The FT's arts writer reports on Mat Collishaw's transition from conceptual shock artist to ‘proper’ draughtsman - and why, unlike revolution or virgin birth, an economic recession makes a poor subject for art  

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With his brother Jake, the British artist has tackled some of modernity’s grisliest themes. The FT’s arts writer finds out why he’s now trying his hand at music  

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As Margate’s Turner Contemporary gallery celebrates curiosity, the FT’s arts writer does his best to concentrate on the mind’s ability to wander  

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The praise lavished on football’s retiring greats has been wildly overblown, says the FT’s arts writer. Other cultural pursuits are far worthier of grown-ups’ attention  

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The thought of French purists fretting over ‘les snackbars’ has long-tickled English-speakers  

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Where there is a public clamour for explanation, writers and artists should be unafraid to step in, says the FT's arts writer  

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The late pop singer, whose work has just gone on show at London’s Royal College of Art, was a far more nuanced figure than his punk image would suggest, argues the FT’s arts writer  

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Spicing up traditional settings with a dash of contemporary style has become a cultural commonplace. But let’s not pretend it’s anything more than an aesthetic compromise, the FT’s arts writer says  

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An exhibition of Soviet-era sporting paintings shows how, even in a repressive political climate, artists still made work with real human insight  

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Matthew McConaughey’s career revival provides a neat case study of how an actor can wrest back control of his image. It also tells a broader story about our weakness for a certain kind of Acting.  

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A developing theme in new music sees artists navigating the fine line between criticism and complicity - and revelling in the contradictions.  

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Peter Aspden visits the V&A’s ‘Disobedient Objects’ exhibition and reflects on the art of protest in the age of rapid digital dissemination.  

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Dolly Parton, Judi Dench, Louise Bourgeois. . . in recent years, women in all branches of the arts have enjoyed major career successes in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. But what’s behind this phenomenon? The FT’s arts editor has some suggestions.  

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Courtauld Institute student and arts writer Aindrea Emelife reflects on the current neglect of Surrealism in the art world – and considers what significance the movement might still hold for today’s young rebels  

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On holiday in Greece, the FT’s arts writer travels to some out-of-the-way ancient sites and wonders whether they still hold lessons for 21st-century visitors – or are just another aspect of vacation kitsch  

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With their ever-growing ability to crunch data and analyse patterns, computers are valuable tools for art research – but that doesn’t mean art historians will soon be a thing of the past, argues Bendor Grosvenor  

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The FT’s arts writer enjoys the troupe’s dance extravaganza at the Barbican – and explains why the fusion of hip-hop and martial arts might just conquer the world  

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The London venue’s exhibition of Presley memorabilia is curious mix of the banal and the resplendent – and none the worse for that, says the FT’s arts writer  

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Peter Aspden visits the basement treasure-house where recordings of Florence Nightingale, 1940s electronica and other rarities are stored alongside some equally exotic audio technology  

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Greek culture taught the rest of us how to live ‑ and it’s not time to write off that particular debt yet, says Peter Aspden  

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Peter Aspden tells the story of 'Misirlou', the swaying Anatolian love song that was reinvented as a 1960s surfers' anthem before gaining a massive audience with Pulp Fiction and sampling by The Black Eyed Peas. Credits: Parker Street Records, JB Production, Universal Music Group  

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Peter Aspden on the 'floating song' recorded by Alan Lomax in 1930s Kentucky that went on to be covered by Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan and, of course, The Animals. Credits: Concord Music Group, Marathon Media International, BMI  

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Podcasts have existed for more than 10 years but have recently seen a surge of interest, spurred by the success of the true crime drama Serial, which has been downloaded more than 70m times. What is driving the so-called “podcast renaissance”? How are they different from radio shows? And do they pose a threat to traditional broadcasting? FT technology editor Ravi Mattu is joined by literature professor Sarah Churchwell, veteran podcaster Helen Zaltzman and Mark Friend, who is responsible for BBC Radio online. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown and Lily Le Brun  

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David Cheal follows Modest Mussorgsky's dramatic 19th-century composition from orchestral standard to Disney classic and floor-filling disco anthem. Credits: Disney Records, Masterworks Jazz, Bee Gees/Reprise.  

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This year’s carol was specially commissioned by the FT with the help of Nicola Clase, Sweden’s ambassador to the UK. Jane Owen talks to Clase about the piece, which was composed by Johan Hugosson and features lyrics adapted from medieval Scandinavian rune poems. It is sung by the choir of Stockholms Musikgymnasium conducted by Bengt Ollen.  

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A new short story for the holidays, from the winner of the 2013 Man Booker International Prize. The reader is Christine Spolar  

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Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" has been used in the campaigns of George HW Bush, Obama and, most recently, Bernie Sanders. Richard Clayton investigates the colonial overtones and contested legacy of America's alternative national anthem. Credit: Smithsonian Folkways Recording, Daptone Records, Delta, North Face and Jib Jab.  

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Ben Lerner is one of the most highly praised and unconventional writers of his generation. The 37-year-old recently met John Sunyer, a commissioning editor on FT Weekend, to talk about why he's 'doomed to write more novels'. Here, he reads one of his favourite poems.  

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How is music streaming changing the experience of listeners? Are the algorithms that guide us through this new world an adequate replacement for DJs, critics and knowledgable record shop owners? Could endless choice paradoxically be making us more conservative in our tastes? Lorien Kite discusses these questions with Spotify's Will Page and FT pop critic Ludovic Hunter-Tilney.  

