The Culture Beat: Made to be shared

The best projects don't exist in isolation; they invite participation. This week's lineup includes new creative works, ambitious community spaces, and efforts to preserve artistic legacies while making room for what's next.

PROJECTS WE LOVE

Binnorie

BY LOUISE BICHAN

More than an album, this multimedia celebration of folklore pairs Scottish tunes and murder ballads with original artwork.

AMOR ETERNO

BY KAI BEHRMANN

Journey beyond the scoreboard through the people, places, and traditions at the heart of Argentine football culture.

Restore the Beastie Boys' Legendary Studio

BY ADAM ENGLANDER

Help preserve a piece of music history by bringing G-Son Studios back to life as a venue, rehearsal space, and gathering place for Los Angeles creatives.

Mythily: South Indian Soul, Brooklyn Energy

BY MYTHILY

Inspired by the food of Tamil Nadu and years spent in world-class kitchens, Chef Rasika offers a take on Indian cuisine that is both deeply rooted and forward-looking.

Candi Jenkins' Debut Album

BY CANDI JENKINS

Forged through heartbreak and renewal, this debut album blends traditional country, Appalachian bluegrass, and Americana into a collection of deeply personal songs.

South Seattle's Sake and Jazz Bar: Sake Noire

BY QUAN & YAEL

Bringing together Japanese hospitality, Italian flavors, and a passion for music, this intimate sake and jazz bar built for curious drinkers and adventurous diners.

FLARE

BY CAROL BRADY

Through the story of two neighboring families on opposite sides of a growing conflict, this original musical examines the emotional cost of division and the hope of reconciliation.

Drawing in Space

BY ROBERT BODEM

Learn to translate observation into form with this in-depth guide to figurative sculpture, covering both artistic principles and hands-on practice.

CREATIVE INSPIRATION

Arts and cultural engagement linked to slower pace of biological aging

Research from University College London suggests visiting art galleries or museums, singing and painting can help improve health outcomes.

On knowing when to stop

Founder and mixed-media artist Kelsey Armstrong (Haricot Vert) discusses being obsessed with your ideas, learning to lean on other people, and the dangers of working too much.

On being able to walk away

Musician Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) discusses toggling between the past and present, not expecting to make creative work his career, and carving his own path of inspiration beyond the algorithm.

On finding meaning in your process

Cartoonist Jeffrey Brown discusses using the metaphor of mountain climbing to explain why he feels artists shouldn't use AI in their process of creating artwork.

On starting something new

Food culture writer and editor Jaya Saxena (founder-owner of Ravenous) discusses how reading your writing aloud improves it, what happens when you befriend creative folks with similar interests, and why you sometimes need to just go for it.

On prioritizing play

Artist, technologist, and researcher Matthew Prebeg discusses having fun on the internet, meeting people where they're at, and wielding hope as a creative force.