Arts

Detained theater artist Mustafa Sheta in Jenin's Freedom Theatre in 2022.

Arts

Artists rally in support of West Bank theater members detained since Dec. 13

6:31pm December 20, 2023

by Neda Ulaby

Members of Jenin's renowned Freedom Theatre were arrested and detained by Israeli military forces, including its artistic director and general manager, who remains in custody.

Books
Arts

Still shopping for the little ones? Here are 10 kids' books we loved this year

2:00pm December 20, 2023

by Beth Novey

If you've found yourself reading the same picture book over and over (and over and over) to a small but determined audience we see you and salute you! Is it time to add a few new titles to the mix?

Arts

How actors in 'The Boys in the Boat' trained to appear believable as Olympic athletes

5:42am December 20, 2023

by Mandalit del Barco

The actors in the new movie "The Boys in the Boat" endured grueling athletic training in order to row like the U.S. Men's National Team competing in the 1936 Olympics.

Arts

Deciphering a mother's secret Christmas code

5:42am December 20, 2023

by Rachel Martin

A woman talks about how she and her siblings cracked a secret code their mother came up with to prevent them from figuring out the gifts left for them under the Christmas tree.

Arts

A former church in Ohio may have largest collection of Christmas movie memorabilia

5:42am December 20, 2023

by Kendall Crawford

A former church in Ohio houses what's believed to be the world's largest privately owned collection of Christmas movie memorabilia.

Queen Elizabeth II, as portrayed by Olivia Colman (left) Imelda Staunton (center) and Claire Foy (right).

Arts

As 'The Crown' ends, Imelda Staunton tells NPR that 'the experiment paid off'

5:01am December 20, 2023

Imelda Staunton was the third actress to portray Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, which is ending its six-season run.

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Debate continues over changing the Florida state bird

7:22pm December 19, 2023

by Regan McCarthy

For decades, there's been an effort to change the state bird of Florida — now a mockingbird — to something a little more unique to the state. But pushback has been long and intense.

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Mr. Chow talks about his restaurant empire, art and family history

7:19pm December 19, 2023

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Michael Chow, also known as Mr. Chow, about his restaurant empire, his art and his family history.

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Looking for an eco-friendly substitute for wrapping paper? Consider furoshiki

7:19pm December 19, 2023

by Megan Jamerson

Furoshiki, the Japanese tradition of wrapping objects in cloth to cover or transport them, is becoming more popular as a more eco-friendly way to wrap presents without wasting paper.

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How Arab-Jewish communities are coping with the war in Gaza

5:58pm December 19, 2023

by Eleanor Beardsley

Mixed, Arab-Jewish communities are a rarity in Israel. And since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, they've been under pressure.

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