Artists bid to make Aids memorial near Diana ward
Artists bid to make Aids memorial near Diana ward bbc.co.uk
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A Shortlist of Artists Competing to Create London’s First Permanent AIDS Memorial
Image source: Getty Images
Introduction
A shortlist of artists competing to create London’s first permanent AIDS memorial has been announced. The monument will be situated near the former site of Middlesex Hospital, the UK’s first dedicated AIDS ward famously opened by Princess Diana in 1987. Campaigners hope it will pay tribute to those lost to AIDS-related illnesses and help educate about the disease.
Background
The charity behind the project, AIDS Memory UK (AMUK), officially began campaigning for a memorial in 2016. A panel of judges including AMUK trustees, art historians, doctors specializing in AIDS and HIV, as well as representatives from communities affected by the AIDS crisis, will select a winner from five shortlisted artists. The five artists, who live or work in London, are former Turner Prize nominee Anya Gallaccio, Ryan Gander, Harold Offeh, Shahpour Pouyan, and Diana Puntar.
Timeline
The winning artist will be announced this summer with the final memorial set to be unveiled in 2026. It will be situated in central London, close to the hospital where the UK’s first dedicated AIDS ward was opened by Princess Diana. Her visit to Middlesex Hospital was credited with helping to challenge the belief that HIV or AIDS could be transmitted by touch, after she famously shook hands with a man suffering from AIDS.
Image source: Emile Holba
Aims of the Memorial
A statement released by AMUK says the memorial aims to raise awareness of the “continuing impact of HIV and AIDS,” as well as celebrate those living with HIV and those who campaigned for better care for people living with the condition.
Comments from AMUK Founder
Ash Kotak, founder and artistic director of AMUK, said the shortlist announcement was “incredibly exciting.” He added: “It has been a long journey to get to this point of delivering the first permanent AIDS Memorial in London. This group of acclaimed and very inspiring artists, with their diverse practices, each bring a different perspective to the memorial.”
Funding and Support
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has committed £130,000 from the city’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to help fund the memorial. He said: “I’m proud that London is leading the way in tackling HIV globally, and we are doing all we can to address the stigma related to the virus. This permanent memorial will ensure we remember those affected and honor the ongoing fight against HIV and AIDS, and tackle the discrimination around it.”
Related Topics
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
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Source: bbc.co.uk
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