Our development priorities are updated for every commissioning round (last updated July 2009). We also include information on the commissioning team and process.

Arts, Music and Religion now commissions all video content on all platforms including bbc.co.uk, mobiles and interactive 'red button' services as well as for television.

Background

BBC Arts covers a vast range of subjects, across all BBC channels. We're looking for ideas with ambition, depth and variety; from putting the Arts at the heart of the national consciousness, to unique ambitious seasons that make connections for the audience, and those that shine a light on more particular, surprising areas.

Development Priorities July 2009 - October 2009

Full details of our specific Development Priorities are available here.

• High Impact Programmes
• Singles & Events
• Imagine

• Landmarks and singles
• Events

• Series
• Event

• Mini series
• Presenter-led singles, as part of seasons
• 30 minute shows for earlier in the evening

Multiplatform

• '360 degree' impact projects
• Online arts products
• Cultural partnerships

What's been working well?

Manet: The Man Who Invented Modern Art
A superb, authored argument to place the artist in a different context.

A Poet's Guide to Britain
A fascinating approach to poetry and our nation authored with a fresh perspective by Owen Sheers.

Ian Fleming: Where Bond Began
Showing how, when the subject matter and choice of talent is right, the Arts can engage a big audience.

My Life in Verse
Robert Webb brought us an approach to T.S. Eliot that was as passionate and personal as it was authoritative.

Soul Britannia
Soul Britannia started with the emergence of a musical sub-genre and then broadened its scope to give us a unique picture of British social change.

The Audience

Art on BBC ONE is for everyone. Well known presenters can help to bring in this mass audience and we're looking to develop new talent for ONE as well.

On BBC TWO, Arts programmes should be groundbreaking and encourage debate for an audience. We're looking to broaden and deepen their relationship with the Arts by helping them make connections.

We are looking for a completely original event to engage our 16-34 year old audience with the Arts in ways that they might not expect.

Art finds its natural home on BBC FOUR, where authored, ideas-led shows have been very successful, especially when packaged in seasons.

Strands

Programme ideas can also be submitted to the editors of Arts and Religion strands: Imagine.

Tariffs

Please read the full details regarding factual genre tariffs for independents.

Your Feedback

Your feedback about these development priorities is welcome here

• As from April 2007, all proposals must now be submitted via our e-Commissioning system.
• This enables both in-house and independent producers to track their submissions online.
• Proposals will no longer be accepted via email.

Timeline

• All proposals are registered on a confidential database and independent suppliers receive an acknowledgement of their proposal within two weeks of receipt.

• The relevant Commissioning Editor will either reject or progress proposals within six weeks of receipt (four weeks from acknowledgement.)

• Proposals may be provided with funded development, in which case the timetable to commission will be subject to negotiation between the external supplier and the BBC and determined by the development contract.

• The final decision will be no later than 20 weeks of receipt of the proposal. A successful proposal will be given approval by the relevant Commissioning Editor.

• Projects may be held over in exceptional circumstances but only with the formal agreement of the supplier.

Queries

• At any point during this maximum 20 week period, an external supplier may write to the Commissioning Editor asking for a progress report and be guaranteed a response within 10 working days of receipt.

Page last updated 24 July 2009