Cunard partners with Talk Art podcasters to deliver Queen Anne art tour

Cunard is partnering with Talk Art’s Russell Tovey and Robert Diament to help passengers on board Queen Anne discover the ship’s art collection.

Talk Art is a podcast dedicated to making the world of art more accessible, featuring exclusive interviews with leading artists, curators and gallerists, and occasionally their friends from industries like acting, music and journalism.

With more than six million downloads in more than 170 countries, the pair bring their unique experience and perspectives to conversations about forms, styles, movements, and the cultural significance of art. 

As part of the collaboration with Cunard, Tovey and Diament created an immersive, self-guided Art Tour to celebrate Queen Anne’s masterpieces. 

‘Our world-famous Queens are celebrated globally for their modern luxury, reflected in their elegant design and art collections,’ stated Katie McAlister, president of Cunard. ‘We’re also passionate about making contemporary art more accessible. That’s why we’re delighted to partner with the remarkable Talk Art team to support emerging artists, reach new audiences, and continue offering our guests unique experiences.’

The tour

The new podcast-style tour launched this month and forms part of the ship’s enriching activities programme, showcasing more than 40 individual pieces of art across the ship. 

Tovey and Diament introduce each piece on the tour – including Micheal James O’Brien’s 'Gilbert and George' portrait in the Golden Lion and Susumu Kamijo’s Poodles series in Aji Wa – delving into the inspiration behind the artists’ work, combined with exclusive interviews and their own interpretations. 

Celebrating talent 

Launched in May, Queen Anne is home to a contemporary collection of over 4,000 artworks and sculptures, involving 500 different framing methods to display the works.

Combining up-and-coming talents from institutions such as the Royal College of Art, with established artists, the eclectic selection of paintings, photographs and graphic prints are all inspired by Cunard’s star-studded journey to the present day.

One such example is an exclusively commissioned photographic piece by London-based conceptual still life photographer Aaron Tilley, inspired by Cunard’s golden era of transatlantic travel. The artwork features vintage Cunard artefacts from crystal sculptures to jewellery and a 1936 cardboard model of Queen Mary. This Tales of Cunard piece will be displayed in the Princess Grill suites.  

‘Talk Art are proud to be partnering with Cunard on this exclusive audio tour to celebrate their incredible commitment to contemporary art,’ remarked Tovey. ‘‎This is the largest collection of commissioned art at sea, and at over 4,300 artworks, is such an impressive and inspiring group of artists. We hope our guide will bring to life the themes and hidden stories that lie within each of the paintings, photographs and sculptures.’

Co-host Diament added, ‘We are particularly excited to see Cunard’s support of emerging artists from leading international art schools including Parsons The New School, Royal College of Art, and Central Saint Martins, and will be highlighting numerous works in the audio tour.’