Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (BBC2)

Hope you didn't miss BBC 2's Summer Exhibition (broadcast on the last 3 evenings) hosted by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. An unusual insight into the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition - which is open to to all to submit a work of art, be it a painting, print or sculpture, and have a chance at it being "hung" and sold. Over 9000 submissions were judged and only about one in eight is accepted. The programme followed Vic Reeves as he had one of his paintings accepted and also several other talented, but unlucky artists who didn't get their work accepted. Well, I thought they were talented anyway and, seeing as the great and the good "experts" at the Royal Academy accepted and displayed one artist's plinth and not the work of art it should have supported, it would seem that talent (and art) is certainly in the eye of the beholder!

However, the whole arty shenanigins was brought back down to earth with a bump when we were treated to advice of a more fiscal nature from financial guru, Alvin Hall as he accompanied three "amateur" buyers to help them choose a work of art as an investment.

An interesting watch, and, as I can't be the only one not to have known about the Summer Exhibition before, I would say that there will be a great many more than 9000 artists submitting next year! Let's hope the BBC will now cover the Summer Exhibition every year.

Find out more www.bbc.co.uk/arts/summerexhibition/