British Business Embassy
Spoonie by David Clarke
The Crafts Council has curated a showcase of 21 pieces of exceptional contemporary craft at the British Business Embassy for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The British Business Embassy, to be held at Lancaster House, has been developed by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and will provide a world-class creative showcase that will host over 3,000 UK and international business leaders over the course of the Games.
A total of 18 rooms at Lancaster House have been curated to champion sectors such as technology, engineering and the creative industries. A creative panel, chaired by UKTI Business Ambassador Sir John Sorrell and including Ed Vaizey MP, Sir Mark Jones, Iwona Blaswick and Executive Director of the Crafts Council Rosy Greenlees, have selected a number of designers, works and installations that highlight the best of British creativity.
These include one-off commissions, loaned works and full-room displays by creative figures such as Ron Arad, Barber Osgerby, Jason Bruges Studio, Lee Broom, Terence Conran, Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, Ross Lovegrove and Paul Smith.
The Crafts Council’s showcase will be displayed within three locations at Lancaster House and will represent the best in traditional and new techniques, range across disciplines and include new and unexpected materials. As well as loans from individual makers and galleries, the display includes several pieces from the Crafts Council Collection. The showcase will include work by;
• Su Blackwell
• Marloes ten Bhömer
• Carréducker
• David Clarke
• Michael Eden
• Rauni Higson
• Geoffrey Mann
• James Maskrey
• Drummond Masterton
• Gareth Neal
• Grayson Perry
• Lina Peterson
• Wendy Ramshaw
• Nicholas Rena
• Faith Shannon
• Louis Thompson
• Peter Ting
• Adi Toch
• Nina Tolstrup
• James and Tilla Waters
• Donna Wilson
The inclusion of contemporary craft at the British Business Embassy follows the recent installation of eight craft pieces at 10 Downing Street and a year of unprecedented popularity for craft.
Over 400,000 people engaged with Crafts Council activities in 2011 and the V&A partnership exhibition ‘The Power of Making’ (September 2011- January 2012) was the most popular free exhibition ever staged at the V&A.
Quotes
“The Games will ensure the eyes of the world are on London – the world’s creative hub. The British Business Embassy will provide an elegant and exciting environment in which international leaders will come to do business, whilst at the same time showcasing the breadth of our creative industries.” Sir John Sorrell CBE, UKTI Ambassador and chair of British Business Embassy creative panel
“The inclusion of a showcase of contemporary craft at the British Business Embassy highlights how significantly this sector contributes to the creative industries in the UK. We have some of the most talented, ambitious and innovative makers in the world. They are rightfully taking their place alongside designers, artists and architects in what will be a tremendous showcase of unique British creativity.” Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council
Ends
For further information and press images for contemporary craft showcase, please contact Jill Read, Press Officer +44 (0) 20 7806 2549 / media@craftscouncil.org.uk
For further information on the British Business Embassy contact Rosetta Buahin, rosetta.buahin@ukti.gsi.gov.uk or Kirsty Smith kirsty.smith@ukti.gsi.gov.uk at UKTI
Notes to Editors
• The British Business Embassy will be at Lancaster House from the 23 July – 9 September 2012. Admittance by invite only.
• The British Business Embassy at Lancaster House is the centrepiece of UK Trade & Investment’s international business legacy programme during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
• It will play host to 18 global business summits across six weeks providing thought-leadership and panel sessions, networking opportunities and face-to-face meetings for senior British and international decision-makers.
• The programme, which will start on the eve of the Olympic Games, is part of a series of initiatives expected to generate over £11bn of benefit to the UK economy. UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)207 215 8000. For latest press releases, visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media
• The creative panel; Sir John Sorrell CBE, Sir Alan Collins, Caroline Rush, Rosy Greenlees, Ed Vaizey MP, Sir Mark Jones, Penny Johnson, Colin Watson, Sir Paul Smith, Iwona Blaswick, Baron Tony Hall, Prof. Tim Molloy, Christine Losecat and Diana Yakeley.
• The contemporary craft makers included in the showcase; Su Blackwell, Marloes ten Bhömer, Carréducker, David Clarke, Michael Eden, Rauni Higson, Geoffrey Mann, James Maskrey, Drummond Masterton, Gareth Neal, Grayson Perry, Lina Peterson, Wendy Ramshaw, Nicholas Rena, Faith Shannon, Louis Thompson, Peter Ting, Adi Toch, Nina Tolstrup, James and Tilla Waters and Donna Wilson.
About the Crafts Council
• The Crafts Council’s goal is to make the UK the best place to make, see, collect and learn about contemporary craft.
o We believe that craft plays a dynamic and vigorous role in the UK’s social, economic and cultural life.
o We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make, see, collect and learn about craft.
o We believe that the strength of craft lies in its use of traditional and contemporary techniques, ideas and materials to make extraordinary new work.
o We believe that the future of craft lies in nurturing talent; children and young people must be able to learn about craft at school and have access to excellent teaching throughout their education.
• To find out everything you need to know about where to make, see, collect and learn about contemporary craft visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk and follow us on Facebook and Twitter
• The Crafts Council is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
• Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £0.85 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
