AGP Executive Report

Poetry: John Cooper Clarke returns with new collection Have It, which faces mortality; he also recalls that John Betjeman was the poet his mother loved. Music: Bell X1’s Good Bones finds warmth amid grief after bandmate Glenn Keating’s death. Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins has died at 64, and Irish music legend Dónal Lunny was farewelled in Newbridge. Muireann Bradley, 19, tops the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart with Rose Dogs & Blackwood Pew. Screen & Books: Brian Gleeson, Colm Meaney and Aidan Gillen will star in a film based on Aaron Rogan’s nonfiction book Punters, about Paddy Power’s rise and the harms of gambling. Animal Welfare: Philippine senators are seeking stronger animal-cruelty laws after the alleged dumping of pets’ remains by a crematorium. In Charleston, a birthday adoption drive helped 114 animals find homes.

Pet Welfare: Actor John Arcilla is demanding an investigation into pet crematoriums after 29 dogs and cats were found dumped in Bulacan, raising fears that grieving owners may not have received their pets’ remains. Books & Reading: Hyderabad’s 39th Book Fair is set for Dec. 18, with 320 stalls, children’s events and cultural programmes. Cultural Discovery: Vietnam has launched a digital map listing 391 cultural events across the country, helping residents and visitors find performances, heritage sites and activities. On Screen: Asian microdramas—short, cliffhanger-packed series made for phones—are finding audiences across the region, while the latest Antiques Roadshow series has wrapped, making way for Blue Planet III. Music & Film: Shah Rukh Khan’s new song “Tu Mil Jaaye,” featuring Arijit Singh and Ed Sheeran, blends Indian classical touches with Western pop. Community: A Jewish food and cultural festival in Pennsylvania welcomed hundreds with traditional dishes, music and hands-on activities.

Animal Welfare: All 29 dogs and cats found dumped in Bulacan have been claimed by their owners. PAWS says the crematorium entrusted with their remains could face fraud charges after families paid for cremations that apparently never took place. Poetry & Music: 90 Day Fiancé’s Sumit Singh shared a poem for his wife, Jenny Slatten, following her ALS diagnosis. Indiana band Nothing If Not has also turned frontman David Maginity’s years-old poems into Gutter Gardens, a debut concept album about identity and belonging. Arts & Performance: A three-week New York revival of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights puts Latino artists and immigrant-community stories center stage. Bangladesh’s Shilpakala Academy will host performances by artists with disabilities on Monday. Cultural Heritage: Guárico recognized the Loceras collective for preserving Indigenous-rooted earthenware traditions. Food & Culture: Mexican chef Elena Reygadas brings her Panadería Rosetta bakery to Doha Nov. 4–15, using food and shared hospitality to connect Mexican and Qatari traditions.

Culture & Conversation: As users grow wary of posting opinions that could be misunderstood or bring backlash, a new debate asks whether silence on social media has become a stance of its own. Music Across Borders: A Lahore music academy’s children went viral singing with Norwegian rapper William Gamborg, drawing warm praise from Indian and Pakistani viewers. Fontaines D.C. also discuss the darker influences behind their forthcoming album, Dopamine Chamber. Screen & Stage: Antalya’s nine-day Culture Road Festival has opened with more than 440 events, while Ukrainian Film Days in Amman brings films exploring who owns a nation’s art, myths and image. Olivia Colman’s bawdy folk tale Wicker is winning praise from reviewers. Books & History: Jordanian historian Mohammad Irshid Al-Oqaili’s new book traces Palestine’s political and religious history through its Arab-Islamic context. Animal Welfare: All 29 dogs and cats reportedly dumped by a Philippine pet crematorium have been claimed by their owners; animal welfare group PAWS is urging them to pursue legal action.

Books & Reading: Nita Ambani has opened The Library at Mumbai’s Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, a new space for literature and cultural conversations, with a stated goal of inspiring young readers. Animal Welfare: After 29 pets’ remains were reportedly dumped in Bulacan, a Philippine lawmaker urged passage of a bill to regulate animal-care facilities and require proper records. Film & Culture: Sharjah’s international film festival celebrated Italian arts with screenings, performances and hands-on workshops for children and young people. Anime: Japan’s animation industry reached a record $28.2 billion in global spending in 2025, with overseas markets accounting for more than half.

