Culture
Art, music, and cultural celebrations from around the world.
Han Kang Becomes First South Korean to Win Nobel Prize in Literature
South Korean author Han Kang was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life," becoming the first Korean writer to receive the honor.
Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron" Wins Oscar for Best Animated Feature
Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film for "The Boy and the Heron" at the 2024 Oscars, his second Oscar and the first for a hand-drawn anime film in 21 years.
World's Museums Make One Billion Artifacts Freely Accessible Online
A UNESCO-led consortium of 600 museums has digitized and published one billion cultural artifacts in a free, searchable global archive.
Ireland Makes Basic Income for Artists Permanent — A Landmark for Creative Workers Worldwide
Ireland has made its pandemic-era basic income scheme for artists permanent, providing thousands of creative workers with a guaranteed income to sustain their practice — a groundbreaking model that countries worldwide are watching closely.
EU Bans Destruction of Unsold Clothing and Shoes in Landmark Sustainability Move
The European Union has introduced groundbreaking new rules banning companies from destroying unsold textiles and footwear, as part of a sweeping push toward a circular economy. With 92 million tonnes of textiles ending up in landfills globally each year, this regulation could transform the fashion industry.
Traditional Music Streams Surge 400% as Young Listeners Rediscover Heritage Sounds
Spotify and Apple Music report a 400% increase in traditional and folk music streams worldwide, driven by Gen Z listeners and viral social-media collaborations.
70 Is the New 60: Research Shows People Are Living Healthier and More Active Later Lives
New research in 2025 declared 70 "the new 60," with studies showing that today's 70-year-olds are significantly healthier, more cognitively sharp, and more physically active than previous generations at the same age. The findings reflect decades of improvements in healthcare, nutrition, and lifestyle.
Chinook Salmon Swim in Oregon's Chiloquin Basin for the First Time in 100 Years
Chinook salmon were spotted swimming in Oregon's Chiloquin Basin for the first time in 100 years, following a historic dam removal and river restoration project. The return of these iconic fish represents the culmination of decades of environmental advocacy by Indigenous communities and conservationists.
Reader Led Libraro Prize Supports Emerging Writers
Verified report based on cited source.
More Than One Story Amplifies Lived Experience Writers
Verified report based on cited source.
Vinyl Records Outsell CDs for First Time Since 1987
Vinyl records have outsold CDs for the first time in nearly 40 years, as listeners rediscover the joy of physical music and the ritual of putting on a record.
Cherokee Language Immersion Schools Create New Generation of Fluent Speakers
Cherokee language immersion schools in Oklahoma have produced hundreds of fluent young speakers, reversing decades of language decline.
Independent Bookstores See Revival as Communities Seek Connection
Independent bookstores are experiencing a surprising revival as communities seek the personal connections and curated selections that online retailers cannot offer.
Denmark Invites Visitors to Rediscover Analogue Play as Antidote to Digital Overload
In the birthplace of Lego and Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark is showcasing play as a national virtue and an antidote to screen-saturated childhoods.
School Theater Programs Make Powerful Comeback, Boosting Student Mental Health
After years of budget cuts, school theater programs are experiencing a renaissance as research confirms their powerful impact on student mental health and social skills.
Research Declares 70 Is the New 60 as Older Adults Live Healthier Than Ever
A major longevity study published in 2025 found that today's 70-year-olds are physically and cognitively comparable to 60-year-olds from a generation ago, thanks to improvements in healthcare, nutrition, and lifestyle habits.
How Denmark is Inviting Visitors to Rediscover Analogue Play
In the birthplace of Lego and Hans Christian Andersen, play is in the country's DNA. Denmark is now inviting visitors to put down devices and rediscover the joy of hands-on play.
Science Confirms: Viewing Art Reduces Stress and Inflammation
New research shows that viewing art in galleries actually reduces stress hormones and inflammation in the body, proving that cultural experiences benefit both mind and body.
Language Apps Help Revive Endangered Indigenous Languages
A new generation of language learning apps is helping Indigenous communities revive endangered languages, with some seeing a 300% increase in young speakers.
