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the big picture
We knew 2003 would be a challenging year for BAFTA. With the prospect of war, continued uncertainty and change in the UK television community and a general nerv- ousness throughout the business community on whom BAFTA rely for financial security, it wasn’t going to be a smooth ride. However, we come out of 2003 in a very positive mood having ful- filled our principal ambitions this year as a Charity and Academy, and with member numbers at our highest level ever, against this background of global and national uncertainty.
We had anticipated the repair and modernisation of our building, although that has not happened to plan due to the complexities in co-ordinating such a massive exercise. We are disappointed that it did not take place this year but are fully pre- pared for our part of the exercise to begin in Summer 2004. All efforts are now focussed on working with our landlord to ensure that they too are ready to proceed in 2004. Needless to say, the delay and uncertainty in completing this exercise gives rise to huge financial pressure on the Academy. We are, thankful- ly, in a secure financial position thanks to the enormous strides we have made over the past 5 years in handling our business. However, there is a strong desire now to get through this building project so we can get on with the next phase of the Academy’s development. We wish to do this by minimising the risk to our financial health.
You must all know by now that the building project will cost the Academy at least £1.5m. We have funding commitments and pledges in excess of £0.5m thus far which means that we still have a million pounds to raise in order to avoid going into debt through the building works. We are staging fundraising events and pursuing fundraising opportu- nities whenever possible and I encourage all our members to embrace any opportunity that comes their way (I recently ran 8 miles in an organised run and raised £1,000 for our campaign). Every little helps, so if you haven’t already contributed to the Raising the Roof campaign, please take the opportunity to do
so now by donating personally or encour- aging your friends or business contacts to donate using the form enclosed. We are still pursuing industry fig- ures and organisations to take out 10-year endowments on the new Princess Anne Theatre seats. If you are in contact with a potential seat-endower, please do let me know (kevinp@bafta.org/ 020 7292 5803).
Once again, we
go into 2004 expect-
ing a year of building
disruption but that
doesn’t mean that our
facilities will diminish in
any way. The plan is
to make them even
better! From January,
we begin the process of offering members a fuller and more flexi- ble catering and bar service. We are laying down a challenge to our caterers to improve service style and quality standards to an unprecedented level at the Academy in anticipation of our new club environment following the building works. Screenings will be relocated outside 195 Piccadilly during the actual works and Academy Events will be staged with the support of indus- try partners and venues. We plan to end 2004 with a modern, desir- able and high quality club facility befitting the Academy in the 21st Century. A tough challenge but we are determined to do it!
Another important conse- quence of year-end is that we are once again entering Awards season. We have staged 5 very successful UK-based Awards cer- emonies in 2003 (Film, Television, Craft, Children’s and the BAFTA Cymru awards) and look forward to no less than 8 in 2004 (Film, Games, Interactive Entertainment, Television, Cymru, Craft, Scotland and Children’s). Add to that two televised Tributes and a broad national Events programme – not forgetting the annual Britannia Awards and a wealth of Events in LA and New York – and 2004 promises to be another full and exciting year for BAFTA.
I would like to remind all film voters that this year’s voting will be fully online. We have worked
Kevin Price, Chief Operating Officer
incredibly hard to respond to feedback from last year’s first stab at online voting and I am quietly confident that this year’s system will be more enjoyable for everybody concerned. Thank you to all those who helped with the testing phase during October. Full details of the voting procedure will be issued in early December.
A reminder, with Christmas almost upon us, not to miss the fantastic opportunity to purchase wine through the BAFTA wine club. Whether they be corporate gifts, individual presents or for your own wine cellar, the wines offered through the club really are top quality and great value.
I encourage you to indulge!
And finally, it gives me very great pleasure to congratulate Doreen Dean on an incredible 30 years with the Academy this month! The extent of change and the number of colleagues Doreen has worked with during that time span has been signifi- cant to say the least. On behalf of all those colleagues, I would like to say a huge thank you to Doreen for her unstinting commitment to the Academy, our awards and our membership during that time. Her contribution has been outstanding and we truly appreciate it.
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