Art Works

Series produced by National Endowment for the Arts

Series image
Image by: Kelli Rogowski for the National Endowment for the Arts 

Art Works is the weekly program produced by the National Endowment for the Arts. It goes behind the scenes with some of the nation's great artists to explore how art works. New shows are posted on Tuesdays. Find out more at arts.gov

Art Works is the weekly program produced by the National Endowment for the Arts. It goes behind the scenes with some of the nation's great artists to explore how art works. Guests have included the co-founder of Los Lobos Louie Pérez, National Medal of the Arts winner and the man behind Marvel comics, Stan Lee, Mohegan theater artist Madeline Sayet, National Book Award Winner Charles Yu, and NEA Jazz Master Grammy Award winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. You can find the current and archived programs at https://www.arts.gov/stories/podcast or by subscribing to Apple podcasts

Thanks for listening!


565 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater: The Art of Improvisation
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Shannon O’Neill, an audience member, Brandon Scott Jones, Connor Ratliff, and Molly Thomas , Credit: : Photo by Teresa Castracane. Courtesy of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Improvisers Shannon O'Neill and Brandon Scott Jones from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater explain how they do what they do.

Bought by WNJR and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Aug 03, 2016
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 2
Amy Saidman: The Art of Storytelling
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Story District, Credit: Alexander Morozov
Everyone has a story; Story District helps tell it.

Bought by WRIR, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Jul 29, 2016
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 3
Documentary Filmmaker Frances McElroy turns her lens on Black Ballerinas
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Piece image
Black Ballerina looks at different generations of dancers, but is it the same story?

Bought by High Plains Public Radio, Public Radio for All, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Jul 20, 2016
  • Length: 27:30
  • Purchases: 4
Author Justin Cronin brings his Passage trilogy to a close
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Piece image
Justin Cronin's book, The City of Mirrors marks the end of the Passage trilogy--and what a ride it was!

Bought by WNJR and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Jul 12, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 2
Billy McComiskey plays traditional Irish music at its finest1
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Billy McComiskey, Credit: Edwin Remsburg, Remburg Inc.
Button accordionist and 2016 National Heritage fellow billy McComiskey plays beautifully and builds a community for irish music.

Bought by WNJR and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Jul 06, 2016
  • Length: 29:23
  • Purchases: 2
Kao Kalia Yang -- What is home? A refugee's challenge.
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Kao Kalia Yang
Kao Kalia Yang's book, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir is a personal story that speaks to the moment.

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Jun 29, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 3
Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about his life in the theater before Hamilton
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast, In the Heights, Credit: Joan Marcus
Lin-Manuel Miranda's life in theater didn't begin with Hamilton. He already won a 2008 Tony for Best Musical with In the Heights.

Bought by WRIR, WNJR, WMUU-LP, and WABE


  • Added: Jun 17, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 4
Amy Jordan: Making the impossible possible through dance.
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: "Alive" Victory Dance Project, Credit: Jordan Hiraldo
Founding her company after a near-fatal accident, Amy Jordan’s choreography is an exuberant affirmation of dance.

Bought by WNJR, WABE, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Jun 15, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 3
Rachel Moore: What an Artist Needs to Do
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Piece image
In her new book The Artist's Compass, Rachel Moore gives practical advice and strategic insight for creating a career in the performing arts.

Bought by KZUM, WMUU-LP, WRIR, and WNJR


  • Added: Jun 07, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 4
Veteran Artist Program: Artists in Action
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Veteran Artist Program :The Home Show
The arts and military service are less dissimilar than you might think. That's why Veteran and singer Brian McDonald founded the Veteran Artist Pr...

Bought by WMPG, WABE, WMUU-LP, and WLPR


  • Added: May 20, 2016
  • Length: 28:01
  • Purchases: 4
Kassie Hilgert turns a rust belt graveyard into an arts center.
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: SteelStacks, Credit: Jonathan Davies
Reclaiming the abandoned Bethlehem Steel Plant for the arts gives a region new life

Bought by WMUU-LP


  • Added: May 20, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 1
National Book Award winner James McBride looks at the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Piece image
McBride’s latest book looks to understand what shaped James Brown-- one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Bought by WABE and WMUU-LP


  • Added: May 18, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 2
Shakespeare's World and Ours
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: MIchael Witmore, Credit: Folger Shakespeare Library
Michael Witmore, Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library, talks about the reasons Shakespeare still resonates with us.

Bought by Harford Community Radio, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: May 04, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 3
Mickey Rowe: Acting with Autism
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Mickey Rowe
A young professional autistic actor makes his difference work on the stage

Bought by Harford Community Radio, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 3
Poet Jan Beatty gives voice to the working class
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Jan Beatty
Jan Beatty's poetry is unsentimental and clear-eyed about blue-collar work and the people who do it.

Bought by Harford Community Radio, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Apr 15, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 3
Vibraphonist and 2016 NEA Jazz Master Gary Burton looks back and ahead
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Gary Burton, Credit: Jimmy Katz
Gary Burton, one of the great jazz virtuosos, take us through his musical journey.

Bought by Harford Community Radio, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Apr 12, 2016
  • Length: 28:29
  • Purchases: 3
Wendy Oxenhorn: Fighting for Jazz Musicians
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Wendy Oxenhorn, Credit: Francisco Pini
2016 NEA Jazz Master and Executive Director of the Jazz Foundation of America, Wendy Oxenhorn: Keeping the music alive and the musicians playing.

Bought by KZUM, WABE, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Apr 07, 2016
  • Length: 28:59
  • Purchases: 4
Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Director of the Museum of African Art, is a force to be reckoned with
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Credit: Jessica Suworoff, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
Johnnetta Cole remembers when she wasn't allowed in museums because of segregation, and that informs her determination to inspire a love of art mu...

Bought by WMUU-LP and WNJR


  • Added: Mar 24, 2016
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 2
Irish Novelist Belinda McKeon
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Belinda McKeon , Credit: Will Chancellor
Novelist Belinda McKeon: Writing 21st century Ireland

Bought by KBRP Community Radio, WNJR, and WMUU-LP


  • Added: Mar 17, 2016
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 3
Meet the brilliant and pioneering soprano Martina Arroyo
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Art Works
Caption: Martina Arroyo, Credit: Marty Umans
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Art Works presents a 2010 interview with the great Martina Arroyo. We salute Martina Arroyo for her brilliant v...

Bought by WMUU-LP, WNJR, and KPIP-LP


  • Added: Mar 10, 2016
  • Length: 28:30
  • Purchases: 3

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