The Culture Café - 18/01/2011

With two separate exhibitions - one at the Glasgow School of Art, one at The Edinburgh Printmakers - featuring the work of artists whose pieces explore their economic, cultural and political surroundings, we discuss the importance of journalism in art. Who's pulling the strings? Is puppeteering the preserve of the out-of-work actor, or a specialism requiring such skill and versatility that only the few brave it? We'll find out... Plus - Google's nGrams project has put billions of printed words from several centuries at the disposal of linguistic and cultural researchers. We'll hear what they've been doing and how changes in language can be used to examine cultural shifts in society as a whole. As "Black Watch" returns for another tour of America - their third in four years, Director John Tiffany will be telling us about the reaction to this very frank, provocative play from a country renowned for their fierce patriotism and pride in their military might. And as Creative Scotland prepare to launch a £1million initiative to support artists, musicians and writers, we'll be discussing the importance of artist residencies. Taxpayer-funded break, or crucial for developing skills and innovation? Produced by Rich Preston.