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Press Releases (2004) December 10, 2004 “TWILIGHT IN THE GARDEN” A GALA CELEBRATION FOR THE BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN TRUST FEBRUARY 5, 2005 The Directors of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. are delighted to announce plans for “Twilight in the Garden,” a Gala celebration, on Wednesday February 9, 2005 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. The proceeds of this major fundraising event will go towards building the new garden at Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan. The Gala’s honorees will be Maurice R. Greenberg, Chairman and CEO of American International Group (AIG) and Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge, incoming Chairman of VisitBritain. The British Memorial Garden Trust is recognizing Mr. Greenberg and Lord Marshall for their contributions to international relations and transatlantic unity. The garden, which is a gift to the City and people of New York, will honor the 67 British victims of the World Trade Center attacks while also celebrating the unity and friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom. In a recent article in London’s The Observer, the British Memorial Garden project was cited as being integral to the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan and “Wall Street’s new motto: reflect, remember, rebuild.” The garden, which will be located at Hanover Square, has been designed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman as a unique blend of a traditional 17th century topiary garden and modern landscape elements. The project will transform one of New York’s most historic squares into a green space, helping in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. The British Memorial Garden sculpture to Unity by British artist Anish Kapoor will anchor the new park. Under the auspices of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc., which has the Royal patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales, a fund-raising campaign has been launched to build and support this important international initiative. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. Tickets for the event can be obtained by calling Rachel on 212 682-7945. November 11, 2004 BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN TRUST TO HOLD VICTORIAN CELEBRATION IN HANOVER SQUARE Holiday Festivities for the Lower Manhattan Community On December 1 The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is holding a Victorian Celebration at Hanover Square on December 1 at 6:00 p.m. The event, designed for the Lower Manhattan community, will include a tree lighting by actor Jim Dale and Christmas carols led by the Parish of Trinity Church Choir. The event is free. Along with the outdoor activities, the British Memorial Garden Trust is offering an indoor Victorian Celebration at India House Club, 1 Hanover Square. This event, which is being held from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., will feature more caroling from the Trinity Church Choir, a silent auction and a variety of holiday treats. The tickets for the indoor activities are $45.00 and can be obtained by calling 212 682-7945. The garden, which will be located at Hanover Square, is being designed by landscape architects Isabel and Julian Bannerman as a unique blend of a traditional 17th century topiary garden and modern landscape elements. The project will transform one of New York’s most historic squares into a green space, helping in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. The garden will both honor the memory of the 67 British victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center and celebrate the historic unity and friendship linking the United States and the United Kingdom. A sculpture – by British artist Anish Kapoor – symbolizing that unity will also grace the park. In an article in London’s The Observer, the project was cited as being integral to the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan and “Wall Street’s new motto: reflect, remember, rebuild.” The garden is a gift from the British community and its Anglo-American friends to the City of New York. It is intended to serve as a place of remembrance, contemplation and recreation for the community. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc., together with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is developing the garden. The original idea for the garden was conceived by Camilla G. Hellman, who also is President of the British Memorial Garden Trust. Her fellow Directors are HM Consul Patrick E. Owens, OBE and Rodney N.M. Johnson, MB. Under the auspices of the Friends of the British Memorial Garden at Hanover Square, a fund-raising campaign has been launched in support of the establishment and maintenance of this important project. