20/09/2001

Channel PBS is to begin broadcasting throughout America, Art 21, a 2-hour programme of contemporary artists’ projects. Following on from the success of the British production This is Modern Art, Susan Sollins, a founder and former executive director of Independent Curators International, paired up with Susan Dowling, a former dancer and the executive producer of the New Television Workshop at WGBH-TV in Boston. The two producers picked up recommendations from an advisory council of contemporary art curators nationwide. Determined to "de-demonize" contemporary art, Ms. Sollins turned to television. "There has been so much bad press," Ms. Sollins commented to the New York Times, "politicians using contemporary art as a vehicle for their own purposes." Contributing artists include Laurie Anderson, William Wegman (with Steve Martin), Matthew Barney, Andrea Zittel, James Turrell, Barbara Kruger (with John McEnroe), Richard Serra and Bruce Nauman. Sponsors for the programme include the Allen foundation for arts, the Robert Lehman Foundation as well as Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro. The programme starts on the 21st September. (James Goulder)