In its eighth year, The London Design Festival is firmly established as a major cultural and commercial event. Last year London hosted a rich mix of over 200 commissioned installations and exhibitions plus over 150 launches, private views and parties, cementing its reputation as the design capital of the world.
The 2010 Festival promises an even greater diversity of activity taking place across the capital – from the Festival hub at the V&A to spaces across the city filled with design from partners across the UK and around the world.
Speaking at the press conference to launch the 2010 Festival programme, Ben Evans, Festival Director outlined some of the major highlights of the Festival, saying: “This year our focus is even more on new ideas with major commissions at the V&A, Trafalgar Square, and at Southbank Centre. However, most of the Festival is made up of the 200 plus partner events that is rich with new work; that network gets stronger with many new partners and projects adding to the mix. Importantly this includes activities from all over the world.”
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London says: “London is a major centre of design, ideas and innovation, home to some of the most renowned arts and design educational institutes in the world as well onethird of all the UK design businesses. The London Design Festival offers an outstanding showcase of some of most exciting design anywhere in the world. Amidst international competition and as we move out of the downturn, it is
imperative we continue to support design and celebrate its importance to our city.”
The London Design Festival is a key constituent of London’s creative season alongside London Fashion Week, Frieze Art Fair and the London Film Festival. Established in 2003 its role is to celebrate and promote London as the creative capital of the world and gateway to the UK’s worldclass creative community.
The Festival continues to enjoy support from and the opportunity to work with a wide variety of individuals and organisations; in particular it receives valuable contributions from organisations as varied as The American Hardwood Export Council, Andaz Liverpool Street, Arup, Audi, Benchmark, Bischoff Glastechnik, Carrenza, Event Concept, Formtexx, The Hospital Club, HSBC Private Bank, John Jones, Kvadrat, Pentagram, Raw Nerve, Sefar, Southbank Centre, UK Trade & Investment, V&A and Veuve Clicquot.
The Festival recorded visitors from over 50 different countries visiting the UK specifically to attend the Festival. The London Design Festival also receives support from Arts Council England, London, having become a Regularly Funded Organisation in 2009. Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, it supports a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves, and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2008 and 2011, Arts Council England will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.