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with oversight by the British Consulate-General and the St. George’s Society of New York. On October 15, 2003 the Directors were proud to announce that HRH The Prince of Wales has graciously agreed to become Royal Patron of the British Memorial Garden Trust, further reflecting the international importance of the initiative. September 13, 2004 LOTHIAN POLICE, PROTECT THE PROTECTORS PRESENT BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN TRUST, INC. WITH MAJOR DONATIONS FOR A NEW PARK FOR NEW YORK CITY Two British police charitable organizations have made substantial contributions to the British Memorial Garden Trust – the Lothian and Borders (Scotland) Police Service and Protect the Protectors, a British national police service group. The Lothian and Borders Police made a donation of over $46,000 to the New York-based British Memorial Garden Trust, while Protect the Protectors gave the garden project $25,000. “We are extremely grateful for these generous donations from the British police service,” said British Memorial Garden Trust President Camilla G. Hellman. “To have their active support of the garden project means a great deal to all of us involved.” The British Memorial Garden Trust was formed in 2003 to build a new City park at Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan. The mission of the British Memorial Garden Trust is two-fold: to create a truly British garden to commemorate the 67 Britons who died in the World Trade Center attacks; and create a park dedicated to the friendship and unity between the United States and the United Kingdom. A UK branch of the charity was launched in April 2004. The new garden at Hanover Square will be built to a design by British landscape architects Julian and Isabel Bannerman with New York associate landscape architects, Matthews Nielsen. The garden will feature elements of British landscape architecture including topiaries, yew trees and boxwood hedges – it will be a traditional garden with a contemporary twist. Stone from Scotland will form the paving, a water rill will feature Welsh slate and benches of Portland stone will be placed throughout the garden. The 67 British victims of the terrorist attacks will be memorialized in iron railing finials carved by British artist Simon Verity. The park will be anchored by a sculpture to Unity by British sculptor Anish Kapoor, the 1991 Turner Prize winner. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 charity. The British Memorial Garden Hanover Square has received the approval of the New York Department of Parks & Recreation and the Art Commission. Pre-construction of quarrying of stone began in June with site construction scheduled for March, 2005. August 12, 2004  BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN TRUST, INC. TO PRESENT FREE CONCERT IN HANOVER SQUARE SEPTEMBER 11, 2004 "North American Welsh Choir" to perform, Honor Guard from British Police Service The Directors of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. are pleased to announce that the renowned North American Welsh Choir – or Côr Cymry Gogledd America – will perform a free commemorative concert on Saturday, September 11, 2004 at 12:30 pm. During the concert an Honor Guard of 67 British police officers from the British organization “Protect the Protectors” will be in attendance; one police officer for each British victim of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The British police officers will stand at attention along the site of the future Memorial railing the garden will feature. The concert will be held in Hanover Square, Lower Manhattan, one of New York’s most historic squares and future home of a British garden commemorating the British victims of the World Trade Center attacks and celebrating the friendship and unity between the United States and the United Kingdom. The concert is part of the British Memorial Garden Trust’s ongoing free community outreach program, designed to bring cultural and educational activities to Lower Manhattan to help in its revitalization. The North American Welsh Choir was founded in 1998 by Mari Morgan, and features choristers from 24 states and three Canadian provinces. They included descendants of Welsh immigrants and those who feel connected to the music and the community that is Côr Cymry Gogledd America. The choir honors its Welsh roots by presenting both old and new favorites by traditional and modern Welsh composers. The new garden at Hanover Square will be built to a design by British landscape architects Julian and Isabel Bannerman with New York associate landscape architects, Matthews Nielsen. The garden will feature elements of British landscape architecture including topiaries, yew trees and boxwood hedges – a traditional garden with a contemporary twist. Stone from Scotland will form the paving, a water rill will feature Welsh slate and benches of Portland stone will be placed throughout the garden. The 67 British victims of the terrorist attacks will be memorialized in iron railing finials carved by British artist Simon Verity. The park will be anchored by a sculpture to Unity by British sculptor Anish Kapoor, the 1991 Turner Prize winner. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 charity. The British Memorial Garden Hanover Square has received the approval of the New York Department of Parks & Recreation and the Art Commission. Pre-construction of quarrying of stone began in June with site construction scheduled for March, 2005. June 7, 2004  FREE CONCERT BY BRITISH ROYAL MARINES BAND JULY 2 2004 at 12:30 AT HANOVER SQUARE, PRESENTED BY THE BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN TRUST Military Music Concert for Lower Manhattan Community The Directors of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. are pleased to announce that the world renowned British Royal Marines Band will play a free concert on Friday July 2, 2004 at 12:30 p.m. Founded 101 years ago, the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines is a British military institution and naval tradition, known around the world. The band will be playing a selection of music representative of the four countries of Great Britain: England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The