Culture

They’ve wrapped up the Reichstag in silk – and surrounded entire islands with fabric. The artist Christo, and his late wife – are known for being big and being bold. Now Christo has brought his first major work to Britain – with a huge sculpture in the middle of the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park.…

Five drill musicians have been banned from writing lyrics encouraging violence and ordered to warn police before they record or perform any songs. In the first judgement of its kind, the judge imposed a three- year criminal behaviour order on the gang members, who are serving sentences for conspiracy to commit violent disorder. All of them…

For so many looking from a distance at Grenfell, there was the frustration of not knowing what to do to help. The actress Kathy Burke decided to edit a book – called ’24 Stories’ in tribute to the 24 floors at Grenfell Tower – full of different writers talking about hope, community and positivity. She…

With his jangly guitar and unique way of playing it, Johnny Marr created the sound of The Smiths. He made the music to Morrissey’s lyrics in a band that defined indie music in the 80s. Since their split, Marr worked with giants from Paul McCartney to Noel Gallagher. But now he’s a solo act releasing…

  She’s been compared to the likes of Kate Bush and David Bowie and in 2015 was the first female artist to win a Grammy award for Best Alternative Music album in 24 years. Annie Clark, who’s better known by her stage name St Vincent – is the current darling of art rock, revered by…

The French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy says Britain is at the intellectual heart of Europe and needs to stay there. And he’s putting his views on stage. Last Exit Before Brexit depicts a speechwriter who has to give a keynote address at a conference about Brexit and can’t manage to write it.

It’s an art project like no other, a project that won’t exist for a century. The Future Library was dreamt up by the Scottish artist Katie Paterson in the middle of a Norwegian forest. A hundred books, by a hundred authors, to be printed in a hundred years, using paper from trees which have only…

They’re calling it the modern-day answer to The Exorcist. Even if you hate horror films, it’s the one you might find yourself considering this summer because it’s getting rave reviews and talk of awards. Hereditary is a supernatural thriller about a family struck by tragedy. It stars the Australian Toni Collette and it is her…

Born in the Caribbean and brought up in Birmingham, Joan Armatrading was the first black female British singer-songwriter to have international success. Now she’s releasing her 21st studio album and talks about where her love of music started.

We speak to the Egyptian author and feminist campaigner Nawal El Saadawi – who says danger has been a part of her life ever since she picked up a pen.

We spoke to Rose McGowan – one of the first to go public with claims of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein. Her memoir Brave sets out how she was allegedly raped by the movie producer when she was just 23 years old. I asked her about separate allegations of inapropriate behaviour against the actor Morgan…

American novelist Philip Roth has died aged 85. Roth won almost every literature prize and was hugely influential in writing on topics such as Jewish-American life, family, politics and sexuality.

On Friday Ireland will decide whether to scrap its almost-total ban on abortion. Vocal proponents for and against reforming the constitution have powered a referendum campaign that has become increasingly bitter, but with a significant proportion of the electorate thought to have made up their minds. Our Social Affairs Editor Jackie Long is joined in…

Christopher Bonanos is city editor of New York Magazine, the publication Tom Wolfe wrote for throughout his career.

The celebrated American author Tom Wolfe has died, aged 88. Known for his flamboyant dress sense and even more flamboyant writing style, his biting social observations and satire came to define the ages he wrote about. From the 60s counter-culture to 80s Wall Street excess, he managed to combine critical acclaim with massive sales.