Artist in Residence

Episode 2

The Football Club

Portrait artist Tai Schierenberg has painted the likes of Stephen Hawking, Seamus Heaney and the Queen. Now he embarks on his most ambitious subject yet: football. As part of a new strand where artists immerse themselves in unlikely and fascinating places, the film sees Tai spend a season as artist in residence at West Bromwich Albion FC, during one of their most turbulent seasons in living memory. What starts as a behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful game becomes an emotional drama as the club battles to stave off relegation, featuring unusually frank interviews with players, management and fans. The programme culminates in Tai unveiling a series of stunning portraits of West Brom players, ex-manager Tony Pulis, and some life-long fans.

Episode 3

The Shopping Centre

Darkly sweet social commentary is at the core of artist Rachel Maclean's multi-media fantasy worlds. In the final part of the strand in which artists immerse themselves in unlikely and fascinating places, Rachel Maclean spends a month living night and day in the Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham. Occupying a shop and meeting visitors and workers, Rachel finds out if consumerism really does make dreams come true. During her residency she creates an extraordinary new piece of art - a short film that introduces a large, furry pink rabbit to the people of Birmingham, and poses the question R U satisfied?