The BBC’s head of arts, Suzy Klein, has responded to criticism from broadcasting veterans David Dimbleby and Melvyn Bragg regarding the corporation’s commitment to culture programming. Klein emphasized the BBC’s dedication to defending the arts, pointing to their extensive slate of upcoming programs as evidence of this commitment.
Klein highlighted the BBC’s efforts in producing 28,000 hours of arts and culture content in a year, reaching nearly 30 million viewers in the past 12 months. She defended the BBC’s diverse lineup of programs, which includes drama-documentaries, cultural history series, and films focusing on figures such as Jane Austen, Elizabeth Taylor, and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch.
In response to the challenge of attracting younger audiences in today’s crowded TV landscape, Klein pointed to the BBC’s coverage of events like Glastonbury, along with platforms like BBC Three and youth radio stations, as draws for younger viewers. She emphasized the importance of the BBC’s role in enriching society, particularly in a time when arts education is declining in schools.
Klein concluded by sharing her personal experience of the transformative power of the arts, highlighting the impact it had on her own life and career. She expressed her belief in the importance of the BBC’s role in promoting arts and culture, especially in bringing people together in a divided society.
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