The BBC maintains one of the largest archives of any broadcaster in the world, managing millions of hours of TV, Radio and Online content, encompassing over 90 years of broadcasting. The archive is constantly growing and the BBC is dedicated to exploring the ways it can bring the archive back out of the vaults and on to our screens.

This unmissable collection of highlights looks back at television arts documentary making at the BBC, throughout its history. With a number of titles to choose from, specially selected from landmark BBC series like Monitor, Arena, Omnibus and the Culture Show, this is a unique opportunity to relive key moments, revisit forgotten places and get face to face with some of the most popular people and practitioners in the arts.

The festival runs from Fri 11 to Sun 13 April. For full listings on the other dates please see the links on the left.

Sat 12 April

SCREENINGS

11am – 11.25am, £2, Cinema / Book online
Release: J.R.R. Tolkien
A rare TV interview with J.R.R. Tolkien as he discusses his epic saga Lord of the Rings and his life in Oxford.
Director: Leslie Megahy, 1968, 25m

11.40am – 12:20noon, £2, Cinema / Book online
Ways of Seeing: John Berger
A programme about the way we look at paintings. John Berger looks at how art can be manipulated and obscured by false religiosity.
Director: Michael Dibb, 1972, 40m

12.35noon – 1.25pm, £2, Cinema / Book online
Two Melons And A Stinking Fish
A frank portrait of controversial British artist, Sarah Lucas. Her work is often deeply personal, intertwined with her views on identity and sexuality.
Director: Vanessa Engle, 1996, 50m

1.40pm – 2.25pm, £2, Cinema / Book online
Monitor: Pop Goes The Easel
Ken Russell directors a fascinating glimpse of the most influential pop artists Peter Blake, Peter Phillips, Derek Boshier and Pauline Boty at the beginning of their careers.
Director: Ken Russell, 1962, 45m

2.40pm – 3.30pm, £2, Cinema / Book online
Dreamgirls: The Photographs of Guy Bourdin
Guy Bourdin’s erotic and often disturbing images appeared in Vogue for almost 30 years. Dreamgirls presents Bourdin through the eyes of people who worked with him through his own personal archive of 8mm film.
Director: Nicola Roberts, 1996, 50m

3.45pm – 4.45pm, £2, Cinema / Book online
The Culture Show: Jeremy Deller, Middle Class Hero
Turner Prize-winner, Jeremy Deller, reminisces over his early influences as he prepares for his first major retrospective at the Hayward Gallery.
Director: Jack Cocker, 2012, 60m

5pm – 6pm, £2, Cinema / Book online
Arena: Louise Bourgeois
Louise Bourgeois lets loose in this frank portrayal of her life and work filmed on location in her studio.
Director: Nigel Finch, 1994, 55m

10:30pm, £3, Theatre / Book online
Everybody Street
The city that never sleeps has inspired countless artists who’ve lived, worked and dreamed on the bustling playground of New York’s streets. In this vibrant documentary, filmmaker Cheryl Dunn pays tribute to the spirit of urban photography through a cinematic exploration of New York City, capturing the rush, perseverance and often the danger customary to street photographers. Viewed through the lenses of iconic street photographers like Bruce Davidson, Mary Ellen Mark and Ricky Powell, as they wander the streets of NYC searching for their next best shot, Everybody street is a celebration of underground creativity and urban renewal.
Director: Cheryl Dunn. USA 2013, 1hr 23m, Cert N/C 15+

EVENTS

Fri 11 – Sun 13 April, 10.30pm until late, FREE on the door, Saramago Cafe Bar
Art Screen at Night
Three nights of exclusive music and performances from special guests.
Friday: music from special Art Screen guests
Saturday: Durch / Dirt with music – Jonnie Wilkes and video – Torsten Lauschmann
Sunday: music from special Art Screen guest