Category: Factual & Arts TV; BBC TWO
Date: 14.05.2006
Printable version
To coincide with the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2006 the BBC offers
a rare insight into The Royal Academy and British art, as Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen heads an enthusiastic and expert presenter line-up with Vic Reeves, Sacha
Craddock and David Mach RA.
BBC TWO is collaborating with the Royal Academy on three programmes which will
be shown on consecutive nights during the opening weeks of the 238th Summer
Exhibition in June.
There will also be an interactive element, with viewers
being invited to take part in a public vote to choose their 'pick of the show',
their favourite painting or drawing, print, sculpture or architecture.
The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition is an annual event, and is the world's
largest open submission art exhibition.
It has a tradition of showcasing work by
unknown and emerging artists alongside that of more established names.
This year
the exhibition co-ordinators have chosen From Life as a theme for artists to
explore.
It is open to the public from Monday 12 June to Sunday 20 August
2006.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who has a fine arts degree, is the main presenter of
the series.
He is joined by the BBC's panel of three experts - comedian and
presenter Vic Reeves, also a keen amateur artist; Sacha Craddock, a Turner Prize
judge and art critic; and David Mach RA, a sculptor and one of this year's
exhibition co-ordinators.
They will act as a guide to the exhibition for the
viewer, and will highlight 'must-see' works for anyone planning to visit.
The series follows a number of painters, print-makers and sculptors through the
creative process and the nerve-wracking selection phase.
Vic Reeves, a former
art student who has exhibited several times, has entered three paintings
alongside thousands of other enthusiasts for this year's exhibition.
From an
average 10,000 works submitted about 1,200 will be included in the finished
exhibition.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen says: "I'm really looking forward to presenting this
series about the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition as art is such a popular
interest in this country.
"It seems that everybody these days feels as if they
have a painting inside them and what's so marvellous about the Summer Exhibition
is that it offers the potential platform for people to share their artistic
abilities with the rest of the world."
The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition awards a total of £70,000 prize money to
artists across several categories and the programmes will look at what prizes
have been awarded and why.
These awards include the RA Charles Wollaston Award
of £25,000.
Viewers will have their chance to take part in a public vote via bbc.co.uk to choose their 'pick of the show' from the Wollaston prize
shortlist.
In the last programme the people's choice is revealed as is the
choice of the Royal Academy of Arts. Will the two agree?
Notes to Editors
The Summer Exhibition takes place at the Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly,
London.
Exhibition Dates and Opening Hours are:
Monday 12 June to Sunday 20 August, 2006, 10.00am to 6.00pm daily (last admission
5.30pm).
Late night opening: Fridays until 10.00pm (last admission 9.30pm).
SB2
