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Contact: Joan Brower
The Dilenschneider Group
Phone: (212) 922-0900
E-Mail: jbrower@dgi-nyc.com

Friday, May 23, 2014

 

“What’s New” August & September 2014

 

A stimulating cultural season awaits visitors to the capital, offering a thrilling new assortment of world-class attractions and exhibitions, music and dance events, exciting new theatre, and much more.  Please read on for our highlights.
 
For more on what’s new in London, go to visitlondon.com.
 
You can also follow the London & Partners Media and Public Relations team for more London news at @London_PR.
 
Attractions and Exhibitions
 
Constable: The Making of a Master
V&A, 20 September 2014 – 11 January 2015
This exhibition will reveal the hidden stories of how Constable created some of his most loved and well-known paintings. It will present Constable’s work for the first time alongside the old masters of classical landscape such as Ruisdael and Claude whose compositional ideas and formal values he revered and studied in great depth. The exhibition will also examine Constable’s collection of over 5000 etchings, a vital resource for his own image making, as well as the mezzotints of his paintings made in the last decade of his life to secure his lasting legacy. For more information contact V&A Press Office on 0207 942 2502 / press.office@vam.ac.uk.
 
Information Age
Science Museum, opening September 2014
The Science Museum’s new £15.6m permanent gallery will use sophisticated interactive displays and engaging participative experiences to reveal personal stories about how our lives have been transformed by communication innovations over the last 200 years. The gallery will occupy the largest exhibition space in the Museum, and will feature hundreds of unique objects from the Science Museum’s world-class collections, many of which have never been seen before. For more information contact the press team on 020 7942 4353 / pressoffice@sciencemuseum.org.uk 
 
Horst: Photographer of Style
6 September 2014 – 4 January 2015
This autumn, the V&A will present the definitive retrospective exhibition of the work of master photographer Horst P. Horst (1906-1999) – one of the leading photographers of the 20th century. Horst: Photographer of Style will display 250 photographs, alongside haute couture garments, magazines, film footage and ephemera. The exhibition explores Horst’s collaborations and friendships with leading couturiers such as Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli in Paris; stars including Marlene Dietrich and Noël Coward; and artists and designers such as Salvador Dalí and Jean-Michel Frank. For more information, contact Julie Chan on 020 7942 2701 / j.chan@vam.ac.uk
 
Ming: 50 years that changed China
British Museum, 18 September 2014 – 5 January 2015
Extraordinarily beautiful and rare loans tell the story of a critical period in Chinese history (1400 – 1450) when China became a global superpower. The exhibition will include rare loans of some of the finest objects ever made in China, shedding light on this important part of world history that is little known in Europe. Loans will be coming from 10 Chinese institutions and 21 international lenders. For more information contact the Press Office on 020 7323 8583 /communications@britishmuseum.org
 
For Kids and Families
 
Kids Week
Various London Theatres, throughout August 2014
The annual London theatre initiative Kids Week returns once again for the whole month of August. Now in its 17th year and run by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), Kids Week encourages young people to experience the magic of live theatre. During Kids Week one child aged 16 or under can go free to more than 30 participating shows when accompanied by an adult paying full price, and up to two extra children can go for half price.  Children can also take part in a fantastic range of free activities and events on stage and backstage at many of the West End’s iconic venues, often with the cast and crew of the resident shows. For more information contact Anthony McNeill on Society of London Theatre 020 7557 6727 /Anthony@soltukt.co.uk 
 
Family fun at Chelsea Physic Garden
Throughout August 2014
London’s oldest outdoor classroom has a variety of family activity days this August to entertain and engage your children during the summer holidays. Highlights include a range of interactive sessions such as garden photography, the animal world, forensic biology, an art safari, craft workshops with chocolate, herbal lotions & potions and much more. For more information contact Lynn Scrivener on 0207 349 6472  lscrivener@chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
 
Events
 
Prudential RideLondon
9 – 10 August 2014
The mass-participation cycling event is back in London in 2014 after a brilliantly successful first year. The two-day cycling festival will allow families and amateur riders to take part, as well as attracting the world’s best elite cyclists. There will be fun rides for cyclists of all ages and abilities who want to enjoy the fun of cycling in a traffic-free environment. The route will pass many of Central London’s famous landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. The 100 mile race will appeal to the world’s top elite cyclists and amateur cyclists alike, starting at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, taking in roads in London and Surrey and finishing in Central London. For more information contact Penny Dain /pennyd@ridelondon.com.uk
 
Totally Thames 2014
Across London, 1 – 30 September 2014
Throughout September, Totally Thames festival will celebrate the River Thames with a 30-day programme of river-inspired events. These will include arts, music and community festivals, colourful regattas, river rallies and races, foreshore archaeology, exploration, environmental and educational activities, not to mention plenty of opportunities to walk and eat beside the river. Totally Thames events to look forward to this year include: The Mayor’s Thames Festival throughout September, Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival (5-9), Handel’s Fireworks Music and Illuminations at Hampton Court Palace (14 Sept) and many more. For more information contact Una Devine on 020 7928 8998 / una@unadevine.com
London Design Festival 2014
Across London, 3 – 21 September 2014
See the latest in design trends during the 12th London Design Festival at venues across the capital. Leading the way in innovation, this festival celebrates the best creative talents with over 300 events and exhibitions covering a broad spectrum of design innovation. Events can be found everywhere from the Victoria and Albert Museum to small local studios, with a select few taking place at some iconic London landmarks. Always highly original, design enthusiasts should brace themselves for some thought-provoking works in the most unexpected of places. For more information contact Camron PR on 020 7420 1700 / ldfteam@camronpr.com
 
