BBC Makes Major New Investment in Arts Programming

LONDON: BBC director-general Tony Hall has announced a 20-percent increase in funding for arts television programs, with a number of landmark commissions and partnerships.

Hall unveiled the new pan-BBC arts brand BBC Arts at…, which will take viewers into the heart of live music, theater and arts events around the U.K. The BBC Arts at… brand will feature live performances, opening night exhibitions, interviews with practitioners and more. The BBC will be working in partnership with a range of arts organizations, including Tate, the British Museum, the National Theatre and Manchester International Festival.

BBC is also re-launching The Space, its online partnership with Arts Council England. The two organizations signed a three-year agreement that will build on the success of the pilot, which broke new ground in delivering digital art and experiences to the public. The Space, which re-launches in spring 2014, aims to produce new talent and content. Artists and organizations will have the chance to submit work through a rolling program of Open Calls, kicking off in early 2014.

In addition to these new brands and partnerships, the BBC also has a number of new commissions in the arts genre. This includes The Big Pictures, a six-parter for BBC One that showcases the hidden heroes of British art; The Men Who Invented Scotland, presenting a look at the greatest writers from Scotland; and The Face of Britain, in which Simon Schama will explore the history of Britain through portraiture.

Other upcoming arts highlights include Britain and the Sea, presented by David Dimbleby on BBC One; a one-off live performance to mark the National Theatre’s 50th anniversary on BBC Two; a season of 18th century arts and music programming across BBC Two, Four and BBC Radio 3, including a three-part series presented by Lucy Worsley on the Hanoverians; a BBC Two series presented by Amanda Vickery about women in art; and a BBC Four architecture moment including a partnership with RIBA.