Culture File: A Birthday Party for Art

Experimental sound curator and Nova presenter, Bernard Clarke, on an tradition invented by French Fluxus artist, Robert Filliou

Culture File: Collecting The World (Part 2)

John Hutchinson on writing and art, and the Douglas Hyde Gallery's role in the Peace Process

Culture File: Collecting The World (Part 1)

John Hutchinson, on the objects and ideas that guided his quarter century curating at The Douglas Hyde Gallery

Culture File: Maren Ade's Toni Erdmann

German director, Maren Ade, on her Oscar-nominated comedy, Toni Erdmann. And Austin Powers' false teeth.

Culture File: On The Road With Darinka Montico

Set sail into the woozy unknown of 2017 with best-selling travel writer and dream collector, Darinka Montico.

A Portrait of the Artist at 100

On the anniversary of its publication, Julian Gough essays his "complicated" relationship with Joyce's novel.

Culture File: The Sex Pistols and Ramadan

Spanish Ambassador, José María Rodríguez-Coso on his early DJ career and Christmas in Barcelona

Culture File: The True Meaning of Czechxmas

Czech Ambassador, Hana Mottlova on the sometimes frightening seasonal traditions of Mitteleuropa

Culture File: Christmas in Mexico City

It's the season of piñatas and posados for the almost brand new Mexican Ambassador to Ireland, Miguel Malfavon

Culture File: Christmas and St Louis

An Irish journey comes to an end for Barack Obama’s appointment as US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O Malley.

Culture File: HR and the Revolution

Translator and diplomat, Michael Žantovský, on choosing the right friends after the Velvet Revolution

The Culture File Weekly (No 101, Michael Žantovský, Irish Noggins, Balsamic History, Rosc)

This weekly, we visit the epicentre of the Velvet Revolution with Michael Žantovský, Director of Václav Havel Library in Prague, 3d x-ray machine on some old Irish drinking vessels, sample an array of sticky black dots in the company of a man from Modena, and return to simpler times to the first ROSC art biennale in 1967

Culture File: When Havel Met Woody

Translator and diplomat, Michael Žantovský, on introducing his boss to Woody Allen, and other diplomatic chores

Culture File: Reading Rosc

In the early 1960s, architect Michael Scott cooked up an innovative, blockbuster art show for Ireland: Rosc

Culture File: The Other Black Stuff

Michele Sartori, of balsamic vinegar house of Acetaia Giusti in Modena, on what makes the best best

Culture File: Care for a Noggin?

Is your noggin cooper-made or one of the woven ones? Furniture historian Claudia Kinmonth on a little wooden gem

The Culture File Weekly No 100 (Dr Hook, Merce Cunningham and Vera Klute)

This weekly dancer, Cheryl Therrien on why chance can indeed be a fine thing, particularly in the choreography of Merce Cunningham, artist Vera Klute explains why her portraits of some of Ireland's women scientists and academics are overdue job and Dennis Locorriere, lead singer of 70s hitmakers Dr Hook, shares his origin story

Culture File: The Dr Hook Story (Part 2)

Dennis Locorriere continues the story of his life with the unstoppable 70s hit machine

Culture File: The Dr Hook Story (Part 1)

Dennis Locorriere, voice of songs like Sylvia's Mother & Ballad of Lucy Jordan, on an uncategorisable act

Culture File: Recreating Merce

US choreographer, Merce Cunningham's 1958 Night Wanderings, remade in 2016 Dublin by Cheryl Therrien & John Scott

Culture File: Sheila, Françoise, Phyllis and Eleanor arrive at RIA

After 230 years, the first Irish woman academics are being honoured with portraits at the Royal Irish Academy.

Culture File: Luciana Bianchi's Little Changes (FOTE 2016)

When it comes to the ethics of food, has there been too much talk and too little real action?

The Culture File Weekly No 99 (Simon Reynolds, Angélique Dass and Vickey Curtis)

This weekly, music historian Simon Reynold's on what David Bowie and Donald Trump have in common, photographer and activist, Angélique Dass, on her global project matching human skin colours to the Pantone® system, and spoken word artist, Vickey Curtis stages a "sorry" intervention.

Culture File: The Pantone® of People

Angélica Dass' global photo project, Humanae, matches people's real skin tones to their Pantone equivalent.

Culture FIle: We're All Glam Now

Author, Simon Reynolds, on the roots and fruits of Glam, from Slade and Eno, to Gaga and The Weeknd.

Culture File: Who cares about Glam now?

