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Jeremy Hunt raises idea of state-subsidised arts TV channel Talks to establish first state-subsidised arts TV channel begin
(about 3 hours later)
The culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has floated the idea of a new state-subsidised arts TV channel offering live broadcasts every night – and making government grants to arts, cultural and heritage organisations conditional on them supplying content. Talks are underway to provide the first permanent state-subsidised arts TV channel with funders already hoping that an experiment involving the BBC this summer will pave the way for a more lasting arrangement, the Guardian has been told.
The minister suggested developing a permanent free online presence for live performances "to ensure we reach the largest possible audiences completely free of charge". Arts Council England, the body which distributes public money from the government and National Lottery to arts organisations, revealed it was in discussions with the corporation just hours after the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, had floated the idea of just such a channel and making state grants to arts, cultural and heritage organisations conditional on them supplying content.
Hunt raised the prospect in a speech to arts groups in London on Monday as he suggested building on the experience of The Space, a pop-up online channel funded to the tune of £4.5m by Arts Council England and the BBC, which began broadcasting last month. It will close in October. The minister had suggested developing an online presence for live performances "to ensure we reach the largest possible audiences completely free of charge" . In a speech to arts groups in London on Monday, Hunt had urged them to build on the experience of The Space, a pop-up online channel funded to the tune of £4.5m by the arts council and the BBC. It began broadcasting last month and was due to close in October but the council said talks are now under way to extend the scheme, which they hoped would be permanent.
Aides stressed the culture secretary was giving a nudge rather than instructions – and that any firm proposals would have to come from the Arts Council, which distributes government grants, and cultural organisations it funds – but Hunt is keen to see the arts embrace digital technology more enthusiastically. This would require extra spending both from the council, which has already funded hundreds of hours of commissions from 53 arts groups, and the BBC, which provided technology, training and mentoring.
In his speech, he commended the Royal Opera House's BP-sponsored showing of live performances from London on screens around the country and David Hockney's iPad drawings, before adding that "for too many of our cultural organisations technology is still about having a good website, instead of a tool to boost artistic innovation, help fundraising and reach new audiences". The council, though keen for The Space to be permanent, is however opposed to making government grants conditional on providing content for the channel or a successor.
Hunt's aides stressed the culture secretary was giving a nudge rather than instructions – and that any firm proposals would have to come from the council and cultural organisations it funds. However in his speech, Hunt said: "For too many of our cultural organisations technology is still about having a good website, instead of a tool to boost artistic innovation, help fundraising and reach new audiences."
Praising The Space where "you can listen to John Peel's record collection, see hip-hop dancing from Sadler's Wells, enjoy a live broadcast of Britten's War Requiem or watch the entire Globe to Globe Shakespeare season", Hunt asked: "Should we turn this into something much more ambitious? A permanent digital channel with live broadcasts every night of our very finest cultural offerings? Indeed should it be a condition of government funding to supply some live content – whether from museum exhibitions, live performances or parts of our heritage – for a new digital arts channel to ensure we reach the largest possible audiences completely free of charge?"Praising The Space where "you can listen to John Peel's record collection, see hip-hop dancing from Sadler's Wells, enjoy a live broadcast of Britten's War Requiem or watch the entire Globe to Globe Shakespeare season", Hunt asked: "Should we turn this into something much more ambitious? A permanent digital channel with live broadcasts every night of our very finest cultural offerings? Indeed should it be a condition of government funding to supply some live content – whether from museum exhibitions, live performances or parts of our heritage – for a new digital arts channel to ensure we reach the largest possible audiences completely free of charge?"
The culture secretary said this could help organisations explore new revenue streams, new partnerships and new sponsorship arrangement. Asked later whether the government would be dangerously dictating to the arts sector by making groups provide free content for a digital channel, he said: "I don't think arts organisations will resist this at all because it's part of their core mission to make sure that their output is seen by as many people as possible. The culture secretary said this could help organisations explore new revenue streams, new partnerships and new sponsorship arrangement. Asked later whether the government would be dangerously dictating to the arts sector by making groups provide free content for a digital channel, he said: "I don't think arts organisations will resist this at all because it's part of their core mission to make sure that their output is seen by as many people as possible."
"People are passionate about spreading the message and making sure that culture can be part of as many people's lives as possible. I think they will welcome this." There was no hint from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport either about whether it thought longer term arrangements for The Space might involve the BBC or a rival broadcaster.
This is not the first time the idea of a new "public service" publisher has been floated. Eight years ago media regulator Ofcom suggested launching a similar venture to help maintain public service broadcasting, but dropped the idea in 2008 while maintaining the need for plurality in the digital age. BSkyB has significantly boosted its arts coverage in recent years on the Sky Arts channels while BBC licence fee funds have been or will be used for the digital TV switchover support scheme, roll out of broadband and supporting the launch of new local TV services.
There was no hint from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport either about whether it thought the project might involve the BBC or a rival broadcaster. However a spokesperson for the council said: "The Space has a huge potential to make more of the arts available in new ways to new audiences. The Arts Council would like to continue and we're in active talks with the BBC about the implications and logistics of this, and hope to be able to make this clear before the current pilot phase comes to an end.
BSkyB has been significantly boosted its arts coverage in recent years on the Sky Arts channels. But BBC licence fee funds have been or will be used for the digital TV switchover support scheme, roll out of broadband and supporting the launch of new local TV services. "We would prefer a day when arts and cultural organisations are automatically willing to contribute to a public digital space. To get there, we need to improve skills, solve rights issues, and also make sure the quality of the digital output is good and engaging enough to provide the public with a quality contact with the artform in question – it needs to be more than pointing a camera.
Hunt also announced the publication of a national cultural education plan later this year saying it would be "criminal" not to teach children "an appreciation of culture". More than £15m would be allocated over three years to fund the plan's proposals. "So rather than make it a condition of funding, right now we need to illustrate the benefits to arts organisations of willingly embracing the opportunities that digital technology presents. And that's exactly what The Space is doing – by proving an effective learning ground for artists and developing into a popular destination for audiences to discover the arts – and why it does need to become a permanent fixture."
This follows a review by Classic FM boss Darren Henley that asked ministers to consider making it compulsory to study the arts up to the age of 16 and described cultural education in England as "patchy". Hunt made his remarks as a panel led by former Conservative minister Michael Portillo announced publicly funded grants to 34 organisations, totalling £56m, to support endowments. The organisations are expected to find another £106m in matching funds from corporate and individual philanthropists.
Hunt was speaking as a panel led by former Conservative minister Michael Portillo announced publicly funded grants to 34 organisations, totalling £56m, to support endowments. The organisations are expected to find another £106m in matching funds from corporate and individual philanthropists. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
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