Documentaries covering the whole of the North will feature among 11 BBC One programmes to accompany landmark BBC Arts series Civilisations.
The documentaries, one for each BBC English Region, will discover the stories behind treasures displayed in museums and galleries across the country.
One of them will see Angela Bruce discover what happened when the Romans ruled her native North East.
Hadrian’s Wall is a visible reminder of the thousands of Romans who arrived in a land populated by the warring tribes of England, and she will uncover their art, architecture and the legacy of Roman ideals and beliefs.
The 11 Civilisations Stories will also contribute towards a special accompanying programme for BBC Two, Civilisations On Your Doorstep, when Mary Beard will explore the stories and controversies behind extraordinary works of art from all over the world that are now displayed in museums across Britain.
David Holdsworth, Controller of BBC English Regions, said: “Civilisations Stories shines a light on how distinctive regional cultures formed, from Mark Williams exploring the radicalism of The Birmingham Enlightenment to Amber Butchart revealing the roots of fashion’s association with London’s East End. The programmes are compelling and thought-provoking and are complemented by BBC local radio stations and our partners in the Civilisations Festival in encouraging everyone to delve into the art, culture and history on our doorsteps.”
Civilisations Festival will take place across the country from 2-11 March and is a collaboration between the BBC, museums, galleries, libraries and archives across the UK.
The BBC will link up with partners to tell stories from these events, with coverage on every BBC local radio station and beyond.
Nick Merriman, Director of the Manchester Museum, said: “The Civilisations Festival is a ground breaking partnership between the BBC and museums across the country. It has huge benefits for our sector highlighting the wonderful collections and stories associated with the nation’s museums during the screening of one of the BBC’s landmark series. We hope it will open us to even wider audiences than ever before.”
