A brand new fun-filled “How To” art series for the next generation is launching on CBBC and BBC iPlayer next month. The show, produced by Ranga Bee for the BBC, is hosted by real-life arty YouTube family, the Kwapongs, and their hilariously irreverent animated sidekick - Bristles the talking paintbrush, voiced by comedy legend Harry Hill.
In each episode, the Kwapongs dive into exciting Family Art Challenges, from crafting their very own table football ‘Kwembly stadium’, to creating magical stained-glass effect wearable wings, and even constructing fire-breathing dragons! Every challenge starts with one Kwapong stepping into the role of judge, while the rest compete to make the most inventive masterpiece.
With lots of relatable family banter, hilarious mistakes, and wildly different creative approaches, Go Get Arty encourages kids to have a go - proving that the fun is in the making, not the masterpiece.
Go Get Arty is a show with different segments to inspire children to get creative. This includes game segments Is It Paint? - spotting hyperrealistic art from the real thing - and Zoom Out, Shout Out - racing to guess the subject of famous paintings from extreme close-ups. Plus, in Portrait Copycat, there are makeovers in the style of iconic works by artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Frida Kahlo, and Gustav Klimt. In Art Showdown, it’s a fast and furious face-off as two family members battle to create their best art in under thirty minutes - proving that you don’t need hours to make something amazing! And in Art In The Wild, the Kwapong family visit The National Gallery, where they reimagine masterpieces by the likes of Henri Rousseau, Georges Seurat, and JMW Turner, with graphics bringing their wild ideas to life right inside these world-famous paintings.
In the Art Wow segments, viewers get to see incredible professional artists in action creating a piece from start to finish , including David Shrigley’s giant praying mantis sculpture, TikTok sensation Milly Bampini’s transforming food into an uncanny replica of her face, Sophie Ryder’s 20ft minotaur, and Nathan Wyburn’s portrait of England footballer Bukayo Saka made entirely from toast!
Meanwhile, Bristles’ Brief Guide To… offers a whirlwind tour through art history - with side-splitting speed and loads of brilliant archive footage. From Banksy to Yayoi Kusama, Vincent Van Gogh, and Yoko Ono, it's a bite-sized art masterclass, served up with Bristles’ trademark comic twist.
Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Commissioning 7+, BBC Children’s and Education, says: “Making shows that are entertaining and educational is at the heart of everything we do, and Go Get Arty is a brilliant show that encourages children to get creative and learn something along the way. The show is packed with creative inspiration, playful competition, and tons of laughs. It’s an invitation for all children across the UK to pick up their paintbrushes and express their imagination and creativity.”
Benjamin Green, MD of Ranga Bee Productions, says: “Go Get Arty proves that art isn’t just for galleries – it’s for living rooms, kitchen tables, and very chatty paintbrushes! We have absolutely loved creating this ambitious, funny, modern take on an art show for BBC Children’s and Education. And I think we can all agree, the world needs more gold pens and googly eyes right now.”
Go Get Arty is a Ranga Bee Production for the BBC. The series was commissioned by Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Commissioning 7+, BBC Children’s and Education. The Executive Producers are Shereen Docherty, Benjamin Green and Romesh Ranganathan from Ranga Bee and the Series Producer is BAFTA winning producer Nick Hutchings. The Senior Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Melissa Hardinge.
Pictures: Ranga Bee/BBC
