🌅 A Happy Little Auction to Save Public Media

SOURCE

Bonhams

WHAT TO KNOW

• Bob Ross Inc. has donated 30 original works by the eponymous artist that will be auctioned off to raise funds for public broadcasters across the U.S. It’s the largest single offering of original Bob Ross paintings ever brought to market, with 100% of proceeds going to American Public Television and PBS stations nationwide. Bonhams will offer all 30 paintings, starting with the first three works—which could total $150,000—on November 11.

WHY IT MATTERS

• In July, Congress caved to the Trump administration and voted to claw back $1.1 billion in funding previously allocated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)—the first time Congress has refused to fund the CPB in its 57-year history—upending the work of nearly 600 PBS and NPR stations nationwide. The CPB began shutting down operations last month, while PBS has cut 15% of jobs and NPR was forced to cut $5 million in funding for its radio stations.

CONNECT THE DOTS

• Public media in a nutshell: the CPB is a federally funded nonprofit corporation that distributes money to public media stations and networks, like local broadcasters, PBS, and NPR, but does not create or own any content itself. American Public Television, on the other hand, is an independent nonprofit program distributor, which licenses and syndicates shows like Rick Steves’ Europe and America’s Test Kitchen directly to stations that often schedule the shows alongside PBS content.