Post by Teddy Bear on Sept 21, 2015 21:30:23 GMT
Besides the main topic of this article, here's what the hegemonic BBC plans in future despite threatening cuts in services to the licence fee payer:
The BBC has also announced extra spending on a new TV channel for Russia and a daily radio show for North Korea, despite having to trim its overall budget and cut UK services.
Lord Hall revealed further proposals for more Arabic services and extra coverage in the Middle East, India and Africa.
The BBC has also announced extra spending on a new TV channel for Russia and a daily radio show for North Korea, despite having to trim its overall budget and cut UK services.
Lord Hall revealed further proposals for more Arabic services and extra coverage in the Middle East, India and Africa.
BBC's £8m on birdsong and Syrian puppets: Money spent on collection of digital art despite bosses complaining about budget cuts
By Jessica Fleig For The Daily Mail
The BBC is splashing out more than £8million on a collection of digital art including a Gaelic birdsong video and Syrian puppet films.
The Space website has spent the money even as the corporation’s bosses have complained about cuts to their £5.1billion-a-year budget.
Featured on the site is a puppet series called Top Goon Reloaded, created by Masasit Mati, a Syrian art collective.
Another project features the ‘mimesis of birdsong in Gaelic song’, while Mix The City with ‘YouTube sensation’ Kutiman invites people to use sight, sounds and music to create their own interpretation of Tel Aviv.
A Wall, a ‘social art’ work by Zheng Bo, is a three-minute video clip featuring pictures of Chinese people.
So far £3.6million has been spent on The Space with the BBC promising to pay out £8.16million in all. Arts Council funding will bring the total budget to £16.2million.
Insiders have told The Sun that the BBC’s £330,000-a-year creative director Alan Yentob is the man behind the project, which began trading as a company in September 2013.
Damian Collins, a Tory member of the Commons culture committee, said: ‘Is this really something that the BBC should do, rather than other arts bodies which are well supported and better placed?
‘I do not see how it can be within the BBC’s remit to sponsor digital art. It really stretches their point.’
Fellow Tory MP and committee member Nigel Adams said: ‘It would be useful if the BBC could justify the millions of pounds already invested in it and what return taxpayers have had.’
A BBC source told The Sun: ‘The Space is Alan Yentob’s baby. He persuaded [Director-General] Tony Hall to invest the £8million but at a series of meetings he has been unable to explain what The Space is. Many BBC staff are outraged and also worried about how bad this looks.’
Mr Yentob resigned as a director of The Space in March. BBC executives Jonty Claypole and Lisa Opie now sit on the board.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘The Space was set up by the Arts Council England in partnership with the BBC to support greater digital access to the arts – something the BBC is committed to supporting through its charter.
‘Licence fee has been carefully used to support the development of artists and the cultural sector, and includes projects with National Theatre of Wales, Northern Ballet Theatre, Barbican Centre, the RSC and Manchester International Festival.
‘Alan Yentob is not currently involved in The Space and was only ever one of a number of directors. He was never chair.’
The BBC has also announced extra spending on a new TV channel for Russia and a daily radio show for North Korea, despite having to trim its overall budget and cut UK services.
Lord Hall revealed further proposals for more Arabic services and extra coverage in the Middle East, India and Africa.
- BBC is spending £8m on digital art collection such as Syrian puppet films
- Comes even as bosses complain about cuts to their £5.1bn-a-year budgetInsider
- s say it is brainchild of £330,000-a-year creative director Alan Yentob
- MPs criticised BBC by questioning whether digital art falls within its remit
By Jessica Fleig For The Daily Mail
The BBC is splashing out more than £8million on a collection of digital art including a Gaelic birdsong video and Syrian puppet films.
The Space website has spent the money even as the corporation’s bosses have complained about cuts to their £5.1billion-a-year budget.
Featured on the site is a puppet series called Top Goon Reloaded, created by Masasit Mati, a Syrian art collective.
Another project features the ‘mimesis of birdsong in Gaelic song’, while Mix The City with ‘YouTube sensation’ Kutiman invites people to use sight, sounds and music to create their own interpretation of Tel Aviv.
A Wall, a ‘social art’ work by Zheng Bo, is a three-minute video clip featuring pictures of Chinese people.
So far £3.6million has been spent on The Space with the BBC promising to pay out £8.16million in all. Arts Council funding will bring the total budget to £16.2million.
Insiders have told The Sun that the BBC’s £330,000-a-year creative director Alan Yentob is the man behind the project, which began trading as a company in September 2013.
Damian Collins, a Tory member of the Commons culture committee, said: ‘Is this really something that the BBC should do, rather than other arts bodies which are well supported and better placed?
‘I do not see how it can be within the BBC’s remit to sponsor digital art. It really stretches their point.’
Fellow Tory MP and committee member Nigel Adams said: ‘It would be useful if the BBC could justify the millions of pounds already invested in it and what return taxpayers have had.’
A BBC source told The Sun: ‘The Space is Alan Yentob’s baby. He persuaded [Director-General] Tony Hall to invest the £8million but at a series of meetings he has been unable to explain what The Space is. Many BBC staff are outraged and also worried about how bad this looks.’
Mr Yentob resigned as a director of The Space in March. BBC executives Jonty Claypole and Lisa Opie now sit on the board.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘The Space was set up by the Arts Council England in partnership with the BBC to support greater digital access to the arts – something the BBC is committed to supporting through its charter.
‘Licence fee has been carefully used to support the development of artists and the cultural sector, and includes projects with National Theatre of Wales, Northern Ballet Theatre, Barbican Centre, the RSC and Manchester International Festival.
‘Alan Yentob is not currently involved in The Space and was only ever one of a number of directors. He was never chair.’
The BBC has also announced extra spending on a new TV channel for Russia and a daily radio show for North Korea, despite having to trim its overall budget and cut UK services.
Lord Hall revealed further proposals for more Arabic services and extra coverage in the Middle East, India and Africa.