大象传媒

Author, illustrator and political cartoonist for the Observer Chris Riddell won the Children's Costa Award last month for 'Goth Girl and The Ghost of a Mouse' - he talks to Janice about the winning book, his latest episode of The Edge Chronicles, collaborating with Neil Gaiman and being inspired by Sir John Tenniel.

When The Culture Studio heard American Indie Pop Band Foster The People were in the UK we took the opportunity to get them into a studio and have a chat ahead of the their second album release next month. Debut album 'Torches' was a huge hit for the band with their single 'Pumped Up Kicks' charting high in the UK charts. Janice finds out what we can expect from album number two.

You never know what to expect from Scrapyard - an exciting theatre project without rules at The Traverse in Edinburgh. Participating theatre makers are placed in four teams, given a master class from a mystery guest artist and challenged to create a short play in two weeks, for a single performance as part of the Manipulate Festival programme.

Plus, art inspired by a lifelong career in forensics; Robert McNeil worked as a mortuary technician for 40 years during which time he was sent to Bosnia to help identify 1000s of victims buried in mass graves. Far from being gruesome or bloody, 'Witness' is an exhibition of significance for all humanity, depicted through McNeil's exquisite paintings.

And Janice speaks to Creative Scotland's Chief Executive Janet Archer about the exciting announcement last week of a whopping nine point four million pounds towards the refurbishment and restoration of arts venues across Scotland!