh

The release of Medieval III: Total War has strategy fans buzzing, and for good reason. This long-awaited entry promises the classic Total War experience—big battles, deep strategy, and rich historical detail—updated with modern visuals and new gameplay systems. If you’ve been itching to return to medieval warfare with a fresh coat of paint (and a lot more depth), this launch is a pretty big moment. In this post, you’ll find a clear breakdown of everything worth knowing about

Looking at everything the International Film Festival Rotterdam has announced for 2026, it’s hard not to feel that this edition marks a clear shift in energy. IFFR has always taken pride in supporting new voices and experimental filmmaking, but this year’s combination of The Future Is NOW and Cinema Regained gives the festival a structure that connects emerging creators with a re-examined film past. This is a festival trying to create a full spectrum of cinema, from the earli

The announcement of the The Future Is NOW programme at IFFR 2026 has already sparked excitement, and it’s easy to see why. The festival is dedicating a major section to six decades of women’s cinema, tying into the 60th anniversary of the National Organization for Women. This alone signals a bold statement: that feminist filmmaking, women-led storytelling and female-driven animation deserve a central space on one of the world’s biggest cinema stages. The Future Is NOW treats

Film history often feels settled. We believe we know the key names, the canonical titles, the “great” films. But with the Cinema Regained section at IFFR 2026, that assumption gets gently disrupted. The International Film Festival Rotterdam has announced that Cinema Regained will return this time shining a light on restored works, archival rediscoveries and films that invite us to rethink what cinema’s past could have been. What makes Cinema Regained such a compelling part o

Behind every major museum acquisition, there’s usually a long list of supporters who helped make it happen — and Dobson’s self-portrait is no exception. The painting is now part of the national collection thanks to an impressive network of funders and foundations who stepped in to ensure it wouldn’t disappear into a private collection. The National Lottery Heritage Fund played a major role, alongside support from Art Fund, the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, and contributions

Animals Everywhere! may look like a fun digital trail on the surface — and it is — but it’s also a key part of something much bigger happening at the Horniman. The project sits within the museum’s wider Nature + Love programme, an ambitious plan to help people connect more deeply with nature, right in the heart of south London. Thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Gardens are gradually being reshaped with new family-friendly spaces, updated landscapi

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is set to introduce one of London’s most innovative outdoor attractions with the launch of Animals Everywhere!, a fully web-based augmented reality trail arriving in late Spring 2026. Developed in partnership with Smartify, the global leader in digital visitor engagement, the new AR experience will transform the Horniman’s 16 acres into an interactive world of virtual wildlife. Designed to be free, family-friendly and accessible, the trail give

The 2025 Ivors Classical Awards were more than a ceremony — they were a celebration of what makes British music thrilling today. Hosted at London’s BFI Southbank, the evening honored both giants and rising stars, from Anne Dudley to Luke Mombrea, and Anoushka Shankar to Debbie Wiseman. Nine Ivor Novello Awards were presented across six categories, each judged anonymously by a panel of 30 composers — a peer recognition that carries a weight all its own. Highlights included Orb

Emerging composer Luke Mombrea demonstrated to the audience why contemporary classical music resonates as the pulse of the present. His acclaimed chamber piece, Black Gold , transports listeners to the 1928 Santa Fe Springs oil fires, transforming a historical event into an immersive auditory experience. Commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, the composition merges live instruments with electronics, crafting a tense and visceral soundscape. The judges lauded its “rich

The Innovation Award at last night’s Ivors Classical Awards seemed almost destined for Anoushka Shankar. She epitomizes musical curiosity, serving as a bridge between the Indian classical tradition and modern expression. For Shankar, the sitar is more than just an instrument; it is a storyteller. Through her collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Jacob Collier, and Sting, she illustrates that music transcends borders. From Anna Karenina to the BBC adaptation of A Suitable Boy ,