Launched in December 2000, Artsworld was set up by its founders to replace the ever-dwindling arts representation on terrestrial TV, writes Ruth Barker.
As well as acquiring performance and documentary programmes from all over the world, it has become a production force, recording major artists and companies working in the UK and abroad. We aim to have 35% of our programming as original commissions, and in June 2001 we broadcast over 100 hours of original programming.
Our programming extends across the widest range of artforms:
? Theatre: - as principal sponsors of the ?Masterclass 2001 initiative? at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, we will be broadcasting sessions in which leading practitioners of the various theatrical skills share their experience with an audience who are invited to ask questions, and sometimes watch or take part in on-stage practical demonstrations of ideas and technique. Also, as well as presenting TV productions of plays by major playwrights, including Harold Pinter, Samuel Beckett and Steven Berkoff, theatre subjects in the ?Backstage? series have included following RADA students on a trip to Russia and behind the scenes at the Hull Truck Theatre Company.
? Opera: - we have secured a three-year exclusive contract with La Scala, Milan to broadcast productions of opera and ballet soon after their Milan openings; so British viewers have seen Tosca and Adriana Lecouvreur from the opera repertoire, with Il Trovatore, Falstaff and Un Ballo in Maschera on the way.
? Music: - we also began our allegiance to young talent with ?The Big Day?, a four-part series covering the appearance at last year?s BBC Proms of hundreds of the country?s young musicians performing symphonic, choral and jazz music.Thursday night is jazz night, and performances and interviews are not tucked away in the schedule at midnight, as is often the case elsewhere.
? Visual arts: - ?Artist at Work?, the channel?s visual arts series, shows leading painters working in their studios, discussing their art, and giving insights into their creative process.
? Poetry: - the latest series, ?Poets Unbound? features some of the finest contemporary poets writing in English: the first series has Douglas Dunn, Hugo Williams, Jo Shapcott and Paul Muldoon reading their work. So what have been the challenges? The most challenging aspect of working for a digital paid-for service is the difficult task of getting listings in the national press and TV guides. Due to the increasing number of digital channels and space (or lack of space) in the print media, the challenge is to convince TV editors that their readers would be interested in reading about Artsworld. As we are unable to release our subscriber figures, the argument put forward is based upon the quality of our programming, the editorial interest and the synergy with their readers? profile.
The website complements the TV content and we have tried to back up the idea rather than the channel itself. It?s a portal for the arts in the UK and reflects this diversity. The site content includes news and nationwide listings related to all of the arts. An online TV schedule provides the latest programme information and users can receive a weekly email version.
This summer sees the launch of streaming media on the site. Artsworld will be showing the 20 short films that are being screened around London?s Soho, and these will also be streamed on the web, so widening out the audience as much as possible. We think this is an exciting development whereby everybody has the opportunity to view the possible next big film directors of our time.
Ruth Barker is Head of Press and PR at Artsworld Channels Ltd. t: 020 7819 1160 e: rbarker@artsworld.com, w: http://www.artsworld.com