Night Waves

2 May 2005

Monday 2 May 2005 21:30-22:15 (Radio 3)

The tail end of the 20th century saw an unprecedented investment in attention-grabbing, hi-tech arts buildings across the UK. But five years on, how have these Millennium Projects fared now that the spotlight has moved away? In a special programme, Paul Allen talks to architects, critics and directors as he visits the Lowry in Salford Quays, the New Art Gallery, Walsall, and the second-biggest free tourist attraction in the country - Tate Modern, where he reflects on the last five years with Nic Serota.

Duration:

45 minutes

Programme Details

In a relatively short period spanning the year 2000, the Millennium Commission handed out £1.3 billion in grants for building projects, money raised by the National Lottery. The condition was the buildings had to be distinctive, of real quality, and to be 'of their day'. Think of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the Great Court at the British Museum, the Eden Project, the Glasgow Science Centre and the National Space Centre in Leicester.

Five years on, Paul Allen reflects on the cultural and economic impact of this unprecedented investment in landmark buildings across the country, and revisits three cultural buildings which opened in 2000. From the Lowry on Salford Quays to the New Art Gallery, Walsall, and arguably the most impressive success story of all the landmark Millennium Projects, Tate Modern in London.

Sir Nicholas Serota, Tate's director, takes the long view of this success, while the architect who received probably more commissions than any other - Sir Nicholas Gimshaw - reflects on what this period and these vast sums of money meant for architects and architecture.

So was it an over-funded vanity project or a real catalyst for cultural and economic change?

Join Paul Allen for a special edition of Night Waves at 9.30pm here on BBC Radio 3


Presenter: Paul Allen
Producer: Jerome Weatherald



Additional Information:

For further details and images of the buildings discussed, visit:

The Millennium Commission http://www.millennium.gov.uk/lottery/projects.html
The Lowry, Salford Quays http://www.thelowry.com/
The New Art Gallery, Walsall http://www.artatwalsall.org.uk/
Tate Modern, London http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/default.shtm

Night Waves

Episode and Playlist Information

• 5 May 2005
• 4 May 2005
• 3 May 2005
• 2 May 2005
• 29 April 2005
• 28 April 2005
• 27 April 2005