EFTA00578793.pdf

From: "Gosia Rzepczynska" To: < Subject: BMG Update from the President Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 20:14:22 +0000 Importance: Normal TO: Friends of the British Memorial Garden FROM: Camilla G. Hellman DATE: 24 March 2003 We have all been working for many weeks in different ways to achieve liftoff for the British Memorial Garden (BMG) in New York and I thought this was a good time to update everyone on what has happened so far and what is coming up. March 27th : Date for Landscape Architect Design Selection Starting at 10 AM on Thursday 27 March we shall reach a milestone: that is when a judging panel will select the landscape architect and the designs for the future BMG. This will happen at India House. The six shortlisted architects are all British and extremely distinguished. Three are coming to New York to personally present their ideas: Arne Maynard, Christopher Bradley-Hole and Land Use Consultants. Three others will be available by telephone to answer questions from the panel: Bannermans, Colvin & Moggridge, and the English School of Gardening. Thank You I want to thank you all for helping to bring this about. A lot of effort was necessary to get us to where we are and we can all take pride in what we have achieved. At this stage First, Rodney Johnson has been closely involved in the process and I am very grateful for his advice and input. I also want to note John Kinnear's contribution in helping to identify architects, draw up the brief, advocate with the city and lend his architectural experience. He gave the BMG a professionalism which, in turn, gave it credibility with the architects that responded. BMG Web Site A very attractive web site has been designed and constructed for the Garden. Please see for yourselves at wv.w.britishmemorialgarden.org. For this we are indebted to Mark Beaumont's excellent skills and design sense. The Art Symbol The week of 24 March will also see the brief for the BMG Art Symbol going out to an invited group of well-regarded British artists. Rufus Albemarle and John Kinnear have developed a formidable team : John Elderfield of MoMA, Patrick McCaughey, former director of the Yale Center for British Art, Amy Meyers, Director of the Yale Center for British Art, and Tessa O'Malley, from the National Gallery of Art. Also on this critical committee are Ghislaine Maxwell and Patrick Owens. They also help advise or sit on the judging panel to select the winning submission. Downtown Relations On another front, thanks to a task force headed by Andrew Curtis of India House, we have begun to establish a working relationship with the downtown community, particularly the residents and business owners of Hanover Square. By soliciting the views and opinions of this critical constituency, and the Alliance for Downtown New York, we learned about the issues that are important to them. The project has met with wonderful enthusiasm and it is clear that everybody wants to improve Hanover Square and we have met with so many that are keen to help and work with us. Along with John Kinnear, John Shannon and Gosia Rzepczynska I presented our concept for Hanover Square to Finance Committee of Community Board One. This was a preliminary to many such presentations - I am pleased to report that it was favorably received. April 29th : Launch Rece ttl On April 29th at India House we will launch the British Memorial Garden to a larger audience and I hope you will be able to join us at a special reception that day. We will be mailing details shortly. Galvanizing and Input Please! As we move to step up press and marketing for the BMG we would welcome ideas and help in spreading the word - and beginning our fund raising campaign in earnest. Please let the office know of anyone you feel might like to learn more about the British Memorial Garden. It represents so much and is a chance for us to really do something unique and lasting. EFTA00578793 Much more has happened than is easy to summarize here: countless meetings with the City's Department of Parks & Recreation Department, our friends and allies at the British Consulate-General, with attorneys at Dewey Ballantine, with advisors, friends, and supporters. Thank you all so much. Camilla G. Hellman President of the British Memorial Garden Trust Gosia Rzepczynska Executive Assistant British Memorial Garden Trust EFTA00578794