This week, Arena features American photographer Paul Strand , the subject of an important new exhibition at the National Portrait. Gallery opening on 30 January, and a short season of films at the NFT.
Strand is now considered by many as one of the major artists of the 20th century and his work has done much to establish photography as one of the fine arts. The programme also looks at some recent trends in British photography : the move away from photo-journalism towards a more independent and personal approach, and towards a new kind of social commitment focussed on the community.

An increasing number of visual artists, reacting to the gap which divides them from the mainstream of ordinary life, have abandoned their ivory towers to work more directly with people.
This week Arena looks at aspects of community art and includes a film on the work of painter Keith Grant , ' artist-in-residence ' at the New Charing Cross Hospital.