Morning:
11°c
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
Arts festival will bring Martin Scorsese to London
By Louise Jury, Evening Standard 20.05.09
Big names: Martin Scorsese will be amongst those taking part in the festival
London is to host a giant philanthropic arts festival with Martin Scorsese, Youssou N'Dour and African Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka.
All have agreed to mentor young artists from around the world in a programme that will culminate in public talks and workshops in the capital in December.
The scheme has been run by Rolex for the last seven years, but has never come to Britain before.
N'Dour, the Senegalese artist, has been working with a young musician Aurelio Martinez from Honduras. Martinez will perform at the Union Chapel.
Scorsese will take part in a film evening at the BFI Southbank with Celina Murga, the young Argentine film-maker who has been shadowing him.
And Soyinka will talk with his protege, the Australian Tara June Winch, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Other events will take place at Tate Modern, the Royal Opera House and Sadler's Wells.
Rebecca Irvin, who runs the programme, said the aim was to give talented artists the chance to learn first-hand from the greatest world masters.
She added: “Working with our distinguished partners in London, we are proud to be able to offer a public platform for these emerging talents.”
Former mentors include David Hockney, Sir Peter Hall and the film director Stephen Frears.
At a time when arts bodies are concerned about the future of funding, the luxury watch-maker also announced new sponsorship deals for Covent Garden and the Tate in addition to existing support for Sadler's Wells.
It will back two major productions of Verdi at the Royal Opera House - La traviata with Renee [first e acute] this year and Simon Boccanegra with Placido [a acute] Domingo next.
And it is also to sponsor a retrospective of the American artist John Baldessari at Tate Modern later in the year.
Related articles
Reader views (2)
Hi Virginia,
This arts initiative has done lots of work with asian artists over the last 6 years. Have a look at the website here:
http://www.rolexmentorprotege.com/
- Proudfoot Company, London
As a body that represents the whole of the London artworld; from auction houses, to dealers & the major London museums - it would be nice if Asian Art in London could be involved with the Art festival in some way? We have been a major contributor to the London art scene for the last 12 years with gobal recognition.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, Virginia Sykes-Wright (Project Director)
- Virginia Sykes-Wright, London