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Sam Cooke's political lament, released after his untimely death, went on to become a civil rights anthem. Sue Norris charts its history. Credit: Universal Music Group International, Rhino Atlantic, Time Life Music, RCA  

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It's been the theme tune for the BBC's review series 'Film' since 1971, but Nina Simone's cover turned it into a civil rights anthem. Credits: Universal, Eagle Records, Rhino Atlantic, Decca  

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Greg Lake died this week, and this track remains an enduring Christmas classic. Credit: Syco Music, Universal, Decca, Symphonia  

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David Cheal traces the song's journey from a forgotten 1950s melodrama to an enduring love ballad covered by Nina Simone, David Bowie and George Michael. Credits: Old Style, Blooming Jazz Records, Rhino/Warner Bros., Parlophone UK, One Little Indian Ltd, Lakeshore Records, Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.  

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David Honigmann looks at how a sleeping Keith Richards dreamt up a riff that would later develop into a number one hit for Rolling Stones and become one of the most recognisable rock anthems of all times. Credits: ABKCO Records Inc, Universal International Music B.V, Rhino Atlantic, Virgin Records Ltd.  

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Twenty years after they headlined Glastonbury, Radiohead return to the British music festival. FT pop writers Ludovic Hunter-Tilney and David Cheal discuss the band's lullaby of despair 'No Surprises' from their 1997 album OK Computer. Credits: Sire/Warner Bros, mudhutdigital.com, XL Recordings, Easy Star, SKIP Records  

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The singer’s old label boss called the song ‘a morbid mess’, but it shot to number one in the US. Ahead of the 40th anniversary of Elvis’s death in August, FT pop writers Peter Apsden and David Cheal discuss the song's origins, dark appeal and afterlife. Credits: 104pro Media, Legacy Recordings, Entertain Me Ltd, Spectrum, Omnivore Recordings, Vengeance Records  

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What makes a good Christmas song? Should it be cheesy or serious? And why do millennials love them? 

FT pop writers discuss festive classics old and new - from carols to Mariah Carey, Greg Lake to Phil Spector, Sufjan Stevens to Run-DMC. Plus, which 2017's best Christmas song: Gwen Stefani's 'You Make it Feel Like Christmas' or Sia's 'Santa's Coming for Us'?

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Urgent action needed to avoid human and economic catastrophe

Instructing people to stay at home is to confine millions to cramped housing

Africa’s biggest crude exporter seeks $7bn in emergency funds in face of imminent recession

Africans in Guangzhou evicted from hotels and had passports confiscated, officials say

Retirement property has a reputation for being a rip off, but several large operators claim to have reinvented the model. The FT's Money Mentor columnist Lindsay Cook joins Claer Barrett to discuss the issues. Next up, is your mobile phone a drain on your finances? Guy Anker from MoneySavingExpert tells us how. And finally, listeners hear from the FT's Rich People's Problems experts about the controversy surrounding his local tennis club.

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As fears of a 'No Deal Brexit' rise, the pound and share prices of UK domestic stocks have tumbled. Some might see this as a buying opportunity - yet others fear there's further to fall. Termed 'The BoJo trade' by investment pundits, Claer Barrett, FT Money editor asks - which side of this trade are you on? Next up on the show - why are some investors moving into defensive stocks? And finally, we hear from our Rich People's columnist, James Max, about the cost of private medical insurance. 

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Presenter Claer Barrett and guests explore how under 40s are using the Lifetime Isa to save for a property, or invest for the future. What strategies are younger investors taking? Plus the new rules on automatic compensation when broadband goes down, and the six ways pensions scammers are most likely to try and con you - would you fall for it? 

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What are the biggest barriers to managing our money? Special guests Martin Wolf, Bobby Seagull and Justin Urquhart Stewart tell presenter Claer Barrett what they would banish to ‘Room 101’ to improve the nation’s finances. This week's podcast comes to you from the FT Money tent at the FT Weekend Festival at Kenwood House. 

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Having a baby is one of the best things that could happen in your life - but sadly it could also be the worst thing that could happen to your finances. We discuss the effects of the gender pay gap. Plus FT Money editor Claer Barrett talks to guests about what kind of investor Adrian Mole could have grown into. And what could happen to the 'best buy' lists used by fund supermarkets in the wake of the Woodford scandal?

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There's been a series of scary surveys this week about how much we need to save to fund our retirement so Claer Barrett, FT Money editor, has invited Moira O'Neill from Interactive Investor joins onto the podcast to talk us through the numbers. Next up, have you heard of a Susu? Emma Agyemang reveals details about the revival in this decades-old method of saving. And finally, the FT's Rich People's Problems columnist James Max joins us in the studio to discuss the cost of getting a new puppy.

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How to find a financial adviser - a relationship with an adviser you can trust is something that FT readers often tell us is hard to come by. FT Money editor Claer Barrett talks to Damian Fantato, deputy editor of FT Adviser about the solution. Plus, with less than a month to go until the general election, financial advisers tell us they are getting calls from a lot of worried clients - we discuss what's troubling them. And finally, the rise of the 40-year mortgage - Paul Lewis, presenter of BBC Moneybox is here to share his own worries about extra long hours.

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2019 has been a bumper year for bad investments - the unravelling of Neil Woodford's investment empire has left many nursing heavy losses, others have lost money in mini bonds or have money trapped in property funds. Presenter Claer Barrett talks to experts about what people should do if their investments haven't worked. Plus, as we enter the season of goodwill we tell listeners how to talk to their family about money.  

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Harry Potter will turn 40 in the year 2020, but has he been a wizard with his finances? Presenter James Pickford speculates on his fictional fortune with Moira O’Neill, head of personal finance at Interactive investor - plus we look at the financial impact of a Dry January, and where to find the best deals on gym membership.

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