Met Gala who? Tonight, the glittering gaze of the world’s cameras will be falling upon the British Museum as the inaugural Pink Ball kicks off.
As more than 800 of the world’s most famous faces arrive at Great Court and the Round Reading Room, to sip drinks by the champagne house Ruinart, they have an evening of excitement ahead of them: the chance to bid to have their pet’s portrait painted by renowned artist Tracey Emin, to explore the museum or settle in for a splendid dinner in the museum’s galleries.
Here’s what we know – and who might be attending.
It’s themed around the colour pink
Nicholas Cullinan (PA)
Part of the night’s look (and the reason behind the title Pink Ball) is that the entire night has been themed around the Ancient India: Living Traditions exhibition.
The food will be Indian, the superstar sitar player Anoushka Shankar will be performing (as well as other superstars, apparently), the night is being co-hosted with Isha Ambani, the Indian “businesswoman, philanthropist and arts patron.”
The evening’s pink colour scheme comes from the colours of the exhibition – no Barbie pink here, though. “It has to be this pink that almost has a bit of purple. It can’t be too blush, or too garish. It can’t be Barbie pink. It’s got to be right,” Cullinan has explained.
Cullinan added that the museum’s galleries have been given the five star treatment – with everything from the menu to tables being carefully designed. “They will look beautiful – very elegant, very cinematic,” he told the Times.
And yes – there will be a pink carpet. “If you are paying £2,000 to attend a pink-themed ball at the British Museum, you want to walk in on a pink carpet,” he said. Fair enough.
It’s going to be offer something a bit different
Miley Cyrus (Matt Crossick/PA)
PA Wire
Just like the Met Gala, the event has been themed around a certain exhibition – but Cullinan has also been clear that he’s not trying to emulate the world-famous Vogue-backed event.
“It’s flattering that people are making the comparison but that wasn’t our intention,” he said. “In fact, in my previous job as director of the National Portrait Gallery we did a fundraising gala every other year that was also very starry. The Princess of Wales was our patron and she would attend. Yet people never compared it to the Met Gala.
“And the British Museum Ball will be very different. The Met Gala is specifically to fund its costume institute so there’s a clear emphasis on fashion. I’m sure we will also be seeing many wonderful frocks but our guest list is deliberately much more diverse. And that reflects the wonderful diversity of culture in London.”
It’s already raised millions for the museum
Though exact revenue is being kept a secret, this is intended to be a fundraising gala for the British Museum, and boasts an extremely exclusive guest list. With around 800 tickets on sale, it’s been estimated by the Telegraph that the museum has already raised around £1.6m in revenue. Not bad.
It has a star studded board of directors
Naomi Campbell (Jeff Moore/PA)
PA Wire
Despite Cullinan’s insistence that this isn’t the Met Gala, there will certainly be some starry faces at the British Museum when the ball kicks off.
Naomi Campbell and Alexa Chung, Miuccia Prada and Manolo Blahnik, Sir Steve McQueen and Sir Grayson Perry have all been reported to be attending by the Guardian, whilst the board of directors includes Campbell, Idris Elba, Sarah Lancashire and Dame Kristin Scott Thomas.
Alongside a number of high net worth individuals, it looks like Grayson Perry, Stephen Fry, Courtney Love and Zadie Smith might also attend.
“We’ve got people from academia, film, literature, music, politics and sport,” Cullinan told the Times. “Many come from around the world and 70 per cent have never set foot in the British Museum before. I think I can reveal that our guests will include a couple of Lionesses.”
All eyes on the British Museum tonight; sounds like it’s going to be one to remember.