band is from the Britannia Royal Naval College and is directed by Captain Michael Dowrick of the Royal Marines. The band is arriving as part of the fleet accompanying HMS Invincible. The concert will be held in Hanover Square, Lower Manhattan, one of New York’s most historic squares and future home of a British garden commemorating the British victims of the World Trade Center attacks and celebrating the friendship and history between the United States and the United Kingdom. The new garden at Hanover Square will be built to a design by British landscape architects Julian and Isabel Bannerman with New York associate landscape architects, Matthews Nielsen. The garden will feature elements of British landscape architecture including topiaries, yew trees and boxwood hedges – a traditional garden with a contemporary twist. Stone from Scotland will form the paving, a water rill will feature Welsh slate and benches of Portland stone will be placed throughout the garden. The 67 British victims of the terrorist attacks will be memorialized in iron railing finials carved by British artist Simon Verity. The park will be anchored by a sculpture to Unity by British sculptor Anish Kapoor, the 1991 Turner Prize winner. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 charity. The British Memorial Garden Hanover Square has received the approval of the New York Department of Parks & Recreation and the Art Commission. Pre-construction of quarrying of stone begins in June with site construction scheduled for March 2005. April 19, 2004 LAUNCH OF £3 MILLION UK APPEAL FOR THE BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN, NEW YORK London, April 19, 2004: The British Memorial Garden Trust UK Ltd is, today, launching a UK-wide appeal to help in raising the £3million (approx. $5.5 million) for the British Memorial Garden, Hanover Square, New York. The trust’s patrons include former Secretaries General of NATO Lord Carrington and Lord Robertson, the US Ambassador to Britain William Farish and the former British Ambassador to the US Sir Christopher Meyer.  From left: Edward Garnier MP (Harborough); Gisela Stuart MP (Birmingham Edgebaston); David Tredinnick MP; Camilla G Hellman, President of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc.; Calum McDonald MP (Western Isles) Honorary Director; Mrs Martin McLaren honorary director of the British Memorial Garden Trust UK Ltd., and Katherine Astor, co-Chairman and Director Speaking as a director of the UK-based charity David Tredinnick MP said: “I would encourage every British citizen to support the British Memorial Garden as a wonderful international celebration. It will make a uniquely British contribution to the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan with a garden unlike any other in the city, and form a very special place of recreation and reflection. “In launching this UK appeal, I would compliment the excellent work of the New York-based British Memorial Garden Trust Inc which was launched a year ago and has secured support across all New York City agencies. Not only is it a tireless fundraiser – which should prompt us to dig deep – it has managed to secure all approvals in unprecedented time and construction will start later in autumn.” Just a few blocks from Ground Zero, the British Memorial Garden will be built to a concept by Isabel and Julian Bannerman who created HRH The Prince of Wales’ garden at Highgrove. It will incorporate elements of topiary, classic stone benches and natural materials from many parts of the UK plus a specially commissioned sculpture by the 1991 Turner prize winner, Anish Kapoor. The garden has attracted the support of many leading New Yorkers, members of the British Royal family, MPs, diplomats and thought leaders on both sides of the Atlantic. April 19, 2004 BRITISH FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO BENEFIT BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN TRUST IN BUILDING NEW PARK FOR NEW YORK UK Arm of Charity to Help Build British Garden Celebrating Unity of United Kingdom and United States The Directors of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. are pleased to announce the formation of the British Memorial Garden Trust UK, Ltd., a London-based charity created to raise funds in the United Kingdom toward the building of the new park planned for Lower Manhattan’s Hanover Square. The new UK-wide appeal calls for help in raising the $5.5 million needed to build the garden, erect a memorial sculpture and maintain the park. The garden will not only celebrate the unity of the two nations, it will also serve as a commemorative to the 67 British nationals who lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center. “We are delighted about the launch of the British Memorial Garden Trust UK, Ltd.,” said Camilla G. Hellman, President of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. in New York. “It is further evidence of the international importance of this effort and of the spirit of friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom. We are deeply grateful for their efforts on our behalf.” The British charity has Katherine Astor and Member of Parliament David Tredinnick as co-directors with Ms. Hellman. Mr. Tredinnick said, “I would encourage every British citizen to support the British Memorial Garden as a wonderful international celebration. It will make a uniquely British contribution to the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan.” Over 100 Members of Parliament have signed a Motion in support of the garden