Scents From 3,500 Years Ago Recreated to Give Museum Visitors a Whiff of History
Museums are recreating ancient scents from 3,500 years ago, allowing visitors to experience history through smell for the first time.
Free Museum Days Attract Record Visitors, Especially From Underserved Communities
Museums offering free admission days are seeing record attendance, with data showing significant increases in visitors from underserved communities.
Rescued Instruments Give Children Musical Opportunities
Thousands of musical instruments are thrown away every year. Growing UK schemes are rescuing them and giving both the instruments and the children who play them a second chance.
We Tried to Buy Nothing New for January — Here's How It Went
Positive News staff took on the challenge of buying nothing new for an entire month. The experience revealed surprising lessons about consumption and creativity.
Think Society is in Decline? Research Gives Us Reasons to Be Cheerful
Despite widespread pessimism about the state of the world, research shows that many aspects of society are actually improving — we just tend not to notice.
New Anthology Rewrites the Story of Homelessness
A new anthology featuring writing by people with lived experience of homelessness is challenging stereotypes and giving voice to those often unheard.
Revolutionary Therapy Treats 'Untreatable' Blood Cancer
A groundbreaking new therapy is offering hope to patients with blood cancers previously considered untreatable, showing remarkable results in clinical trials.
'We Just Have to Stop Doing Bad Things and Do Good Things'
An artist shares their philosophy on creating positive change through simple actions, inspiring others to focus on doing good in their daily lives.
Smartphone-Free Childhood Movement Gains Momentum Worldwide as Parents Unite
The smartphone-free childhood movement spread rapidly across multiple countries in 2025, with parent groups coordinating to delay children's access to smartphones and social media. Schools and governments began adopting supportive policies.
Chile to Create Vast National Park at the 'End of the World' to Protect Wildlife
The Chilean government is creating the Cape Froward national park, spanning 150,000 hectares of subantarctic forests and coastline, completing a 2,800km wildlife corridor.
Australia Bans Social Media for Children Under 16 in World-First Law
Australia became the first country to ban all social media accounts for children under 16, responding to growing evidence of harm from excessive screen time and online platforms.
Rosalía's Album LUX Celebrates 13 Languages and Tops Global Charts
Spanish artist Rosalía released LUX, a genre-bending album sung in 13 languages that critics hailed as one of the most ambitious and culturally rich records of 2025.
Major Foundations Launch $50 Million Literary Arts Fund to Boost American Literary Culture
The Ford, MacArthur, Mellon, and Poetry foundations joined forces to create a $50 million Literary Arts Fund supporting hundreds of nonprofit literary organizations and publishers.
Ireland Makes Basic Income for Artists Permanent After Generating €100M in Benefits
Ireland's basic income scheme for artists, which offered €325 per week, has been made permanent after generating €100 million in social and economic benefits.
Public Libraries See Record Visits in 2025 as Community Hubs Thrive
Public libraries across the US and Europe reported record visitor numbers in 2025, as they expanded their roles as community gathering spaces, digital literacy centers, and cultural venues.
Smartphone-Free Childhood Movement Gains Momentum Worldwide in 2025
A growing global movement of parents, schools, and governments embraced smartphone-free childhoods in 2025, with multiple countries implementing age restrictions on social media.
Denmark Passes Pioneering Law Giving Citizens Copyright Over Their Own Faces
Denmark introduced a world-first bill making it illegal to share deepfake images, videos and audio based on a real person, giving citizens copyright over their own faces.
FBI Returns Stolen Paintings to Museum 40 Years After Art Heist
Two paintings stolen from the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico in 1985 were recovered and returned by the FBI after a 40-year investigation.
Project 195 Aims to Unite Artists from Every Country in the World
An ambitious art initiative called Project 195 is creating a collaborative artwork featuring artists from all 195 countries, celebrating global creativity and connection.
AI and Apps Help Save 20 Indigenous Languages From Extinction
A combination of AI-powered translation tools and language learning apps has helped revitalize 20 indigenous languages that were on the brink of extinction.
National Museum of African American History Welcomes 10 Millionth Visitor
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed its 10 millionth visitor, becoming the fastest museum in Smithsonian history to reach this milestone.