The Research Institute of Art Theory and Methodology of the Hungarian Academy of Arts has launched a new video podcast series focusing on culture and the arts called PodcART. The hosts and invited guests explore how art reflects and shapes the contemporary world. The episodes relate to current events in the arts and society. The series, with new episodes released every two weeks, is hosted by radio journalist Gerda Seres and cultural anthropologist, ethnographer and linguist Ildikó Tamás, with new presenters joining the show from time to time.

Is art merely a reflection of the world we’re living in? Or is it capable of much more – of shaping and transforming it? How does a work of art become a force capable of moulding society beyond cultural dialogue? Through new perspectives, unexpected questions and individual responses, art can create new realities. But what responsibilities come with such abilities? How can art contribute to the creation of a more empathetic, happier and more harmonious society? What role can art play in education and parenting?

It was in response to these questions that PodcART was created, a programme that focuses on the social and cultural role of contemporary art. The guests on this video podcast seek to answer the question of how society influences art and vice versa. PodcART aims to make contemporary art and the findings of research into art theory more accessible to the public. The episodes provide an insight into the lives of the artists, packed with interesting facts, behind-the-scenes secrets, anecdotes, and humour. At the same time, they unveil the intellectual processes behind the artworks: the role played not only by emotions, but also by experimentation, playfulness and expertise.

The podcast is presented in a light-hearted tone, yet still remains professional and presents the Hungarian art scene in a credible manner, with a particular focus on the work of the members of the Hungarian Academy of Arts and artists receiving its arts scholarships, the research conducted at the Research Institute of Art Theory and Methodology, as well as the cross-border activities of the Education Through Art Network.

The Research Institute of Art Theory and Methodology of the Hungarian Academy of Arts has been producing podcast episodes since 2021 (including Kultúrsokk, lit. “Culture Shock”), and with PodcART, it has developed this activity into a regular video podcast series. The iconic backdrop on the wall of the PodcART studio features the buildings of the Hungarian Academy of Arts’ institutional family, alongside the silhouette of the Hungarian Pavilion in Seville designed by Imre Makovecz, symbolising the family’s ever-expanding and vibrant community.

Published episodes of PodcART (available only in Hungarian):

All That Jazz

What makes jazz jazz? Is there even such a thing as “Hungarian jazz”? Where do the boundaries of the genre lie, and does a distinctively Hungarian jazz identity exist at all? In the first episode of PodcART, Gerda Seres is joined by jazz drummer and composer Balázs Bágyi and Kornél Zipernovszky, a jazz critic and university lecturer. They both speak passionately yet in an accessible way about how the place of jazz has evolved in Hungary and around the world. The cultural and social processes behind the music are also explored in connection to the forthcoming volume titled “A magyar jazz kézikönyve” (lit. The Handbook of Hungarian Jazz) currently being prepared by the Research Institute of Art Theory and Methodology of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, and the closing concert of the 2026 Essentia Artis arts festival. Even though many still regard jazz as a niche genre today, the melodies of Dixieland and swing connect generations, while avant-garde movements represent the experimental side of the genre. The discussion also reveals how this distinctive sound, which set out from America at the dawn of the last century, conquered the world and, if a true jazz handbook were to exist, what stories, legendary venues and artists would be featured in it. PodcART is aimed not only at jazz fans, but at anyone interested in discovering one of the most diverse genres of music from a new perspective.

Textúra és textus (lit. Texture and Text)

Textiles are one of the most fundamental materials in our everyday lives, serving simultaneously as utilitarian objects, cultural heritage and a form of artistic expression. From ancient weaving techniques to modern technological advancements, the world of textiles has continually been enriched with new meanings and possibilities. What new possibilities lie on the horizon today? Has anyone seen a woven textile that plays music? Or singing lace patterns? Have we ever thought of fabric as text? What stories might the patterns tell, what sound could an ornament make, and what would happen if light met texture? In the recently released, second episode of PodcART, linguist, ethnographer, and cultural anthropologist Ildikó Tamás discusses new directions and expanding horizons in textile art, in the context of the 2026 Essentia Artis exhibition, with textile designer and founder of KOMONKA Mónika Kovács and with textile designer and graphic artist Zsanett Szirmay.

Anyag, tér, asszociáció (lit. Material, Space, Association)

What can a sculptor do with ash and water? How do atmospheric optical phenomena or acoustics feature in the creative process, and how do foreign-language titles influence the reception of a work? In the third episode, linguist, ethnographer and cultural anthropologist Ildikó Tamás talks to two artists who received scholarships and whose works are featured in the Essentia Artis exhibition: textile designer Eszter Söptei, recipient of the Csaba Polgár Prize, and sculptor Réka Gergely.

In the coming episodes, folk art will also take centre stage alongside applied art. The delicate world of Kinga Földi’s silk creations intertwines with the rich symbolism of folklore and the colourful costumes and handmade ornaments of folk singer and textile designer Réka Juhász.

The PodcART episodes, released every second Tuesday, can be watched and listened to on the website and YouTube channel of the Research Institute of Art Theory and Methodology of the Hungarian Academy of Arts (available only in Hungarian).