Significant expansion of GBH's local arts and culture program, GBH News has launched “The Culture Show,” a daily one-hour radio show that airs on GBH 89.7 weekdays from 2-3 p.m. Boston Public Radio. Hosted by GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen and joined by Carrie Crossley. Under the Radar with Curry Crossley; Edgar B. Harwick III, host of Curiosity Desk; and a panel of cultural correspondents. James Bennett II, arts and culture reporter for GBH News and contributor to CRB Classical 99.5, will join as co-host in the future. “culture show It builds on GBH’s deep heritage in the arts and culture sector,” said Pam Johnston, GBH General Manager of News. Bowen took us behind the scenes and gave us a glimpse into the inner workings of the program.
what is your vision culture show?
We want to cover a wide range of arts and culture, from food to theatre, film, dance and sport, and all the places they come together. The most important thing for me is to make art accessible. Not everyone can experience what we are talking about, such as visiting the theater, attending a museum exhibition, or going to a concert. This is our way of bringing artists and their work directly to people.
What impact do you hope this program will have?
The show comes at a critical time when arts organizations are struggling due to the pandemic. We've seen organizations close, see attendance decline, and struggle to retain staff. This show is a way to celebrate art and culture and remind society of how important art is, especially in these times. But that doesn't mean we won't continue to train our critical lenses on it. I don't think there's another show like this with the breadth of the arts that we're covering, how we're covering them, and the voices that we're bringing to the table.
How do you create your Friday weekly review program?
We all meet on Thursday mornings to collect stories about arts and culture that interested us that week. As the hosts, executive producer Chelsea Mertz, and the production team discuss all the ideas, you'll quickly see which ideas are generating the most lively conversation. But we try to finish it quickly so we can save the radio material. We do not script or rehearse our shows; we broadcast them live.
How would you describe the camaraderie between the co-hosts?
It is very fun. Callie, Edgar, and I have known each other for a long time. When we come together, something a little magical happens. Everyone enters the studio about 30 minutes before the show starts. Lots of laughs and jokes. It really works and I feel comfortable from the first day.
Please tell us about the music and atmosphere of the program.
I wanted it to feel like a 1960s cocktail party. Let's drink martinis, laugh, and enjoy our company. I gave the team some musical tips. Our Associate Producer Molly McCall scoured the American Public Media Library and came up with “Beer Pocket” by Benedict Ramdin and Ryan Vosloo.
What is your opinion of the program?
People say they're learning about or attending events they never expected to be interested in, and that's the ultimate goal. Dreams are about inspiring people to want to see and experience new things.
How might the program evolve in the future?
We want this to be more than just a radio show, and we want to make it as visual as possible using video streaming. But in the meantime, I'll be using Instagram (@thecultureshowgbh) to provide visuals.
How do you prepare for the program?
When I'm in a museum, I'm looking at the work and already thinking about how I'm going to explain it on the air. What I'm trying to do is capture in verbal form how I'm feeling and why I'm feeling it. I'm a runner, and there's something about adrenaline and body chemistry changes that releases the synapses in your brain. As you run, reflect on why you feel the way you do. Why did I feel like my whole chemistry changed when I saw the Mark Rothko show? And I think about how to convey that to the audience.
Who do you think is listening?
The audience is everyone. It's for people who love art, but I'd also like to explain it to people who don't think they're interested in art. We want to make sure they understand that they absolutely belong to them, that this is for them.
listen culture show GBH 89.7 Weekdays from 2-3 p.m. Livestream on gbhnews.org and the GBH News App.