Episode 50 - The Odyssey in film
Niall is joined by fellow podcasters Maren Thom and Alex Dale from Performance Anxiety to discuss Homer’s Odyssey, film and the limits of creative interpretation.
Arts First
The podcast that stands for freedom of expression in the arts, and art for art's sake.
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Latest episodes
Episode 49 - Tracey Emin
Art historian, Professor Jean Wainwright and artists, Dido Powell and Rachel Jordan, evaluate Emin's exhibition A Second Life at Tate Modern and challenge us to think more deeply about the artist.
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A quick appreciation of Hockney, reflecting on what made him one of Britain's greats.
The Secrets of Painting
Author, Lachlan Goudie talks to us about his book, a history of painting through 20 masterpieces and the innovations behind them - from 35,000 years ago to the 21st century.
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Wendy Earle leads a conversation featuring Gregor Claude, art teacher, and Eliza Bonham Carter, Head of Royal Academy Schools, plus comments from art students and graduates.
Ensemble OrQuesta: Small Opera with Big Ideas
Listen now | Opera director, conductor and singer Marcio da Silva in conversation about his work, the company he founded, and Baroque opera.
New Contemporaries 2026
Artist Rachel Jordan and curator and campaigner Manick Govinda share their thoughts on this year’s show at the South London Gallery.
Exhibition in Margate exposes virulent antisemitism in the arts
Shame on the art world for its failure to condemn or criticise this appalling display.
Has the National Trust abandoned its historic role?
Watch now | Calvin Po, Dr Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert and Restore Trust's Cornelia van der Poll join us to discuss the National Trust’s shift away from its core mission. (National Trust Images)
Tiffany Jenkins on art and the evolution of private life.
How the history of art reflects the narrative charted in Tiffany's recent book, Strangers and Intimates, the rise and fall of private life. Introduced by Wendy Earle.
Reflecting on Arts First
Watch now | The Arts First team reflect on the eclectic conversations we have been having with interested and interesting people about the arts and artistic freedom ... and why we want to keep going!
Miriam Elia: Laughing in the face of hypocrisy
Listen now (41 mins) | Wendy Earle talks to the multi-talented artist about groupthink and the art of satire
Part IV. Carols, Commuters and Conversations
Listen now | The final instalment of our Story of the Christmas Carol takes a very informal look at how carols fit into our lives today.
Part III: Carols and Churches. Hark! The congregations sing!
Listen now | We talk Christmas and carols with three members of three very different Christian churches.
Part II. The Popular Roots of the Christmas Carol
Listen now | Part II of our Story of the Christmas Carol examines the secular origins and enduring power of traditional carol singing.
Part I. The Story of the Christmas Carol
Listen now | From medieval songs to pub singalongs – join us for a brief journey through the life and history of Christmas carols
E35: Barb Jungr and the art of song
Listen now | An in-conversation with acclaimed singer and interpreter of Dylan and Cohen. We talk about songwriting, influences and her long career.
What does post-woke art look like?
How will a post-woke age affect the output of the contemporary art world? What role should artists take in the ‘vibe shift’? Will new styles emerge to greet this new political landscape – or did the roots of our old artistic stagnancy lie in something deeper than identity politics? Listen now | Battle of Ideas
Fabricated? A Temporary Exhibition by Caren Garfen
Review by Jo Herlihy
Arts First live at the Battle of Ideas - 'Are the arts too politicised?'
Listen now | Live edition in which we explore the crisis of freedom of expression in the arts and ask how artists survive – and even prosper – in an age when political activism has proliferated within the arts