Falmouth-Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta 2014
Queen’s Wharf, 5 – 9 September 2014
The annual event, which is led by STI, the international voice of Sail Training, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the globe. It will see around fifty of the world’s most spectacular Tall Ships berthed and open to the public in the historic Queen’s Wharf in Falmouth Docks. From there the race is on, with the Tall Ships setting sail and navigating a series of waypoints to a finish line off the Isle of Wight. The final leg of the journey sees them cruise into Royal Greenwich, where they will be stationed between 5-9 September, marking the first time in 25 years that London has played host to a major International Tall Ships Regatta. For more information contact Stephanie Basten on 020 8921 8458 / stephanie.basten@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Merge Festival
Bankside, 18 September – 19 October 2014
The annual arts, music and performance festival draws upon the contemporary culture and rich heritage of London’s Bankside. A programme of exhibitions, interactive installations and live performances will take place in unusual venues throughout the area. For more contact Lisa Henshaw on 020 7403 4411  lisa@fourthday.co.uk
Vodafone London Fashion Weekend
Somerset House, 18 – 21 September 2014
Vodafone London Fashion Weekend follows London Fashion Week, which is one of the “big four” fashion trade shows in the world. London Fashion Weekend is a fashionista extravaganza, letting everyone in on this fabulous world. Somerset House is transformed into an exclusive fashion experience, brimming with designer catwalk shows, pop-up shops, hair and beauty, and educational panels. Fashion lovers can get their seasonal wardrobe fix from designer brands including Issa London, French Sole and Linda Farrow. For more information contact Chloe Fosbrook on 0207 886 3006 / chloe@single-market.co.uk
 
London Literature Festival
Southbank Centre, 30 September – 3 October 2014
London Literature Festival, now in its eighth year, will take place in the autumn. It will feature the world’s best writers, poets, performers and thinkers, and celebrate some of the best new writing – including reading from both the Forward Prizes for Poetry and the Man Booker Prize. For more information contact Rachel Dakin on 020 7921 0604 / rachel.dakin@southbankcentre.co.uk
Theatre, Dance & Film
 
To Kill a Mockingbird
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, 28 August – 13 September 2014
The 2013 production of To Kill a Mockingbird will return to the venue in 2014. Concluding next year’s season, the production will then embark on a UK tour. For more information contact Chloe Pritchard-Gordon on 020 7831 7657 /Chloe@thecornershoppr.com
Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House
7 – 20 August 2014
Celebrating ten years of cinema under the stars, Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House is back. For 14 nights, classic, cult, contemporary and never-seen-before films will feature on London’s largest screen with full surround sound in the spectacular neoclassical setting of Somerset House. As the sun sets, live DJs will spin a soundtrack inspired by the upcoming film and cinema-goers can chill out in the courtyard with picnics and drinks. Selected screenings will also be specially introduced by the film’s stars and directors.  With an array of anniversary events from industry insider talks to a film poster exhibition, Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House is one of the UK’s favourite summer cinema experiences. For more information contact Stephanie Lilley on 020 7845 4638 /press@somersethouse.org.uk
Northern Light Season
Sadler’s Wells, autumn 2014
Dance enthusiasts can enjoy a celebration of Nordic dance culture this Autumn with a season of six works across the main stage of Sadler’s Wells and Lilian Baylis Studio, as well as off-site. Northern Light showcases dance created by established and emerging contemporary artists from Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark and Norway. Highlights include The Artificial Nature Project (18 and 19 September) with dance artist
Mette Ingvartsen in a new partnership with the Platform Theatre at Central St Martins, and also the Royal Swedish Ballet’s new adaptation of Juliet & Romeo (24 – 27 September)
For more information contact Caroline Ansdell on 020 7863 8125 /caroline.ansdell@sadlerswells.com
 
About London & Partners
London & Partners is the official promotional organisation for London attracting and delivering value to businesses, students and visitors. London & Partners is a not-for-profit public private partnership, funded by the Mayor of London and our network of commercial partners. Our remit is to drive leisure and business visitors as well as bidding to secure major events in London, we can unlock the city for overseas businesses who want to set up or expand in London and we promote the capital’s world class universities to international students.
For more information visit www.londonandpartners.com
 
Media Enquiries:
London & Partners Media & PR Team
Twitter: @London_PR
Joan Brower / Mary Frances Duffy
The Dilenschneider Group

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Maralyn D. Hill

Maralyn D. Hill

Maralyn D. Hill, M.Ed.,  The Epicurean Explorer

Executive Editor, LuxeBeatMag.com

Freelance Lifestyle Journalist

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