Film: Bollywood is mourning filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, who died at 57 after a reported fall at home. Sanjay Dutt says he will pursue their planned Kaante 2 in his friend’s memory. Music & Books: Rhiannon Giddens says history is inseparable from music; her new album takes its title from an Emily Dickinson poem. The Grammy- and Pulitzer-winning artist is also a children’s book author. Writing: Glasgow’s Eleanor Stacey won the adult English category in Scotland’s Words of the Wild competition, chosen from nearly 700 entries for a piece inspired by her garden and the changing seasons. Pop Culture: Turkish Halloween parties, built around homegrown celebrities, sitcoms and internet memes, have expanded from London to Berlin and Amsterdam. Museums: Hong Kong’s month-long Muse Fest opens with more than 60 programs exploring the city’s history, art and science. Cinema: Antalya’s Golden Orange Film Forum awarded 1.45 million liras to projects by emerging and established filmmakers.

Cats & Housing: Malaysia’s High Court ruled that condo management bodies cannot impose a blanket ban on pets in private homes; complaints must be tied to evidence of a specific nuisance or danger. Books & Community: A new Glasgow hospice charity shop has opened with vintage finds and a downstairs book nook, with proceeds supporting palliative care. Theatre: Oscar winner Jessie Buckley will earn the standard company rate—about $186 a day—for her 2028 Royal Court role, alongside the rest of the cast. In Memoriam: Patrick Stewart, celebrated for Star Trek, X-Men and a distinguished stage career, has died at 86. Independent Publishing: Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture is launching a fund to support small presses affected by the war.

Culture & Connection: Qatar Museums chair Sheikha Al Mayassa says the country will keep supporting artists and cultural programs through global crises, calling culture a way to build dialogue and resilience. Shanghai’s new Grand Opera House is pursuing a similar role, bringing major international productions to the city. Books & Heritage: Ukraine’s culture ministry is launching a fund to help small presses affected by the war, while a new English-language guide explores Istanbul beyond its best-known sights. Onstage & Onscreen: BLACKPINK has become the first K-pop girl group to receive South Korea’s highest cultural merit, recognizing the genre’s growing cultural influence. Pets: As Halloween brings fireworks, costumes and candy, animal welfare groups urge owners to keep pets secure and treats out of reach. A pet crematorium driver’s small ritual—saying each animal’s name and inviting them for a ride—has also touched grieving owners.

Screen & Stage: Patrick Stewart, the Shakespeare-trained actor beloved as Captain Picard in Star Trek and Professor X in X-Men, has died at 86. Arts Writing: The University of Chicago’s Chicago Critic’s Table is taking applications through Nov. 1 for its paid, four-month program helping local writers develop their cultural criticism. Books: The Book Neuk, a Lenzie gathering built around books, cocktails and community, says its events sell out within 24 hours; its next gathering is planned for January. Literary History: Phoenix’s Irish Cultural Center is creating an immersive Bram Stoker exhibit, with artifacts from the author’s estate and a look beyond Dracula at his life as a writer and theatre figure. Music: Dónal Lunny’s family invites fans to play and share his music this weekend in memory of the influential Irish musician, who died at 79.

Books & Ideas: Qatar’s Ministry of Culture is showcasing local writing at the Algiers International Book Fair, open through Nov. 7. Author Jason Reynolds is also stepping into adult fiction: his novel Father, Father, about two brothers on a road trip after their father’s death, is due in June. Art & Heritage: The Cayman National Gallery’s Big Art Auction is off to a flying start, featuring David Bridgeman’s mixed-media work on memory and identity. Australia has returned two Northern Song dynasty sculptures to China after provenance research, while a Syrian family is rebuilding its mosaic-making craft after returning home. Pets: Halloween candy can be dangerous for dogs and other pets; chocolate, xylitol and swallowed wrappers are among the risks, so keep treats out of reach.

Reading Culture: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warns that an abundance of information is no substitute for the patience to read, reflect and think deeply. Arts at Risk: New Zealand’s Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision plans to cut about 24 jobs—nearly a third of its staff—after government funding reductions; in Somerville, advocates are exploring a cultural trust to protect arts spaces from displacement. Books & Ideas: Ojibwe author David Treuer discussed The Savage Mind: An American Legacy, weaving memoir and history into an exploration of violence, identity and the country’s shared wounds. Author Laura Griffin also argues that reading helps build empathy and that book bans silence stories. Screen & Stage: Netflix has released a trailer for its new Pride and Prejudice adaptation, arriving Dec. 3, with Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet. Cultural Traditions: Bethlehem’s Celtic Cultural Alliance will close after 39 years, citing mounting financial pressures. Pet Life: Veterinarians urge Halloween precautions: keep pets away from chocolate, xylitol and wrappers, and secure them as the door opens for trick-or-treaters.

