Art Against the Odds

Completed June 2009
Format: 4x3Min
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Synopsis

Held every year without interruption since 1768, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition attracts around 10,000 entries each year, making it the largest open contemporary art exhibition in the world. The 2009 Summer Exhibition continues the tradition of displaying a wide range of new work by both established and unknown artists in all media including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and architecture. This year's co-ordinators, Royal Academicians Ann Christopher, Eileen Cooper and Will Alsop have selected works for the exhibition around the theme of 'Making Space'.

A series seeking to understand the creative impulse of artists, “Art Against the Odds” - for the Channel 4 documentary strand ‘3 Minute Wonder’ - follows entrants from diverse backgrounds as they apply for this year’s Summer Exhibition. The series is directed by R F Simpson and produced by Sarah Tierney. Transmission is scheduled for Monday 29th June to Thursday 2nd July 2009 at 7.55pm on Channel 4.

Episodes

  1. Episode 1:

    Prof. Ken Howard, a celebrated Royal Academician, offers an insider’s perspective on the Show.

  2. Episode 2:

    Alice Tait is a young illustrator who worries that her commercial work will be looked down upon by the fine art brigade…

  3. Episode 3:

    Susan Ryder painted a portrait of Princess Diana in her wedding dress, but is worried that artistic fashion may have left her behind…

  4. Episode 4:

    Andrew Miller is a young printmaker with hopes for the big break he’s been working for since art school.