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BAFTA unveils bespoke art installation at event to thank donors who supported the redevelopment of BAFTA 195 Piccadilly

Designed by upcoming artist, Maya Simms, the installation will be permanently displayed in 195 Piccadilly and features the names of those who supported the arts charity’s redevelopment project


WEBWIRE
BAFTA/Hannah Taylor
BAFTA/Hannah Taylor
  • 195 Piccadilly will allow BAFTA to dramatically expand its learning and new talent development programme
  • Barbara Broccoli CBE, Martin Freeman, Joanna Scanlon, Susan Wokoma, Gemma Whelan, Kit Connor, Will Gao, Luke Thompson, Dexter Fletcher and Sandy Powell OBE were among the guests at the event
  • Photography from the night will be available here and from REX/Shutterstock


As part of its 75th anniversary, BAFTA hosted an evening celebration at its redeveloped headquarters at 195 Piccadilly (Wednesday 18 May) to thank patrons and supporters of the arts charity’s redevelopment campaign. 

The event was attended by stars of film, games and television, including Abubakar Salim, Barbara Broccoli CBE, Daryl McCormack, Denise Gough, Dexter Fletcher, Elle Osili-Wood, Fiona Button, Gemma Whelan, Harry Trevaldwyn, Isabella Sermon, Jane Perry, Joanna Scanlon, Jo Hartley, Kit Connor, Lauren Lyle, Luke Thompson, Mark Strong, Martin Freeman, Molly Windsor, Paul Greengrass, Pearl Mackie, Pearl Mackie, Ray Panthaki, Sandy Powell OBE, Susan Wokoma and Will Gao.

The redeveloped 195 Piccadilly will enable BAFTA to significantly increase its year-round programme of initiatives to support people building careers in film, games, and television.

BAFTA is a leading arts charity that is supported by individual donations, trusts, foundations, corporate partnerships and membership subscriptions. The redevelopment of 195 Piccadilly has doubled the building’s capacity, improved accessibility and created an entire floor devoted to BAFTA’s learning and new talent programmes as well as providing state of the art technology throughout.

BAFTA works with children as young as seven through to established talent, delivering a range of initiatives and mentoring designed to tackle the barriers that can make it hard for talented individuals to build careers in the screen industries. These include BAFTA Children and Young People’s activity such as BAFTA Young Game Designers as well as BAFTA Scholarships, BAFTA Breakthrough and BAFTA’s new career development bursary fund.

Amanda Berry OBE, BAFTA Chief Executive said: [i"We are delighted to be able to finally celebrate and thank in person those who have made significant contributions to the redevelopment of BAFTA’s home and headquarters. The new 195 Piccadilly is a vital investment in the creative future of film, games and television giving BAFTA the increased capacity and technology to expand our learning and talent development programmes, and we are so grateful for the generosity of the wide range of funders who have made this possible.”[/i]

Highlights of the evening included a make-up transformation by Makeup Artist and BAFTA Crew member Diana Estrada Hudson (Bridgerton, Wonka). BAFTA’s Young Presenters Braydon Bent and Gracie Gosling interviewed guests, BAFTA Young Game Designers Rose Brooksby-Conroy, Sam Szasz and Viktor Abagain were on hand to demonstrate winning games and a selection of winning films from the BAFTA Student Awards were screened in the Run Run Shaw Theatre.

In addition, to acknowledge and celebrate the supporters of the redevelopment, BAFTA unveiled a bespoke art installation designed by 21-year-old Maya Simms. The design, which draws inspiration from Maya’s own heritage and the people who will use and share BAFTA’s new creative hub, combines abstract forms, stained glass and mirror to offer a moment for reflection and celebration. 

Maya Simms, Student at the Slade School of Fine Art said: “I wanted to create a piece of artwork that would reflect the diversity of the people coming into the BAFTA headquarters, framed and divided, as if an Art Deco style stained-glass window, into abstract representations of diverse faces. Thus, reflecting the visitors within the fabric of the BAFTA building, as well as framing them within the whole context of the act of encouraging diversity.

I wanted the donors’ names to be distributed around the artwork, surrounding and radiating from the central design. Their names, etched onto mirrored shards, encompass the design and reflect the viewer, as the donors are instrumental to the redevelopment of 195 Piccadilly.

For a young artist, an opportunity like this is undeniably momentous. The prospect of an enriching experience in the professional creative field, the exposure of my work to such a large audience and the artistic freedom presented in the competition, excited me greatly.”

See the full list of 195 Piccadilly redevelopment supporters here and thanks to our Official Suppliers. Find out more about BAFTA’s redevelopment campaign here. The architects for the redevelopment are Benedetti Architects.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Maya Simms: View more of Maya Simms work and portfolio here
BAFTA YGD: YGD games showcased on the night included Thoughtless (Winner: 15-18 years game making) category 2021 by Sam Szasz and Welcome Looming (Finalists: 15-18 years game making category) 2021 by Rose Brooksby-Conroy and Viktor Abagain.


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