Internationally renowned pop artist, Romero Britto, to host Red Carpet Launch Party
BritWeek Miami, the annual celebration of British innovation and creativity in South Florida, returns for a third year – from March 5th to March 14th – highlighting the explosion of transatlantic commerce and culture within the art, sport, technology, fashion, music, entertainment, trade and financial sectors. To celebrate this creative synergy between the UK and Florida, BritWeek Miami will hold a series of events throughout downtown Miami, Wynwood, Coral Gables and Miami Beach, made possible by the support of numerous corporate partners that include Bentley, Romero Britto, Microsoft, AFEX, Greenberg Traurig, eMerge Americas, The Patricia and Phillip Frost Science Museum, The LAB Miami, The British Council, The Welsh Government, Carnival Corporation, QAJet, Manchester Business School, MDDA, CAMACOL, BritVik, David Siddons Group, and Enterprise Florida among others.
BritWeek Miami is an alliance with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), HM British Consulate-General Miami and a series of strategic media and industry partners – each collectively helping to bring a focus on the dynamic and fast growing relationship between Britain and Florida. A portion of proceeds resulting from this year’s BritWeek Miami will benefit The Little Dreams Foundation and its mission towards helping fulfill the dreams of gifted young people in music, sport and art. This year BritWeek will also kick-off “britcode” – a community outreach program to help give children in need tools for success.
BritWeek Miami 2015 will officially kick-off on Thursday, March 5th at the invitation only BritWeek Miami Red Carpet Launch Party hosted by Romero Britto at his Britto Central gallery on Lincoln Road in South Beach. Britto will welcome British personalities such as Jared Harris, Celyn Jones, Andy Goddard, Nigel Melville, Peter Phillips, Luol Deng, Bob and Sharon Peirce, HM Consul General Dave Prodger, and local business leaders such as, Manny Medina, Manny Mencia, Raoul Thomas, and Bill Johnson, as well as the who’s who of British innovation in Miami and Florida. Guards in bearskins will welcome guests into the venue and keep watch over the dazzling BritWeek Bentley Continental GTSport featuring a royal crown and Union Jack motif. The car is featured for the month-long BritWeek social media campaign “Spot the Bentley” lasting until March 14th. Using #BrittoBentley and @BritWeek, residents and visitors are encouraged to snap a cell shot of the vehicle wherever it is seen and share it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for a chance to win a Britto artwork book, signed and personalized for the winner by Romero Britto himself.
A highlight of the BritWeek Launch Party will be the first official BritWeek charity auction, where guests will battle to outbid each other for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Bentley hood – hand-painted by Romero Britto especially for the event. Proceeds from the auction will go to the BritWeek Miami’s partnering charity, Phil Collins’ The Little Dreams Foundation. Little Dreams Foundation prodigy’s, 11 year old singer, Biana Pinchuk, and Luisa Maggioni, aged 18, will entertain guests throughout the evening, during which British inspired hors d’oeuvres will be served by Joy Wallace Events. Britto Central’s walls will be especially curated for the event to showcase the very best British inspired artworks, creating a stunning backdrop for the evening.
On Friday, March 6th, Champions of British Sport, one of BritWeek’s signature events, presents a cocktail reception and dinner and charity auction featuring the best of the British golf and rugby at the Trump Doral International Resort. Enjoy a round after their last round with the top British Golfers at the Cadillac Classic, and then support BritWeek’s charity dinner with proceeds going to this year’s partnering charity, Little Dreams Foundation. Top British golfers who are competing at the WGC Cadillac Championship, including Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Graeme McDowall, as well as the current world number one, Rory McIlroy, are all expected to attend the evening event. During dinner, ex England rugby captain, and current CEO of USA Rugby, Nigel Melville, along with Peter Phillips, will speak about his exploits as player and coach.
Kicking off the morning of Saturday, March 7th, is another signature event: BritWeek’s pioneering community outreach initiative Britcode. Hosted by The LAB Miami, a center for excellence and innovation in the heart of Wynwood’s vibrant tech scene, Britcode looks to ignite kids futures with hands on interactive Coding and STEM zones. In collaboration with key partners Microsoft, the Patricia and Phillips Frost Museum of Science, Mia MADE, Miami Dade College, The Club Med Foundation, Girl Develop It, City Year and Teach for America, the children will have expert guidance to learn whilst having fun. BritWeek Miami aims to make a difference and follow in the footsteps of Great Britain as world leaders in Coding education, to combine Stem and Code in an interactive outreach platform. The Day will start with Britcode “Ignite” – a launch breakfast, hosted by Dave Prodger, the British Consul-General with the leaders of Miami’s tech and educational communities to help us take Britcode and our kids to the next level.
Also on Saturday, March 7th, Britweek Miami will shine a light on Wales and Welsh innovation in film with the BritWeek Miami Film Premiere “Set Fire to the Stars,” at the Regal Cinema in Miami Beach. The film presents Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and is conceived by co-writers, Celyn Jones (who plays Dylan Thomas) and Director, Andy Goddard. “Set Fire to the Stars” opened in June 2014 in the UK, and will premier internationally during Britweek Miami as part of the Miami International Film Festival. Actor-writer Celyn Jones, director-writer Andy Goddard and actress, Maimie McCoy, will all fly into Miami for BritWeek to attend the USA Premiere.
