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Bruton

A small town in rural Somerset becomes a magnet for contemporary art, celebrities, and journalists who write articles about "the new Notting Hill". But what's really going on?

One random generated postcode and a story you probably haven't heard before. Today it's Bruton, Somerset.

This small town in rural Somerset has become a magnet for contemporary art, celebrities, and newspaper journalists who like to write about "the new Notting Hill" and "the new Montecito", interchangeably. It's a new challenge for producer Polly Weston, who is not used to being sent to such well documented destinations. Ten years ago, the international contemporary art titans, Hauser and Wirth, decided to open a gallery here. A decade on, and rarely a week goes by without a journalist writing a spread about the town. But what Polly finds most surprising is the number of smaller art galleries she notices on her first visit. How does this contemporary art business work? And what does the town make of it all?

Produced and presented by Polly Weston
Editor: Chris Ledgard
Mixed by Ilse Lademann

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Last Monday 11:00

Broadcast

  • Last Monday 11:00