On the eve of the 10th anniversary of these events that changed the world, an educational charity, the 911 London Project has been set up to ensure that this and future generations have the opportunity to better understand the events, causes and major consequences of 9/11.
Key figures from the world of politics, arts, academia and business have pledged their support and will join forces in London this week for the official launch of this unique venture.
UK’s first national 9/11 Education Programme
The 9 11 London Project will be launched on Monday 5th September, marking the UK’s first ever 9/11 Education Programme, which has been developed in partnership with the world-renowned Institute of Education (IoE).
That morning, artwork made from the largest piece of World Trade Center steel outside the United States is to be unveiled as a symbol of the education programme.
The 9 11 London Project has specially commissioned a piece of public artwork, constructed from World Trade Center steel and donated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as a permanent symbol of hope for the future.
London is the only European capital to be given WTC steel by the Port Authority of NY and NJ.
This unique artwork, ‘After 9/11’, designed by New York artist Miya Ando will be unveiled in London’s Battersea Park on the morning of 5th September by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
The Mayor will be joined by a number of special guests including prominent British broadcaster and historian, Simon Schama CBE, cultural adviser to the project and New York Fire Commissioner on 9/11, Thomas Von Essen CBE, both great supporters of the project.
World’s first 9/11 art auction
On Tuesday evening the 6th September the first ever 9/11 art auction is taking place at Claridge’s and will include works from 23 internationally renowned artists, including:
Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley , Julian Schnabel, Marc Quinn, and Raqib Shaw.
The artists have donated their own works to the art auction to raise funds for the 911 London Project’s new education programme to ensure that it can provide long-lasting support to teachers educating school children about the attacks.
The critically acclaimed German film director and photographer, Wim Wenders has donated five monumental photographs, which were taken at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the attacks. An anonymous bidder has guaranteed the $150,000 reserve price for the Wenders works.
The education programme
In September 2012, children starting at secondary school will not have born when 9/11 took place and a study from leading education researchers EdComs and the Institute of Education (conducted between July and September 2010) shows that there is widespread confusion and misunderstanding about the attacks.
The ground-breaking education programme, which is the first of its kind, aims to empower teachers with online, video and written resources in a number of school subjects to help young people understand the events, causes and major consequences of the 9/11 attacks. The programme is free and now available to teachers at secondary schools across the UK.
For more information on the 911 London Project and the events taking place next week please visit www.911londonproject.com or contact Fiona Mackie or Sarah Taylor on 020 7861 2486 or 07919013770.
