ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE

Hosted by LSE Library The Women’s Library, the UK’s oldest and largest collection on the history of the women’s movement, is 100 years old. This exhibition looks at the history of The Women’s Library and explores its rich and diverse collections from the viewpoint of researchers and their current engagement with it. Through the broad themes of international relations, women’s equality campaigning, political representation, child protection, and feminist publishing, the materi

The winners have been revealed for the latest London Standard Theatre Awards in a star-studded ceremony at Hampton Court. Founded in 1955 and the oldest theatre awards in the UK, the nominees are drawn from the best shows of the last year (2025). “It has been another exceptional year for London theatre,” Lord Lebedev, the Standard’s proprietor, said in his welcoming speech, praising the work of actors, directors, writers and everyone working behind the scenes to advance the a

Cheshire-based singer and songwriter Thea Gilmore has gained global acclaim since releasing her debut album as a teenager nearly 30 years ago. Her music is renowned for its extraordinary beauty, rare honesty, and insightful lyrics. Balancing a successful music career and championing for value of the work of creators in the entertainment business, she is a very busy woman – but not too busy to fight back against the music industry after being told that she wasn't 'worth very

Catherine Opie: To Be Seen at The National Portrait Gallery – a reminder of why we go to exhibitions in the first place American photographer Catherine Opie’s new show at the National Portrait Gallery begins – or ends, depending on which order you explore it in – with her “interventions”. These photographic portraits are installed between the gallery’s paintings of Victorian leaders, captains, artists and politicians. They sit alongside them as though somewhat familiar. This

A powerful new exhibition at Dimbola Galleries in Freshwater, titled “Dreams,” brings together the work of Ukrainian artist Yana Barabash. Her journey to the Isle of Wight has profoundly impacted both her life and her artistic expression. This is her most extensive Island exhibition to date and marks a significant milestone in her creative journey. Three and a half years ago, Yana and her mother fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leaving their home in Odessa. They eventual

Torn between loyalty, love, and revolution, the remarkable story of Sylvia Pankhurst’s life explodes onto the stage. This is the untold story of the rebellious middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst in this irresistible hip hop, funk and soul musical that moves your feet and fires your spirit. Whilst her mother and sister battled for women’s suffrage, Sylvia ignited a revolution for the forgotten: working women, the impoverished, the silenced. Caught between her family and her be

Tate Modern’s expansive is the Croydon-born artist’s largest retrospective to date. Undoubtedly the most talked-about exhibition of the season, Tracey Emin’s monumental A Second Life at the Tate Modern (running until 31 August) – backed by Gucci – presents the most comprehensive survey yet of Britain’s most renowned living female artist. This exhibition chronicles her fearless approach, showcasing how, over four decades, Emin has used the rawest experiences of her body, mind,

This month, Isle of Wight band Wet Leg will make history as the first-ever musical guests on Saturday Night Live UK, the new British version of the long-running US show. Sky has confirmed that the critically acclaimed duo will perform on the programme’s debut episode, which airs live tomorrow (March 21) on Sky and NOW. They will share top billing with the inaugural host, Tina Fey, the former Saturday Night Live star and creator of 30 Rock, who is returning to the franchise to

Barbie: The Exhibition is coming to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. It will be the first time it has ever been in Scotland, exploring the history of the doll from 1959 to the present day and features items including clothes, playsets and vehicles. Several groundbreaking Barbies will be on display, including the first black, Hispanic and Asian versions, as well as the first Barbie with Down’s Syndrome and the first in a wheelchair. Glasgow Life, the charity

Get ready to see Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel as you've never seen them before in this pop-music filled psychological thriller. It follows a famous singer who who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer on the eve of her comeback performance. In addition to Hathaway and Coel, FKA Twigs, Hunter Schafer, and Kaia Gerber will also star. Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX have written and produced original songs for the film, with an original score compos

Hamnet star Jessie Buckley has made history by becoming the first Irish woman to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards in Hollywood. The prize went to Buckley for her role as William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, in the drama directed by Chloé Zhao. Buckley burst into a fit of laughter before beginning her speech, saying, “This is really something.” “It’s Mother’s Day in the U.K. today, so I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart,” she said. “We

A biting tale of female loneliness and obsession After the sensational reception of her novel Butter (2017, translated into English in 2024), Asako Yuzuki is back with Hooked (translated by Polly Barton) – a novel about loneliness and the sometimes twisted and complicated relationships between women. The book revolves around two very different women in their 30s in Tokyo. Eriko is a career-driven woman with a stable income in a trading company, born and raised in Tokyo. Shōko

Powerhouse singer Jessie J returns to the stage this April for her No Secrets UK tour. Fans can expect the soaring ballads, high-energy hits and unmistakable voice that have made the Brit-school alumna one of the UK's most popular performers. With heartfelt moments and show-stopping vocals, this is your chance to see one of pop's finest doing what she does best. Various venues throughout the country from 7-14 April. ticketmaster.co.uk/jessie-j

Three days of jazz, neo-soul, hip hop and electronic sounds across venues in and around Brick Lane, London. It's intimate enough to feel friendly, but big enough to make a proper weekend of it, with excellent food and people-watching between sets. 24 - 26 April 2026 bricklanejazzfestival.com

The Spanish film industry has historically been dominated by men and, perhaps unsurprisingly, by the Spanish language. The country doesn’t have a great track record for valuing minority languages, or the cultural outputs made in them. Pioneering female directors including Icíar Bollaín and Isabel Coixet have paved the way for a new generation of female film-makers. Thanks to the influence of organisations such as CIMA (the Association of Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media

Originally published in 1979, this eight-part epic by Barbara Taylor Bradford was a major success for Channel 4 when they first adapted it in 1985. The story of a Yorkshire housemaid's journey from poverty to becoming the leader of a retail empire—and the wealthiest woman in the world—remains as relevant today as ever. Emma Harte's life is filled with love, ambition, betrayal, and loss. We first encounter her as an older woman in a limousine traveling through New York City, j

The story follows five women and the circumstances that make them leave their lives to start anew in a garden on the outskirts of Tehran. Written in the late 1970s, it was immediately banned on publication. Shortly after, Parsipur was arrested and jailed for her frank and defiant portrayal of women’s sexuality. This groundbreaking book is now available for the first time in English, translated by Faridoun Farrokh. The novel insists that authoritarianism doesn’t begin in the h

No sooner has Meryl Streep kicked off Miranda Priestly's click-clacking red stilettos, than she's stepping into another iconic woman's shoes. It's been confirmed that Meryl, who again plays the formidable Runway magazine editor in The Devil Wears Prada 2 (in cinemas from 1 May) has been cast as Joni Mitchell in a new biopic. The film will focus on the later years of the singer-songwriter famous for hits such as Help Me. Streep has previously received two Oscar nominations fo

This story of vocal powerhouse Chaka Khan reveals the woman behind the diva and charts her rise to stardom - with Alexandra Burke in the title role. Bold and heartfelt, the production showcases her unwavering passion for civil rights, defiance in the face of a toxic music industry, battle with addiction and the juggle of being a working mother. "Almost 17 years ago, I sang Chaka for my very first non-televised audition for The X Factor,' reveals Alexandra. "To think that all

The award went to novel A Family Matter, about a lesbian affair and a custody battle Claire Lynch was presented with the £30,000 award for her book A Family Matter at a ceremony in London last night. “I’m genuinely knocked off my feet,” said Lynch, adding that the prize will “give me a bit of permission. I didn’t realise that I needed a prefect’s badge or something to say ‘You’re a real writer’, but it feels a bit like that”. Nick Hornby, chair of the judges, said the book wa