Art Screen

The BBC maintains one of the largest archives of any broadcaster in the world, managing millions of hours of TV, Radio and Online content, encompassing over 90 years of broadcasting. The archive is constantly growing and the BBC is dedicated to exploring the ways it can bring the archive back out of the vaults and on to our screens.

This unmissable collection of highlights looks back at television arts documentary making at the BBC, throughout its history. With a number of titles to choose from, specially selected from landmark BBC series like Monitor, Arena, Omnibus and the Culture Show, this is a unique opportunity to relive key moments, revisit forgotten places and get face to face with some of the most popular people and practitioners in the arts.

The festival runs from Fri 11 to Sun 13 April. For full listings on the other dates please see the links on the left.

Fri 11 April

SCREENINGS

11am -11:40am, £2 (£1.50) + 60p booking fee, Cinema / Book online
Arena: My Way
A remarkable investigation into the enduring legacy of Paul Anka’s hit song My Way, which has been covered by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, and Sid Vicious
Director: Nigel Finch, 1979, 40mins

11.55am -12:50pm, £2 (£1.50) + 60p booking fee, Cinema / Book online
Graham Greene On The Orient Express
Graham Greene travels from Paris to Istanbul on the Orient Express, talking about his life and novels. Greene was happy to be recorded on audio tape but refused to be filmed.
Director: Christopher Burstall, 1968, 55m

1.05pm - 1.55pm, £2 (£1.50) + 60p booking fee, Cinema / Book online
Imagine: Who Cares About Art?
Alan Yentob visits museums around the globe to examine the relationship between five museum workers and the treasured works of art they care for.
Director: Sam Hobkinson, 2006, 50m

2.10pm - 3.15pm, £2 (£1.50) + 60p booking fee, Cinema / Book online
Omnibus: The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong
The remarkable story of jazz genius Louis Armstrong.
Director: John Akomfrah, 1999, 1h05m

3.30pm - 4.35pm, £2 (£1.50) + 60p booking fee, Cinema / Book online
The Eye Hears, The Ear Sees, Normal McLaren
Animator, Norman McLaren, discusses his ground-breaking films which combine his love of music, dance and animation. This screening coincides with the centenary of his birth.
Director: Gavin Millar, `1970, 1h05m

4.50pm - 5.35pm, £2 (£1.50) + 60p booking fee, Cinema / Book online
Francis Bacon, Fragments Of A Portrait
Francis Bacon gives a legendary interview from his Kensington studio.
Director: Michael Gill, 1966, 45m

EVENTS

11am - 12.30pm, FREE but ticketed, Theatre / Book online
What Is The Art of The Arts Documentary?
In this panel discussion, chaired by broadcaster Kirsty Wark and featuring artist Jeremy Deller; award-winning film makers Ian Forsyth and Jane Pollard and broadcasters and art critics Tim Marlow and Andrew Graham-Dixon discuss the role of arts documentaries in capturing the lives and work of artists throughout history. We ask if the arts documentary can ever really capture an artist’s practice; examine the genre’s relevance in today’s multi-platform world and ask the ultimate question: what is the Art of the Arts documentary? Generously supported by Creative Scotland

2pm - 3.30pm, FREE but ticketed, Theatre / Book online
Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard – Making 20,000 Days on Earth: A Masterclass
Documentary-fiction hybrid 20,000 Days on Earth premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, winning two prestigious awards for best directing and editing in the World Cinema Documentary Category. 20,000 Days on Earth weaves drama and reality in a fictitious day in the life of musician Nick Cave. In this Art Screen Masterclass the British film making duo behind the success, Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard, share their insights into film making and creating feature documentary for the big screen, revealing how they turned the music documentary on its head.

4pm - 5.30pm, Theatre, FREE but ticketed / Book online
Artists and Archive: Artists’ Moving Image at the BBC
BBC ARTS and LUX are currently running a residency, supported by Creative Scotland's Creative Futures programme, which offers six artists unprecedented access to the BBC Archives. In this panel three of the participating artists; Torsten Lauschmann, Kathryn Elkin and Stephen Sutcliffe will be in discussion with Benjamin Cook, Director of LUX, to reflect on their experience so far and show a personal selection of rare material they have found in the archives.

Fri 11 - Sun 13 April, 10.30pm until late, FREE on the door, Saramago Cafe Bar
Art Screen at Night
Three nights of exclusive music and performances from special guests.
Friday: Jarvis Cocker (DJ set), The Sons of the Stage (Jeremy Deller + Rory Crichton)
Saturday: Jarvis Cocker (DJ set), Durch / Dirt, Jonnie Wilkes (music), Torsten Lauschmann (video)
Sunday: music from special Art Screen guests