Nonprofit Art21 has shared the line-up for the eighth season of its Peabody Award–winning television series, Art in the Twenty-First Century, which will air on PBS this September. The show’s four one-hour episodes, which in previous seasons were organized around different themes (“change,” “balance,” etc.), are now devoted to cities, and the artists who live and work there. The four cities featured in season eight are Chicago, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. Artists include Theaster Gates, Pedro Reyes, Diana Thater, and Jeff Wall. Another change for this season: actress Claire Danes will serve as the series’ host.
“Growing up in a family where art was a part of everyday life, my parents taught me to question the world around me,” Danes said in a statement. “Artists today influence how we see the world, how we express ourselves, and how art can transform society.”
This is the first season of the show overseen by Art21’s new executive director, Tina Kukielski, who took the helm from the organization’s founder, Susan Sollins, who passed away in 2014.
The full schedule and a trailer for season eight are below.
Episode 1: “Chicago”
Friday, September 16 at 9 p.m. ET
Nick Cave, Theaster Gates, Barbara Kasten, Chris Ware
Episode 2: “Mexico City”
Friday, September 16 at 10 p.m. ET
Damián Ortega, Pedro Reyes, Minerva Cuevas, Natalia Almada
Episode 3: “Los Angeles”
Friday, September 23 at 9 p.m. ET
Diana Thater, Liz Larner, Tala Madani, Edgar Arceneaux
Episode 4: “Vancouver”
Friday, September 23 at 10 p.m. ET
Liz Magor, Stan Douglas, Brian Jungen, Jeff Wall