Bbc’s new arts productions will be powering a brave new world

You pay the licence fee and I see it as my job to give you a front-row seat at the best cultural events. Not only that, I want brilliant coverage of the arts and first-class programmes. That

is why last week I announced the biggest package of arts programming the BBC has produced in a generation. So what is in store? Well, we are working with some of the biggest names in the

business to bring the arts to life. Simon Russell Beale, Gemma Arterton, Darcey Bussell, Tom Hollander and Sir Simon Rattle will ensure there is something for everyone. We will be bringing

the National Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival into people’s living rooms. Everybody will get the chance to see the best actors and hear the greatest music, no matter where they live. We

will work with some of Britain’s greatest institutions like Tate, the National Portrait Gallery and The National Galleries of Scotland to bring their collections to life. We will be there

when Museums At Night throw open the doors of more than 500 museums, galleries and heritage sites in 200 cities and towns, for just one night. Our favourite BBC programmes are also getting

involved. The One Show will launch its own art competition next month, with an opportunity for the winners to see their work displayed at the Royal Academy. More than 118,000 youngsters have

entered the 500 Words writing competition that Chris Evans has been running on his Radio 2 show. He will be unveiling the winners at the Hay Festival in late May. There will also be all

kinds of other programming designed to celebrate reading and bring books to life. On television we will see a new animated music film for children and young people by Michael Morpurgo, the

author of War Horse. There will be a new BBC One series on painting provisionally called The Big Picture on air early in 2015, while the team behind The Hollow Crown will make versions of

some of Shakespeare’s great plays. On radio we will introduce 10 new voices to Radio 4, in a dedicated fortnight of dramas by first or second-time writers, produced in Bristol, Salford,

Wales and London. Meanwhile, 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. On Radio 2, the

Book Club will continue to showcase new and exciting writers on Simon Mayo’s show and across the network. Online, we will be launching an arts portal, BBC Arts online, offering more

opportunities to see new material, as well as a chance to watch some of the best events across the country live or on-demand. Books On The BBC will give people the opportunity to talk

directly to authors online, supporting and inspiring reading and literary discussion. We will also use BBC iPlayer to bring together the wealth and range of BBC arts programming across all

channels into a single category, to make it easier to find new shows. I am also conscious that the arts risk becoming marginalised for future generations unless more is done to get children

and young people interested. Which is why, in addition to Michael Morpurgo’s new animation, this Easter CBeebies will be collaborating with the Northern Ballet on a production of The Three

Little Pigs. For older children, CBBC and BBC Learning have commissioned an inspiring children’s show about films and filmmaking called Movie Maniacs. Many of these programmes will be made

in co-operation with other art organisations. As everyone faces the challenge of delivering more in a tight economic climate, it is vital that we work together in new ways. I remember the

impact that the iconic BBC series Civilisation had on me when I was a teenager. It set me on the road to a lifelong passion for the arts. I want more people to be able to make this journey,

which is why not only are we making a new series of Civilisation for the digital age, we will also be making new arts programmes for people of all ages and all backgrounds across TV, radio

and online. Some suggest that the arts are for an elite. That is nonsense. The arts are for everyone. It is one of the best things about our nation. Let us enjoy them together.