The BBC has today announced a stronger partnership with Northern events including the Liverpool Biennial and Manchester International Festival as part of what it says is its strongest commitment to the arts in a generation.
Director general Tony Hall outlined his vision for BBC Arts that will see the corporation “joining up arts like never before – across television, radio and digital”.
Among the changes announced this morning, Manchester International Festival and its artistic director Alex Poots will become a creative partner with BBC Arts.
Hall said: “Alex Poots, who brilliantly leads the Manchester International Festival, is going to be working in creative partnership with us, to encourage and support new commissions, and new collaborations – which has been one of Alex’s great strengths.”
MIF’s Alex Poots
The BBC will also be working more closely with the Liverpool Biennial, Manchester International Festival and Opera North as part of its new “BBC Arts at…” strand.
Although precise details were not disclosed this morning, the strand will certainly mean a greater presence at the events for the BBC.
As today’s release confirmed: “Right across the year, BBC Arts at… will bring great events to the screen in new and innovative ways, working closely and collaboratively with leading museums, festivals and performing companies to give viewers and listeners the best seat in the house.”
The BBC also revealed that three northern writers have been commissioned to make a new piece of work for BBC Radio 3’s The Verb in partnership with Arts Council England. The competition winners, Louise Fazackerley, Matt Miller and John Hamilton May, will receive mentoring from partner organisations including Writing Squad in Yorkshire, Contact Theatre in Manchester and ARC in Stockton-on-Tees.
And CBeebies will continue its collaboration with the Northern Ballet with a production of The Three Little Pigs.
Recorded at The Victoria Theatre in Halifax, it will feature Mr Bloom (aka Ben Faulks), the Northern Ballet and children from local schools in Halifax and Wakefield.
CBBC, working with BBC Learning, has also commissioned a child-led show, Movie Maniacs, about films and film-making.