project. The British Trust’s patrons include former Secretaries General of NATO Lord Carrington and Lord Robertson, the US Ambassador to Britain, William Farish, and the former British Ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer. The new park at Hanover Square will be built to a design by British landscape architects Julian and Isabel Bannerman and will be anchored by a sculpture to unity by 1991 Turner Prize winner British sculptor Anish Kapoor. The garden will feature elements of British landscape architecture such as topiaries, yew trees and boxwood hedges. Stone and other materials used to build the garden footbed, water rill and benches will come from all over the United Kingdom. The 67 British victims of the terrorist attacks will be memorialized in gilt stone railing finials carved by British artist Simon Verity. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 charity and has received full regulatory approval from the New York Department of Parks & Recreation and the Arts Commission. It is overseen by the British Consulate-General and the St. George’s Society of New York. In October 2003, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales become the organization’s Royal Patron. April 1, 2004 BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN TRUST ANNOUNCES ANISH KAPOOR AS WINNER OF SCULPTURE COMPETITION: WILL CREATE MONUMENT FOR NEW GARDEN AT HANOVER SQUARE Sculpture to the Unity of US and UK to anchor new park for New York City The Directors of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. have announced that renowned British sculptor Anish Kapoor has been named the winner of a juried competition to create a monument to Unity for a new park at Hanover Square. Twelve of Britain’s most critically acclaimed artists submitted designs for the invitation-only competition which was held last summer in New York. Kapoor’s design was selected by a jury of art historians, members of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and other experts. The piece will serve as the anchor for the garden, complementing the overall design of the space. The 19.5’ high sculpture will be carved from a massive block of pure black granite. It will sit at the southern end of the park where it will serve as a focal point for Remembrance Day and other observances for the British and Commonwealth community. 
The details of the sculpture are described in a statement from Anish Kapoor: “The proposed memorial is for an object roughly 6 meters high by 2.5 meters wide by 1.5 meters deep. It is a block of black granite into which a vertical chamber is carved of approximately 1 meter by 2.5 meters by 80 centimeters in depth. The inner chamber is polished to give a mirrored surface. The chamber reflects light so as to form a column, which hovers, ghost-like, in the void of the stone. This very physically monolithic object then appears to create within itself an ephemeral reflection akin to an eternal flame.” Born in Bombay in 1954, Anish Kapoor is among the most prominent figures in British sculpture. His award-winning work has been exhibited around the world since the 1970s when he first moved to London to study art at Hornsey College and the Chelsea School of Art Design. In 1990 Mr. Kapoor represented Great Britain at the Venice Biennale where he was awarded the Premio Duemil by an international jury. In 1991, he won the coveted Turner Prize. He was elected Royal Academician in 1999, and in 2003, HM Queen Elizabeth II named Anish Kapoor a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). Anish Kapoor’s work combines the spiritual traditions of India with Western art concepts. Mr. Kapoor has worked in such diverse materials as stone, steel, glass and pigment. His sculptures and forms have been exhibited at one person exhibitions all over the world and he is represented in such public collections as Reina Sofia, Madrid; the Tate Gallery, London; Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; Tel Aviv Museum of Art; Samsung Museum, South Korea; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and; Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. The Unity sculpture for the British Memorial Garden Trust will be one of Anish Kapoor’s first large-scale public art works in the United States. The sculptural artwork will serve as the centerpiece of the British Memorial Garden at Hanover Square, complementing the overall design of the garden. The judging committee was comprised of: Rodney N. M. Johnson, MBE, President, St. George's Society of New York, Chairman of Jury, Sculpture Committee The Earl of Albemarle, Director, Rufus Albemarle Ltd Abigail Asher, Guggenheim Asher Associates Annette Blaugrund, Director, National Academy of Design Michael Bolger, Manhattan Team Leader, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation William Castro, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Claire Dudley, Designer, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Judy Duffy, City of New York, Community Board No. 1, Manhattan John Elderfield, Museum of Modern Art Paul Ersboll, Senior Project Manager, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Camilla G. Hellman, President, British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. Richard T. Kennedy, Vice Chairman, City of New York, Community Board No. 1, Manhattan Jonathan Kuhn, Director of Arts and Antiquities, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation John Kinnear, A.I.A. Architect Daniella Luxembourg, Phillips Gallery Patrick McCaughey Amy Meyers, Director, Yale Center for British