However, the site also includes more mainstream projects – including a dance piece by soul singer FKA Twigs, external; and a chance to explore John Peel’s vast archive of recorded music, external.
The BBC said: “Licence fee funding has been carefully used to support the development of artists and the cultural sector”.
The Space “includes projects with National Theatre Wales, Northern Ballet Theatre, Barbican Centre, the RSC and Manchester International Festival,” it added.
The Sun also took aim at BBC creative director Alan Yentob, which it described as “the man behind the project” – although he was just one of a number of directors on the project and is no longer involved.
The Space’s mission, according to Arts Council England, is to “develop and commission great art digitally, supporting artists and organisations to make the most of the opportunity that technology affords.
“It looks to increase the reach of existing activity in innovative ways, open up art to new audiences and explore the potential to create new artistic experiences made possible by digital technology”.
In response to the Sun story on Monday, an Arts Council England spokesperson said: “We are spending more of our time online and on digital devices so it’s important our art and culture is available to us in new ways too.
“The Space is a joint project by the BBC and Arts Council England to develop work by arts and cultural organisations and individual artists using digital technology and platforms. The work the Space commissions should have the potential to excite a broad audience but it should also be allowed to take some risks and learn from what works and what doesn’t.”
The pilot project originally launched in 2012, and covered the Cultural Olympics, as well as other art initiatives.
Tony Hall announced last year that the BBC would boost its coverage of the creative arts, calling it the corporation’s “strongest commitment to the arts in a generation”.
As part of that commitment, The Space was relaunched in June 2014.