Books & Writers: Twinkle Khanna backed fellow Crossword Book Awards nominee Arundhati Roy, calling her a longtime literary hero. A new reading list also shows why classics from Jane Austen to George Orwell still feel timely, with fresh adaptations bringing their themes to new audiences. Arts & Heritage: Papua New Guinea artist Jeffry Feeger’s first solo exhibition celebrates the country’s many cultural identities through 45 works. In India, a new look at Rajasthan’s historic havelis warns that well-meaning renovations can erase the original art they’re meant to preserve. Living Traditions: Iligan City has set aside funding for an annual Indigenous festival, giving communities a platform to pass customs and histories to younger generations. UNESCO and Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, are urging recovery planners to put cultural life and community priorities at the heart of rebuilding. Diwali Abroad: Celebrations in New York’s Times Square brought Indian culture to the fore with a bazaar, diya lighting and a festive countdown.

Music: Jay-Z will headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show, while The Flaming Lips have announced their first album in nearly seven years, due January 22. Fontaines D.C.’s new record has also scored the UK’s third-biggest opening week of 2026. Books & Film: Louise Kennedy’s new novel, Stations, returns to 1980s Ireland, following an outsider teen’s search for a friend in London. Irish actor Anthony Boyle won Best Actor at the Rome Film Fest for I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, which also took Best Film. Culture & Travel: Navajo-led tours are offering visitors a deeper look at Monument Valley, with local guides sharing the stories and cultural significance beyond the famous viewpoints. Mangyan artisans are also calling for stronger protection of Indigenous crafts, knowledge and ancestral lands. Pets: Halloween safety reminders are circulating for owners, with advice to keep treats and decorations away from curious pets.

Youth & Memory: Chinese Gen Z are recasting the film Youth—a story of lives damaged by the Cultural Revolution—as nostalgia for Mao-era equality. A video promoting that view drew 35 million views before censors removed it. Books on Stage: Scotland’s National Theatre is adapting The Young Team, a novel about gang culture. Reading & Writing: The 2026 Booker shortlist is out, while a new look at the viral “fig tree” theory challenges how readers interpret Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Screen & Storytelling: Andrea Bang, known for Kim’s Convenience, has won development support for her feature I Don’t Understand, about connection across language and cultural divides. Art & Heritage: Istanbul Modern is adding a 1998 self-portrait by pioneering artist Semiha Berksoy to its collection. In the Philippines, construction at Oslob’s town plaza is halted while heritage concerns are reviewed. Cats: A study links cats’ bonding-hormone levels with their owners’, suggesting emotional well-being may be shared. In Memoriam: Star Trek actor Walter Koenig, beloved as Pavel Chekov, has died at 90; voice actor Eric Bauza has also died, aged 46.

Arts Funding: California’s Arts Council approved nearly $10 million in added support for arts groups and advanced a new grant program for Native American artists. Poetry: Jamaican poet Lorna Goodison won the 2026 Derek Walcott Prize; Korean poets Yoon Dong-ju and Kim Nam-jo were posthumously awarded the country’s highest cultural honor. Books & Writing: Children’s author Claire Mabey reflected on her premature birth experience, her son’s NICU stay and how writing helped her feel connected to the world beyond motherhood. Culture: Fall Japan Day will bring students from four Hawaiian islands together for hands-on activities including calligraphy, Bon dancing and tea ceremonies. Pets: Halloween guides urge owners to protect animals from seasonal hazards, as costume events and adoption drives bring pets into the celebrations.

Poetry: Korean poets Yoon Dong-ju and Kim Nam-jo have received the country’s highest cultural honor posthumously. Yoon’s poems, written under Japanese colonial rule, remain widely read; Kim published poetry for seven decades. Books & Cities: At a Mumbai literature festival, Gulzar read from Aamchi Mumbai, his book of stories and poems about the city’s changing identity and migrant life. On Screen: A new Sense and Sensibility adaptation pairs Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as the Dashwood sisters, with a moody visual style and fresh takes on Elinor and Marianne. Art & Audiences: London’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition has drawn a surge of young visitors, with ticket spending outpacing major film launches. Pets: Lollypop Farm has hired three veterinarians and plans to reopen its reduced-cost spay and neuter program in November, easing pressure on local pet owners and rescue groups.