produced by

Hosted by
Rob Maniscalco

An underwriting proposal for ART BEAT, the 27-minute weekly Television program on WTVS, channel 56, featuring 18 episodes per season (with reruns). ART BEAT is a powerful exploration of contemporary art, featuring the most inspiring visual artists working today in Southeastern Michigan.

Produced by:
Detroit Public Television

ART BEAT, currently in its second season, airs Saturdays at 5:00 pm & Wednesdays at 5:30 on WTVS, Channel 56.

ART BEAT receives very high Neilson Ratings, averaging between 25,000 and 75,000 viewers, twice each week. Now it is possible to get your philanthropic message out to a large, loyal demographic for very little money.

Project title: ART BEAT, Season Three (September 2005 - August 2006)
Episode Length: 27 Minutes
Episodes: 18 per season, with re-runs
Air Times: Twice each week (Saturdays @ 5:00 & Wednesdays @ 5:30
Broadcast Area: Metropolitan Detroit - 1.7 million viewers
Art Beat audience: watched by 25,000 - 75,000 (50,000 to 130,000 per week), the highest rated local program in WTVS's history.

Program Concept: Contemporary Art is thriving in the metro Detroit area. The area's diverse artists represent a wide range of media, approach and philosophies. The creation of art comes second nature to some while others are mystified and intrigued by the creative process. Art Beat came from a need to connect people to the creative individuals who are transforming the city. Art Beat takes a fresh, often edgy view of artists and their art. Art Beat looks at the artist, his/her motivation in creating art and the process of expression; it's intended for everyone from the seasoned collector to the uninitiated. Each 30-minute program focuses on an artist who has distinguished his/herself in the field, reflecting the boldest and most creative approaches to new work in contemporary art.

Guests have included Gilda Snowden, Robert Sestock and Jim Pallas among other notable masters from the Detroit arts community. Art Beat takes a raw look at the artists, not a sedate tour of a gallery or a museum. Art Beat isn't reality TV, its authentic TV.

About the host. Art Beat is hosted by Rob Maniscalco, a gallery owner, writer, arts educator, advocate and nationally renowned portrait artist. Maniscalco brings a unique point of view to his journeys with the artist. He explores the creative mind, cutting through the preconceptions, peeling back the layers to expose each artist as a person. Maniscalco has a way of encouraging each artist to express themselves freely, not only through their work process but through their words. Maniscalco takes the viewer along on a sometimes wild, always enlightening ride into the artist's personal studio space. Maniscalco asks the questions on all of our minds; he's not afraid to have fun in the world of serious art, from a kick-boxing painter to a found art-fish fanatic.

The WTVS Commitment. Art Beat is just one of several locally produced shows, part of Detroit Public Television's renewed commitment to local programming. Currently funding for Art Beat is provided by the members of Detroit Public Television; the station hopes to attract a limited number of underwriters to enable it to continue into a third season. In addition, we are preparing a proposal for a network version of Art Beat, distributed throughout the PBS.

Mission Driven. Art Beat serves as an educational and informational vehicle for the local art community. Detroit has a rich and varied art community that is not widely known. This program brings to light the creative pulse of the city, bringing the underground out into the open for all to enjoy. Associating your organization with Art Beat will say to wide audience that you support a vibrant Detroit community with a commitment to diverse contemporary culture; you will be taking a stand for personal self-expression, entrepreneurship, diversity and a deeper, richer quality of life for Metro Detroiters. The whole point of the show is to present artistic diversity and creativity as an opportunity for healing our society - making something out of nothing. One of the great benefits of Art Beat is that it is teaching those outside the art community about the creative process as a means of helping them rise above whatever life has dealt them. This is a recurring theme among our guests, who are living examples of creative success. Art Beat speaks directly to the vitality at the heart of Detroit. In the past two seasons of Art Beat, our mission has been to bring the best artists of Detroit home to our viewers. Our message has been simple: inspiration is not a luxury its a necessity. To a great extent, the arts in our society have been marginalized; there's a feeling that art should be seen but not heard. We at Art Beat don't subscribe to that. We believe artists are leading the way. They are the mirrors of society, our conscience. We've featured artists who make us think; they are visionaries with strong points of view. We believe the messages they bring us are essential for a better world, whether we agree with them or not.

Educational TV at its best. Art Beat reaches kids not fortunate enough to have art programs in their schools. Imagine the benefits to at risk youth or the homebound, bringing art directly into their home. Art Beat is instructive at virtually every age level. Leaders in the arts community recognize what an important educational resource and historical document we have in Art Beat. Art Beat is committed to providing professional development, not only for the featured artists, but to anyone in the community who has ever aspired to be a professional artist. Art Beat is also encouraging the next generation of art collectors. Many Art Educators are using Art Beat as a teaching tool. In fact, WTVS has produced boxed DVD sets of the first 18 episodes in response to numerous requests from libraries, art schools and public school programs. There is tremendous grass roots support for Art Beat. The show comes up again and again as an example of proof that Detroit is becoming a "Cool City," in reference to the current initiative by Governor Granholm related to the writings of Richard Florida and the "Rise of the Creative Class," a theory which suggests that a thriving arts community is a major component in revitalizing cities like Detroit.

Below is some viewer feedback.

(Click here to see more viewer feedback)

Love your show; very informative, educational, inspirational and an actual visible support for Artists who sometime become stagnant. I have instructed troubled young adults with a myriad of social, mental, emotional problems through Art & Life Skills and Art seems to be the best tool to reach them...A.J.Isbister

Just wanted to give props' on the recent Art Beat, superb featured Artist. Adnan is such a warm and thoughtful man and his art is an amazing reflection of that humanity. Thanks for having him on and exposing so many, to so much of what they had, so far, missed. BRAVO!…Michael Dion

Your show, Art Beat, is absolutely wonderful, and I look forward to watching it every weekend. You've opened so many doors for children and adults alike to view a great variety of art mediums that we may not ordinarily be able to see without traveling distances and spending good sums of money. I work in a public middle school; and as most school districts are being forced to cut back on spending, it's usually the arts that get zapped first. Of course, we need more art instruction in schools, but that is just not going to happen in public schools. Your program offers these young creative minds the inspiration to delve into some creativity on their own. Perhaps it may serve as a stepping-stone for the students who may really want to pursue the art field and to look outside the school for further instruction in this area. For this, I thank you a lot!…Sandy K.

Don't usually do this....but Art Beat has so impressed me, I felt compelled to write. As a transplanted Canadian artist new to Detroit, Art Beat has been the most vibrant, refreshing, and creative education I've received to date on the arts scene in Detroit. Kudos to Mr. Maniscalco for giving birth to this wonderful program. It is SO needed, and we are tuning in. The presentation framework of the program itself with its edgy videography and style is a work of art itself. Thank you so much, and please don't stop! Art Beat is an incredible tool for educating and inspiring Detroit artists and non-artists alike. Regards…Pamela K.

Budget Breakout:
Local Production - Full Season $60,000
18 episodes @ $2,500 per episode
Promotion Costs on DPTV $20,000
Talent Costs (not included above) $14,000
Total Annual Production Costs $94,000

Underwriting Opportunities are available, starting at $7,500

To discuss underwriting opportunities, please contact
Tim Wilson-Underwriting,
WTVS, Channel 56,
7441 Second Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
313-876-8113, twilson@dptv.org