Bob Ross work to be auctioned to boost cash for public TV stations after funding cuts

Thirty work created by the bushy-haired, soft-spoken Bob Ross will quickly be up for public sale to defray the prices of programming for small and rural public tv stations struggling underneath cuts in federal funding.

Ross, a public tv stalwart within the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s, “dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone,” stated Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc. “This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.”

The 30 work to be auctioned span his profession. Most have been created on-air throughout single episodes of Ross’ present, “The Joy of Painting.” Ross was identified for his calm demeanor. During the present, he typically spoke about portray blissful little clouds and bushes, and making no errors, solely “happy accidents.” He died of most cancers problems in 1995. 

Bonhams in Los Angeles will public sale three of Ross’ work on Nov. 11. Other auctions will comply with in London, New York, Boston and on-line. Bonhams offered two early Nineteen Nineties mountain-and-lake scenes of Ross in August for $114,800 and $95,750.

The auctions of the 30 work quickly to be offered have an estimated whole worth of $850,000 to $1.4 million, Bonhams stated. All income are pledged to stations that use content material from distributor American Public Television.

The concept is to assist stations in want with licensing charges that permit them to indicate common packages that embrace “The Best of Joy of Painting,” primarily based on Ross’ present, “America’s Test Kitchen,” “Julia Child’s French Chef Classics” and “This Old House.”

As desired by President Donald Trump, Congress has eradicated $1.1 billion allotted to public broadcasting, leaving about 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations to seek out various funding sources. 

Many stations launched emergency fund drives. Some stations have acquired extra assist than they anticipated, CBS News beforehand reported. North Carolina public radio station WQHR raised greater than $200,000 in simply three days, surpassing the $174,000 they wanted to fill. Hawaii Public Radio misplaced $525,000, however donations raised $650,000.

NPR has additionally inspired donors in wealthier areas to assist stations in areas which might be in larger want. PBS and NPR have additionally labored to cut back the annual dues stations pay for programming and different providers to decrease their prices. Some stations are engaged on collaborations to see if they will share providers and cut back prices. 

Still, the federal cuts have had an affect. Not all stations have seen an outpouring of donors. PBS slashed its price range by 21% and laid off about 100 staff in September. Stations have additionally needed to lay off workers and cut back programming, CBS News beforehand reported. No stations have shut down but, however operators are apprehensive about what occurs if donor cash dries up. 

“I am a realist,” PBS president Paula Kerger stated in September. “I have to believe that there are some vulnerable stations that are not going to make it.”

National Public Radio president and CEO Katherine Maher instructed CBS News in July that defunding public media providers “is a real risk to the public safety of the country.” 

“Public media, public radio, public television, are a critical part of the emergency response plans of nearly half of the states in this nation,” Maher stated in an interview with CBS News. “If these types of emergency alerting go away, you will have fewer outlets to be able to respond in real time” to future pure disasters.