BBC Announces New Programming in Arts & Music; Nicholas Hytner Appointed to Executive Board

Arts will take centre-stage across the BBC with a new topical strand taking audiences to music and arts events across the UK; a new digital offering; closer engagement with artists and institutions; more distinctive arts content across all the BBC's outlets; and stronger leadership for the arts.

Speaking today Tony Hall said: "This is the strongest commitment to the arts we've made in a generation. We're the biggest arts broadcaster anywhere in the world - but our ambition is to be even better.

"I want BBC Arts - and BBC Music - to sit proudly alongside BBC News. The arts are for everyone - and, from now on, BBC Arts will be at the very heart of what we do. We'll be joining up arts on the BBC like never before - across television, radio and digital. And, we'll be working more closely with our country's great artists, performers and cultural institutions."

The Director-General announced:

Strong, clear leadership for arts across the BBC with new internal appointments, along with a number of external advisory roles to allow leaders of the arts world to share their knowledge and insight with the BBC. A new strand, BBC Arts at... gives viewers a front row seat at Britain's best arts and music events, including collaborations and partnerships with Shakespeare's Globe, Glyndebourne and the Hay Festival. Three big initiatives which will be part of a new digital push - arts on BBC iPlayer, more on offer at BBC Arts Online and - in partnership with Arts Council England - The Space. As well as ambitious archive plans. Working closely with some of the nation's finest writers, artists and performers including Zaha Hadid, Simon Russell Beale, Gemma Arterton, Akram Khan, Tom Hollander, Sir Antonio Pappano, Michael Craig-Martin, Darcey Bussell, Antony Gormley, Max Richter, Sir Simon Rattle and many more. New landmark series commissioned in collaboration with a number of Britain's leading cultural institutions including Tate, National Portrait Gallery, National Galleries of Scotland, Sadler's Wells and The British Library. Major drama and arts collaborations including a further three filmed adaptations of Shakespeare's History plays for BBC Two from the team behind The Hollow Crown; and Dialogues, an exciting new initiative to showcase British writing talent on BBC Four. New commissions for young people and children including an animated music film for TV by Michael Morpurgo; a new collaboration with the Northern Ballet on a production of the Three Little Pigs for CBeebies; and an exciting observational documentary that lifts the lid on what it's like to be a member of a working orchestra for BBC Three

Jonty Claypole has been appointed Director of Arts, and Bob Shennan becomes Director of Music. They will work across the BBC - joining up television, radio, iPlayer and online. They'll be thinking globally, nationally and locally - driving the BBC's vision for Arts and Music.

A number of leaders in the arts world have been appointed to share their knowledge and insights across the BBC:

Alex Poots and Manchester International Festival will become a creative partner with BBC Arts - encouraging and supporting new commissions, and new collaborations. Nicholas Serota, from Tate, has been appointed to lead a group of creative leaders who will act as a sounding board across the BBC. Vicky Featherstone, from the Royal Court, will join the group of creative leaders. She will continue to work closely with Kate Rowland and the BBC Writersroom, nurturing and championing new writers across radio, TV and online. Nicholas Hytner, formerly of the National Theatre, has been appointed to the BBC Executive Board

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