Four Colman Getty News

Dotti Irving writes: My introductions to our monthly newsletter always seem to focus on how busy we’ve been. This April has been true to form – but it’s not just we who have been hard at it. There has been plenty to occupy our cultural and campaigning landscape in April: the outrage over the proposed cap on charitable donations; the jaw-dropping findings from the Leveson inquiry; speculation about the outcome of the London mayoral election. Read more April Highlights

Image © Paul Maven, Michael Rosen reading his new poem written for Arts Award, Trinity College London Arts Award launches new qualifications Arts Award is a national qualification for the arts that supports young people’s creativity, communication and leadership skills, and embraces all interests, background and abilities. On 23 April, the Arts Award team launched two brand new awards, ‘Discover’ and ‘Explore’ for children aged seven upwards. Children from schools in East London, who had taken part in a major national pilot of the new awards were given the chance to celebrate the launch at an afternoon of creativity at the Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford. They were joined by former Children’s Laureate, and champion of arts education, Michael Rosen, who had written a new poem especially for the occasion. Read more

Image © Mitch Dobrowner Sony World Photography Awards 2012 The fifth annual Sony World Photography Awards returned to London last week for a second year, marking the climax of one of Four Colman Getty’s largest year-round projects. Alongside the global photographic competition is the World Photo, London festival which includes a major exhibition of the work of all the finalists at Somerset House, showcasing the very best in international contemporary photography. On Thursday morning over 60 international journalists had a sneak preview of the winners’ exhibition in the stunning Embankment Galleries, led by curator Michael Benson. A cocktail reception followed in the evening at Somerset House before the 600 guests were bussed to the Hilton Park Lane for the main event – the awards ceremony, hosted by the New York-based collector and curator, WM Hunt. Amongst the guests was the Minister for Culture, Ed Vaizey, speaking in support of the UK photography industry, and the legendary photographer and film-maker William Klein who was honoured as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award. Read more