The BBC has defended its use of licence fee money to fund a digital art project, reportedly costing millions, which features a puppet series on the Syrian uprising.
The Space is described by the BBC, who founded it three years ago alongside Arts Council England, as a commissioner of “exciting” new digital art.
One Tory MP questioned the project, which the Sun reported has had £3.6 million spent on it so far and will use £8.16 million of BBC funding in total.
Damian Collins, a member of the Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport committee, told the paper: “I do not see how it can be within the BBC’s remit to sponsor digital art.
“It really stretches their point. Is this really something that the BBC should do, rather than other arts bodies which are well supported and better placed?”
But the BBC said the Sun “wrongly portrays” how the licence fee is used to support the arts.
In a statement the corporation said: “The Space was set up, in 2012, by the Arts Council England in partnership with the BBC to support greater digital access to the arts – something the BBC is committed to supporting through its charter.
“Licence fee funding has been carefully used to support the development of artists and the cultural sector, and includes projects with National Theatre of Wales, Northern Ballet Theatre, Barbican Centre, the RSC and Manchester International Festival.”
The site features YouTube series Top Goon Reloaded by a group of Syrian artists under the name Masasit Mati, described as “an online series of sarcastic and irreverent puppet theatre films”.
It also features a project by artist and composer Tuulikki exploring birdsong in Gaelic song, as well as the beginnings of the digitisation of renowned BBC DJ John Peel’s record collection and a dance-based performance piece by popular singer FKA Twigs.
The BBC has already been warned by Culture Secretary John Whittingdale that it could face cuts, saying that the organisation should make “the same efficiency savings as we’re asking every public body to do”.
*To view the Top Goon series (which contains adult language) click here.