PBS NewsHour - Art Beat PBS NewsHour

The end of the school year often means year-end concerts for student orchestras and choirs. For high school music educator Annie Ray, it's time to look back on a busy year that included a Grammy award and look ahead at her vision of what education should be. Ali Rogin sits down with Ray for the latest installment of our "Weekend Spotlight" series. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In its early days, "Black Twitter'' became a driving force in defining pop culture, creating trending hashtags, unforgettable memes and sparking social justice movements. A Hulu docuseries looks at its history, impact and legacy. Amna Nawaz discussed "Black Twitter: A People's History" with director Prentice Penny. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS, and coverage of Race Matters. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

She's a novelist turned naturalist. New York Times best-selling author Amy Tan has turned her intense gaze to the world of birds and shared her private drawings and musings in a new book. Jeffrey Brown joined Tan at her Northern California home to discuss "The Backyard Bird Chronicles" for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Bill Maher is often a controversial figure in the world of politics and culture. He's positioned himself as the ultimate truth-teller who takes equal pleasure in punching at the left and the right. Maher is taking stock of his decades of commentary in his new book, "What This Comedian Said Will Shock You." Geoff Bennett sat down with Maher for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Some 50 years into her career and at almost 90-years-old, artist Lorraine O'Grady has her first-ever museum retrospective at Wellesley College's Davis Museum. If that sounds like an honor delayed, much of O'Grady's career has played out with a slow burn. She looks back at her long path into art world acceptance with Jared Bowen of GBH in Boston. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Japanese animation and comic books have exploded in popularity in the United States over the last few years. From floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to a win at this year's Oscars, the genre has seen an increasing amount of visibility in American culture. Ali Rogin reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders