THE SAATCHI GALLERY LAUNCH

Client Feedback:

“thank you so much for doing everything so brilliantly – looking forward to our next one!” CHARLES SAATCHI

 

Event Management Brief:

To mark the launch of The Saatchi Gallery County Hall, Timebased were asked to produce a celebrity studded event incorporating American artist Spencer Tunick’s naked installation. The event was to be a lavish celebrity and media opening party for over 1000 people including over 200 A-List celebrities and the 160 nude artists used for the naked installation.

Event Planning and Approach:

Management of the naked people outside the gallery, overlooking the Thames. Rooms in County Hall which had been disused for over a decade and had to be deep cleaned and services installed for the party. Timebased secured all the celebrities including pop-stars, fashion icons and film stars. Timebased contra-dealed all the catering and drinks in return for exclusive accreditation to the venue for the opening period and secured over 80 audis to deliver and pick-up key celebrities.

Event Results:

The event was a huge media success and for the art world, generating significant amounts of PR coverage that the press still talk about even today. More than 1,500 guests enjoyed the opening - although Charles Saatchi himself did not attend because (according to his spokesperson) he "simply hates parties”. Nigella Lawson, Saatchi’s partner came on his behalf along with 250 celebrities, significantly more than was requested, including Hugh Grant, Stephen Fry, Sophie Anderton, Jade Jagger, Gwen Stefani and Tracey Emin. Timebased continued to manage events at the Saatchi Gallery throughout the following year as a venue and produced events there for among many others London Film Festival, Channel 4, Channel 5, Condé Nast Publishing and Fast Track 100.