Beyond the CANVAS Returns to PBS for a Second Season

ARLINGTON, VA (March 5, 2021) — PBS NewsHour’s arts and culture series “Beyond the CANVAS” will return for a second season on PBS on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 9:30 pm ET (check local listings). Hosted by Amna Nawaz, PBS NewsHour’s senior national correspondent, the primetime program will continue to highlight the best reporting from NewsHour’s multi-platform initiative CANVAS, including from anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff and chief correspondent for arts, culture and society Jeffrey Brown and more. The five-part series will feature interviews with compelling artists, including “Roma” actress Yalitza Aparicio, naturalist and filmmaker Sir David Attenborough and singer Rhiannon Giddens. 

“I’m honored and excited to bring this second season to our audience at a time we’re all still missing the shared experience the arts can provide,” said Amna Nawaz. “I’m particularly proud of this season’s focus on creators of color, including entire episodes devoted to Black artists and artists from Mexico. All the creators we feature – through their songs, their words, even their food – offer powerful reflections of our society right now. They spark joy. They inspire. And they remind us of all the things that tie us to one another.”

PBS NewsHour executive producer Sara Just added, “We understand the times we live in through the minds and work of our artists, our musicians, our creators. Beyond the CANVAS looks at the work of a brilliant array of artists who during this difficult year, have found beauty, insight and inspiration.”

The following are episode descriptions for the upcoming season of “Beyond the CANVAS”:

“World of Writers”
Finding one’s voice as a writer takes dedication, courage, and a willingness to reimagine the world through words on a page. In this episode of “Beyond the CANVAS,” we sit down with novelist Margaret Atwood, playwright Danai Gurira, and others to talk about finding meaning as a writer.

“Visionaries of the Arts”
What does it take to make it to the top? We speak to visionaries recognized at the highest levels in their fields. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, filmmaker Sir David Attenborough, and others share what it takes to achieve excellence. 

“Women of Wonder”
“Beyond the CANVAS” honors five trailblazing women in the arts. The legendary Dolly Parton, Julie Andrews, and other creators show us how the road to success wasn’t just one they walked, but one they paved themselves.

“Making the Moment”
What does it mean to deliver “a message with the music”? Sit down with Black musicians who bridge story and sound. The musical ensemble Ranky Tanky, singer Rhiannon Giddens and others share their belief in the power of music to honor the past and inspire the future. 

“Modern Mexico”
We hear from some of Mexico’s most prominent figures, including “Roma” star and activist Yalitza Aparicio and chef Gabriela Cámara. This episode highlights Mexico’s emergence as a global arts center and shares updates on how some of the country’s creative innovators are surviving amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to its broadcast on PBS stations nationwide, the program will stream at pbs.org/newshour and pbs.org; and on the PBS Video App (available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast and Smart TVs).

“Beyond the CANVAS” will also include digital and social coverage in the lead-up to the series, including artist performances and updates on their projects during the pandemic. This content will be published on the CANVAS platform, artscanvas.org.

“Beyond the CANVAS” is produced by PBS NewsHour executive producer Sara Just, former executive-in-charge of production James Blue, senior coordinating producer Anne Azzi Davenport, senior content producer Adam Raney, arts editor Joshua Barajas, associate producer Patrick Smith and News Assistant Tommy Walters; Second Peninsula executive producers Steve Goldbloom and Melissa Williams, producer Lindsay Blatt, project manager Ana Davila; and Amna Nawaz serves as the host, and was a contibutor. Anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff, chief correspondent for arts, culture and society Jeffrey Brown, and national correspondents William Brangham and John Yang also contributed to the reporting for “Beyond the CANVAS.” 

About PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour is a production of NewsHour Productions LLC, a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary of WETA Washington, DC, in association with WNET in New York. Major corporate funding is provided by BNSF, Consumer Cellular, Fidelity, and Johnson & Johnson, with additional support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Lemelson Foundation, National Science Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Skoll Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Friends of the NewsHour and others. More information on PBS NewsHour is available at www.pbs.org/newshour. On social media, visit PBS NewsHour on Facebook or follow @NewsHour on Twitter.

 

Media contact: Sydney Cameron, Publicist, scameron@newshour.org