Simon Reynolds' Shock and Awe, explores glitter 'n' feather boas, but also crowds, charisma & the rise of Trump

Culture File: Vickey Curtis Isn't Sorry

For her latest show, Vickey Curtis, invites audiences to her Dublin city centre home for a "sorry" intervention

Culture File: Trevor Moran whips up Tennessee-style かき氷

Dublin-born Nashville chef, Trevor Moran, on the elevated version of shaved ice the Japanese call ???.

#WakingAnneKarenina

"People are always waiting for the next white great male prophet," says Marina Carr. "...a woman will never be that." More at 6.05pm @LyricLorcan @RTElyricfm #wakingthefeminists

Culture File: Cool In The Pool (Part 2/2)

In the 1960s, the Aboriginal peoples' struggle for civil rights reached the segregated Australian swimming pool

Culture File: Cool In The Pool

Australia architect, Amelia Holiday, on BBQs, bodies and Australia's special relationship with its swimming places

The Black Panther Cookbook

The Black Panthers' pre-school breakfast program and other revolutionary surprises with chef/activist, Saqib Keval, of the People's Kitchen Collective.

The Culture File Weekly No 97 (Josef Sudek, Daoirí Farrell, Aisling Kelliher on Venmo and Steve Forbert)

This weekly we get authentic as we spend some time in Claddagh records with our communion money and Daoirí Farrell; enter a wicklow cottage in search of Czech photographer, Josef Sudek, beam into Virginia Tech to discuss Venmo and splitting the bill 21st century style, while Steve Forbert makes a good case for life on the road

Culture File: The Real Josef Sudek

John Hutchinson on the unfashionable authenticity of Prague photographer, Josef Sudek

Culture File Xtra: Saqib Keval's recipe for Scrambled Tofu

Activist and chef, Saqib Keval's recipe for Scrambled Tofu just like the serve it at the People's Food Collective in Oakland, Calif.

Culture File: Daoirí Farrell

Childhood visits to the Claddagh Records with his communion money set Daoirí Farrell on his musical road

Culture File: Prof Aisling Kelliher Venmos her dues

Already an Urban Dictionary verb, Venmo is the bill sharing app that might just replace traditional banking

The Culture File Weekly No. 96 (The Burglar's Guide to the City, documentary painting, #FreakFood)

This weekly: unpicking the secrets of like-worthy #FreakFood, a walk 'n' talk with the evil genius behind The Burglar's Guide to the City, and painting a documentary of Waterford to rival a 1735 record of the city

Culture File: The Burglar's Guide to the City (Part 2)

If there is one creature that knows the architecture of the city even better than a burglar, it's the rat. (2/2)

Culture File: The Burglar's Guide to the City (part 2)

If there is one creature who knows the architecture of the city even better than a burglar, it's the rat. (2/2)

Culture File: The Burglar's Guide to the City

Who really knows a building best? The developer? The architect? The occupier? None of the above says Geoff Manaugh

Culture File: #FreakFood

When snapping a dish is an inevitable part of a restaurant meal, the chef's job is as much about memes as menus.

Culture File: Blaise Smith surveys Waterford

The application of pencil to paper and other artworld quiddities with artist-pianist, Blaise Smith

Culture File: Andean foraging with Virgilio Martínez (FOTE 2016)

The brand new, centuries old ingredients one Peruvian chef is bringing from the Andes into the kitchen

The Culture File Weekly No. 95 (Andean treats, Czech Black Light Theatre, Marina Carr's Wicklow, Process Philosophy)

This weekly, French ballet dancer turned "black light" star, Thomas Bettinelli, Laura Marks on the bold promises of Process philosophy, Virgilio Martínez's new world of Andean food and the drowned valley in Marina Carr's Mary Gordon

Culture File: Process Philosophy for Dummies

Prof Laura Marks there on Process Philosophy and what it means to film, dance and washing the dishes

Culture File: The Drowned World of Marina Carr

300 voices from community choirs around Wicklow bring the playwright's oratorio, Mary Gordon to the concert hall

Culture File: In Prague, and in the dark

Thomas Bettinelli trained in ballet at home in France, but on a visit to Prague discovered black light theatre

Culture File: Tina Gorjanc's speculative design project, Pure Human

Would you let me use your DNA to create laboratory grown skin? Could you stop me?

The Culture File Weekly No. 94 (Harps, Pure Humans, FOTE 2016 and Wexford Festival Opera)

This weekly...the bright lights of Wexford with opera director, Rodula Gaitano; Galway's Food On The Edge global grub symposium; how to make your own harp, and the possibility of skin having a life after it's owner has departed...