Festival of Britain: A Nation Celebrated

Offers an illuminating insight into the 1951 Festival of Britain, which celebrated the post-war generation's excitement and enthusiasm for the new era Young artists, architects, designers, and social planners worked together to create a coherent modern 'townscape' on the south bank of the Thames. Alongside this, all over Britain exhibitions, displays, shows, and events were held to 'join in the party' Presenting the organization, the range of characters involved, the sights to be scene, and the multitude of events held In 1951, across Britain, in communities large and small, a government-organized celebration took place. From an open air production of Hiawatha in Paignton, to the celebrations throughout the summer on the South Bank of the Thames in London, the Festival was for all the people of Britain and as many from further afield as could be attracted. Britain was at home to the World, there was a cheerful optimism and a positive image presented of a nation that was moving forward and was proud of its place in the World. The Second World War had been won, hardships and shortages might still have been an everyday reality, but it was time for a celebration. This is the story of the Festival of Britain, of Britain in 1951, and the Festival's place in the history of national and international exhibitions. Britain in 1951 was still a land of bomb sites and damaged houses, rationing was still in place, the school leaving age was 14 and the National Health Service was in its infancy. Many people still did not have inside plumbing, Everest had yet to be climbed, airports for commercial passenger flight were only just opening. In so many ways a vastly different Britain to that of today, yet in 1951, on the South Bank, buildings with glass walls, steel structures and suspended walkways were decorated with strikingly modern statues by artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. At a time when few people had seen television, let alone owned a set, London saw the first ever computer game and promised a future with newly developed technology which would result in never-before-imagined possibilities of travel, health, education, opportunity and above all national prosperity. The events of the Festival year give us the opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation in 1951 and to assess the claims that were made for the future. Greatness in the arts, design, and architecture is not enjoyed equally by all generations across history, a brief list of those who played a part in the Festival (Hugh Casson, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, John Piper, Robin Day, Graham Sutherland, Barbara Hepworth, Wells Coates and Basil Spence) suggests that this truly was a great period in art and design. The Festival of Britain was a unique moment in the history of 20th century Britain. This volume offers an insight into 1951, the organization of the many attractions, the characters involved, the events held and the sights that could be seen. The illustrations of some of the many artefacts that have come down to us from 1951 portray this history, as do period photographs and the images from official publications and promotional material. A nation celebrated, and had a party that is remembered with much fondness by those who were a part of it, and is still of endless interest to us today."