VisitBritain launches campaign called Transatlanticism with hand painted murals across the US
10-08-2008
: Six-story high Royal Guardsman blazes the way for the Transatlanticism movement
For immediate release:
Six-story high Royal Guardsman blazes the way for the Transatlanticism movement
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NEW YORK, October 7, 2008 –The tunes of Coldplay and Amy Winehouse invading your iPod playlist. The latest styles of Stella McCartney and Ben Sherman creeping into your closet. All clear-cut signs you’re a Transatlanticist.
As British culture storms its way across the pond by way of music, fashion, food, film and the arts, VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, is launching Transatlanticism – a campaign in which Americans find cultural and artistic inspiration in all things British.
VisitBritain has taken Transatlanticism to the streets with three giant murals in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. From a six-story high Royal Guardsman rocking out on an electric guitar to a pair of eighteen-foot tall Roman goddesses on an English vacay, the murals ooze British culture with an American twist. Each commissioned mural will remain in their respective city until November 6, 2008. The murals are recreations of works submitted by winners from VisitBritain’s nationwide search for artists to create a personal interpretation of British culture.
Alexa Polito, whose winning work entitled “Rock in the UK” is now exhibiting in New York said: “Britain is a place that has so many traditions, so much history behind it and continues to grant the world iconic images and symbols. And so to Great Britain, a land of palaces, punk, Sherlock Holmes and Top Gear, I had to tip my hat.”
Aspiring Transatlanticists can get behind the movement by logging on to www.transatlanticism.org. View the inspirational works of 14 Transatlanticists - US artists who have produced their own unique interpretation of what Britain means to them. Their work ranges from paintings on traditional canvases to more out-of-the-box pieces like a pair of spray painted Wellington boots and a vinyl record installation. Visitors can choose their favorite winning mural and automatically enter for their chance to win a trip for two to London.
The website also provides budding Transatlanticists with inspiring places and events in Britain they might not find in the typical tourist guide—everything from the hip bars at Liverpool’s Beatles-themed Hard Days Night Hotel to the cutting edge designs of Vivienne Westwood in her new Glasgow boutique. For the skinny on where Americans can find a bit of Transatlanticism here at home, the site features US stores inspired by Britain like Ben Sherman and Thomas Pink.
When planning a trip to Britain, log on to transatlanticism.org to search for destinations highlighting arts & culture, food & drink, green travel and much more.
The Saatchi Gallery www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk opens in London on October 9, 2008. The gallery showcases work by largely unknown young artists and established international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in Britain. The Saatchi Gallery is set to re-open in the 70,000 sq. ft. Duke of York HQ building in London’s neighborhood of Chelsea. The new space also includes a dedicated area for Saatchi Online artists to exhibit and sell their work commission free. Admission to the gallery is free.
Hay Festival of Literature www.hayfestival.com/wales will take place in Wales from May 21 to 31, 2009. Former US president Bill Clinton dubbed the festival as “the Woodstock of the mind.” The Brecon Beacons National Park sets the stage for this annual event where visitors can discover new voices on the literary scene and watch thought-provoking films and musical performances.
The Outsider Festival www.outsiderfestival.co.uk celebrates the best of music and comedy in Scotland while raising awareness about environmental issues. Rock out at this ground breaking festival, which started in 2007, and brings together headliners like KT Tunstall and Crowded House. The festival runs from June 20 to 21, 2009 and is part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.
For more information about the "Transatlanticism" campaign, please contact VisitBritain by calling (800) 462-2748, by e-mailing travelinfo@visitbritain.org or by visiting the website www.transatlanticism.org.
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