Art Therese O’Malley, Associate Dean, Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, The National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Ghislaine Maxwell Patrick Owens, OBE, Consul, British Consulate General Margaret Asaro Peeler, Manhattan Deputy Chief of Operations, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Rev. Thomas F. Pike, Rector, Calvary/St George’s Church Elizabeth Swig, Docent, Whitney Museum; Directors Council, Guggenheim Museum In an article in London’s The Observer, the British Memorial Garden Trust’s project was cited as being integral to the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan and “Wall Street’s new motto: Reflect, Remember, Rebuild.” The garden is a gift from the British community in New York and its Anglo-American friends to the City of New York. It is intended to serve as a place of remembrance, contemplation and recreation for the community. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc., together with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is developing the garden. The original idea for the garden was conceived by Camilla G. Hellman, who is also President of the British Memorial Garden Trust. Her fellow Directors are HM Consul Patrick E. Owens, OBE and Rodney N.M. Johnson, MBE. Under the auspices of the Friends of the British Memorial Garden at Hanover Square, a $3.5 million fund-raising campaign has been launched in support of the establishment and maintenance of this important project. The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization with oversight from the British Consulate-General and the St. George’s Society of New York. On October 15, 2003, the Directors were proud to announce that HRH The Prince of Wales has graciously agreed to become Royal Patron of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. further reflecting the international importance of the initiative. Photographs available upon request. March 4, 2004 AN UPDATE FROM CAMILLA HELLMAN News from the President of the British Memorial Garden New York It is just 17 months ago that I first approached the executive committee of the St. George’s Society and proposed the idea of a garden – a garden that would be a gift to the city honoring the 67 British victims of the World Trade Center disaster whilst also showing the strength and unity of two nations that have gone through so much together. I then spoke with Sir Thomas Harris, HM British Consul-General in New York, whose help and support have been untiring. From there I went on to meet with Commissioner William T. Castro in June 2002, who felt that the next step was to “walk spaces” and so, with the Parks Department, I did just that. When I walked into Hanover Square –I could imagine a truly wonderful garden where one could sit and feel calm and renewal. I had no idea that I was sitting in one of the most historic squares in New York with strong links to Britain; now I understand why it felt so right… The garden needed to be unique but classic – and to that end a competition among British landscape architects was mounted. John Kinnear, who is now our Project Manager, developed – with the help of Royal Parks and English Heritage – a design that met city guidelines. A short list of seven finalists was then judged by a jury of 18 experts. The winning design of Isabel and Julian Bannerman has now been developed and provisional plans are making their way through Arts Commission and city approvals. The garden will feature classic topiary, curving stone benches sitting among boxwood hedges with a water rill and drinking fountain, stone from all parts of Britain – particularly from Caithness, York and Bath – with a ribboning of engraved stone noting all the counties of Great Britain. The railings will be detailed to symbolize each of the 67 British lives lost in the disaster at the World Trade Center. There will also be a sculpture: the Unity sculpture. With the help of Rufus Albemarle and John Elderfield of MOMA, we invited a group of British sculptors to submit work that symbolized the strength of all that has been shared between the United Kingdom and the United States. The Unity sculpture will be a major work of contemporary art given to the city of New York by the Friends of the British Memorial Garden. At the end of April HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, visited Hanover Square and presented the city with seeds from Hampton Court Palace, London, that will be grown in the future garden. Princess Anne’s visit was the official announcement of the garden and the beginning of our $3.5 million capital fundraising campaign. Recently, we received news that the Prince of Wales had graciously agreed to become our Royal Patron. I thank all those who have become Friends of the British Memorial Garden and whose generosity has brought the project to where it is today. We hope that others will now join in donating and helping us to build this wonderful gift to a wonderful city. The Guardian of London a recently wrote that the Friends of the British Memorial Garden symbolized Wall Street’s new motto: “Remember, Reflect, Rebuild.” As President of the British Memorial Garden Trust I was so proud that we are seen as being a small part of the efforts to rebuild this glorious city; not just with bricks and mortar, but with spirit and energy. Camilla G Hellman President, British Memorial Garden New York at Hanover Square |
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Telephone: (212) 682-7945 Fax: (212) 682-7597 |
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