London 2010: Festival of Stamps

The BPMA is proud to be coordinating a series of exhibitions and events for the London 2010: Festival of Stamps, which celebrates stamps, stamp design and postal heritage, and also marks the centenary of the accession of George V, the philatelist king.  

Starting in January, the year-long Festival will have something for all ages at a number of cultural sites across the capital and the UK. The main aim is to change the way people view stamps and philately, and make them more accessible to a wider audience.

As part of the Festival the BPMA and the Royal Philatelic Collection are working in partnership with Guildhall Art Gallery to produce Empire Mail: George V & The GPO. This unique exhibition will explore the reign of King George V and will be open from 7 May to 25 July 2010 at Guildhall Art Gallery, London.

There will also be a major International Stamp Exhibition and dealers' fair, from 8-15 May 2010, at the Business Design Centre in Islington.

Other key events of the London 2010: Festival of Stamps include partner exhibitions taking place at The British Museum, the British Library, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and a number of other locations in partnership with the Association of British Philatelic Societies.

This is not just London: cultural organisations from around the country can become partners and contribute to this significant, and unusual cultural event. Stamps seem to be a small part of everyday life, but look again: they are the contents of the world's biggest public 'art gallery'. Since the first Penny Black in 1840, stamps have provided a diverse and striking picture of the world, and this is what the London 2010: Festival is celebrating.

Find out more...

• Festival of Stamps - Events around London
  
• Concept - Why have a Festival about stamps?
  
• Background - Why 2010?
  
• Schedule - What is already planned?
  
• Contact - For cultural organisations wanting to take part
• From the blog - The latest news on the project
  
• International Stamp Exhibition - The traders' fair at the Business Design Centre
  

To find out more visit www.london2010.org.uk

Julietta Edgar, Head of Philatelic Sector at Royal Mail, has announced their support for the Festival:

"The idea of a festival of stamps is a fitting celebration of the breadth of subject matter depicted on stamps plus the passion and enthusiasm that drives collectors and philatelists alike... Stamps reflect the cultural heritage of the UK and the festival will build on this by introducing stamps to a wider audience."