BritWeek and eMerge Americas returns on Wednesday, March 11th, for a look at British and Miami Media and Technology with the second annual signature event: BritWeek eMerge Americas Bridging the Gap – Media and Film A Marriage Made in Miami. The forum will come together for a fascinating panel discussion with top innovators, including Jennifer Brooks of Microsoft, Gillian Thomas of the Miami Science Museum, Patricia Arias of Miami Film and Media Market, and Sonia Hendler of Arts & Business Council to name a few. Panelists will be introduced by Manny Medina, and mediated by Jose Luis Martinez, of Miami Media Film Market and the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba. There will also a message from London Mayor, Boris Johnson, following his trip to the United States.
Smaller but equally significant BritWeek Miami events throughout the week include:
Coral Gables Young Entrepreneur’s Welcome BritWeek Miami VIP’s and Sponsors on Wednesday, March 4th with the kick-off event for their ‘Wind Down Wednesday’ in conjunction with the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and Tarpon Bend. On March 5th Mark Trowbridge, CEO and President of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, hosts Trow Knows: CEOs with HM Consul General Dave Prodger – an up close and personal conversation with Her Majesty’s Consul General to Miami. .
Best of Wales Luncheon on Thursday, March 5th at HM British Consulate-General, highlighting the importance of a vibrant film industry in Wales, and how film and television can inspire tourism.
500th Anniversary of Henry VIII’s Hampton Court on Friday, March 6th at the Coral Gables Museum. BritWeek in conjunction with the English Speakers Union will host visiting speaker, Dr. Lee Prosser of the Historic Royal Palaces, for a fascinating History and Architecture lecture and luncheon.
BritWeek Gomez-Gracia Trunk Show hosted by The Ritz Carlton Miami Beach on Saturday, March 7th and Fashion Incubator Round Table on Wednesday, March 11th – re-introducing Patricia Gomez-Gracia back to her hometown after having made a name for herself in London, as “the designer to know now – the new Hollywood favorite,” according to InStyle Magazine.
Manchester Business School, part of the University of Manchester, was established in 1965 and is jointly the oldest business school in the UK. On Monday, March 9th at Manchester Business School in Miami, join Centre Director, Catherine Garrido, for a cocktail reception Celebrating a 50 Year Anniversary with Manchester alumni and current Global MBA and GEMBA students who will discuss their global careers, and how MBS and the ‘Manchester Method’ of applied learning has helped them.
On Tuesday, March 10th, United Kingdom Trade and Investment hosts a finance breakfast panel at the Beacon Council: “THINK BIG, AIM HIGHER: How Floridian & Latin American Companies Can Access Growth Capital through London’s AIM Market.” AIM is the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller growing companies seeking to access capital, much like how Pfizer shares exist on the larger markets to make capital. Considered the most successful growth market in the world, over 3,500 companies from across the globe having chosen to list on AIM since its inception in 1995 from all sorts of industries. Those looking to start trading can even get a demo account these days (https://kryptoszene.de/trading-demokonto/) and test the waters a little before comitting to buying any hares. Anyone looking to start trading stocks should always do detailed research and make sure they are aware of what they are getting into before investing. For companies, selling shares has been a really great thing, raising $62 billion in AIM IPOs and $78 billion in AIM Secondary Offerings through services like SoFi and others.
CAMACOL, The Latin American Chamber, will recognize the strategic linkages between the UK and the Americas, presenting unique discussions on diplomacy, business, innovation and creativity with a special CAMACOL “Bienvenida” to HM British Consulate General Dave Prodger presentation on Wednesday, March 11th at CAMACOL.
BritWeek and UKTI Formula-E Tech Panel with Virgin Racing on Thursday, March 12th. Nick Fry, UKTI Business Ambassador, commercial advisor and former CEO for Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One, will speak about the transferability of technologies from motorsport to mainstream automotive and beyond.
The BritWeek Miami British Innovation Closing Party on Saturday, March 14th at The Ritz Carlton Miami Beach, will act as BritWeek Miami’s finale and closing signature event. The BritWeek Miami Creative Industries Closing Party 2014 grand finale took place poolside at SLS Hotel on South Beach and was attended by over 300 guests from the world of arts, fashion, design, architecture, film and media. This invitation-only, British themed party celebrated the UK creative industries, as well as leading brands and companies representing the worlds of art, music, fashion, design, and film production, among others. BritWeek Miami will host its 2015 invitation-only signature red carpet closing event in celebration of the UK creative industries with Little Dream Foundation Band featuring Patti Russo, who sang with Queen and Meatloaf, will deliver an unforgettable evening of music, art and entertainment.
Throughout the week of activities, Britweek will be hosting additional events to announced in celebration of British film, technology, business, sports, finance, entertainment, music and fashion – to drive awareness of British influencers and influences in the South Florida region.
For further information on BritWeek Miami 2015 sponsorship opportunities, latest news and for a complete event schedule, visit www.BritWeek.org
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