Little Black Book of Art

Starting next week on 24 November 2009, is a new four-part BBC reality show masterminded by patron and art collector Charles Saatchi – the programme’s sponsor and main judge. 

‘School of Saatchi’ is an X Factor type show – a contemporary art contest filmed in a documentary type style, where Saatchi plays the Simon Cowell figure and where over 50 unrepresented young artists (some graduates and some pure amateurs) compete to win patronage from the famous art-obsessed, advertising guru and recluse. 

The first episode shows round one, where the aspiring hopefuls present their work to a hand-picked panel of leading figures in the art world. The on-screen panel chosen by Saatchi includes Tracey Emin, critic Matthew Collinge, curator at the Barbican Kate Bush and collector Frank Cohen (known as the ‘Saatchi of the North’)  -  all heavyweights in their own right and who’s opinions Saatchi particularly respects. These four judges initially decide whose work deserves to be seen by Charles Saatchi, and they eventually pick 12 finalists. 

It is then up to Saatchi to select whom he wishes to enter the art studio he’s established in east London. The chosen six, who’s work shows promise, raw talent and creative edge, then develop their skills over the course of ten weeks, helped by prominent artists such as Martin Creed and Mat Collishaw. 

During this time, Saatchi sets the six contestants ambitious commissions and new artistic challenges. The resulting work is then judged by him with his opinions being transmitted through one of his gallery representatives. (The fact that Saatchi will not be seen or heard on camera is not unusual for the publicity-shy millionaire, who doesn’t even attend his own gallery openings). 

After completing the 10-week stint, the winner will be given exposure on the international art scene by featuring in one of Saatchi’s exhibitions which he’s organising in the State Hermitage Museum in St.Petersburg, Moscow.  He or she will also receive a studio space and sponsorship for three years. 

Cohen says of the show: 

“Saatchi wants the programme to come over as a serious take on the processes of contemporary art rather than a competition.  It doesn’t cheapen art at all; if anything, it’ll educate people in how contemporary art is made and what it means”. 

I agree with Cohen in that I think the programme helps the public to a certain extent get more of an understanding on contemporary art, but I’m not sure quite sure what’s in it for Saatchi…he claims to want to lead a private life but his actions tell a different story and not appearing in the programme actually creates more intrigue around him. Maybe he’s trying to regain the influence he’s lost in the last ten years? He was definitely a key figure in the 90′s helping commercialise contemporary British art and making everyone aspire to owning it, but his influence has since wained. Will ‘School of Saatchi’ raise his profile once again? Who knows?…  

What we do know to be true is that the art scene has changed. The people that matter in the art world now and that have the greatest influence are not always patrons and collectors. This is clearly evident judging by this years prestigious ArtReview Power 100 list, where Saatchi slipped from 14th place to 72nd.  The art world is changing more than ever at the moment, it’s an exciting time and it’ll be interesting to see how the current economic climate affects the market and the type of work that is produced.

School of Saatchi is aired on Monday evenings on BBC2 at 21:30.