Congratulations to 2nd year undergraduate student Maya Simms who designed a bespoke art installation for BAFTA unveiled at an event on 18 May 2022 to thank the donors who supported the redevelopment of BAFTA 195 Piccadilly.

The installation will be permanently displayed in 195 Piccadilly and features the names of those who supported the arts charity’s redevelopment project.

195 Piccadilly will allow BAFTA to dramatically expand its learning and new talent development programme

Barbara Broccoli CBE, Martin Freeman, Joanna Scanlon, Susan Wokoma, Gemma Whelan, Kit Connor, Will Gao, Luke Thompson, Dexter Fletcher and Sandy Powell OBE were among the guests at the event.

Maya Simms, Student at the Slade School of Fine Art said: “I wanted to create a piece of artwork that would reflect the diversity of the people coming into the BAFTA headquarters, framed and divided, as if an Art Deco style stained-glass window, into abstract representations of diverse faces. Thus, reflecting the visitors within the fabric of the BAFTA building, as well as framing them within the whole context of the act of encouraging diversity.

I wanted the donors’ names to be distributed around the artwork, surrounding and radiating from the central design. Their names, etched onto mirrored shards, encompass the design and reflect the viewer, as the donors are instrumental to the redevelopment of 195 Piccadilly.

For a young artist, an opportunity like this is undeniably momentous. The prospect of an enriching experience in the professional creative field, the exposure of my work to such a large audience and the artistic freedom presented in the competition, excited me greatly.”

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BAFTA unveils bespoke art installation at event to thank donors who supported the redevelopment of BAFTA 195 Piccadilly