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Place2Be announces Arts & Minds Gala featuring Alistair Petrie, Katie Melua and LUAP

Place2Be’s Arts & Minds Gala Dinner will take place at Battersea Arts Centre on Thursday 13 June 2024.

Arts & Minds logo, and 30 years of Place2Be logo, on a teal background

The luxury gala will bring together 200 guests for an evening to remember with entertainment, fine arts and gastronomy, all while raising vital funds for children's mental health.

An evening to remember

We’re delighted that actor Alistair Petrie will be hosting the evening. Alistair has appeared in many award-winning films and shows internationally from Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning The Night Manager and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, to Netflix hit Sex Education and appearances in the West End. Alistair has supported Place2Be since 2020.

I first came across Place2Be during the early days of the first Covid lockdown. With three teenage sons, I was so conscious of trying to help them navigate the extraordinarily dangerous and worrying circumstances the world found itself in. Even with the pandemic over we cannot, and must not be complacent about young people, their needs, their right to have dreams and ambitions. History will be created by the young, it’s our absolute duty to support them and help them succeed. We must help them find opportunity where they feel they may have none. Alistair Petrie

Guests will also be treated to a live performance from soulful singer-songwriter Katie Melua. Katie, who has experienced her own battles with poor mental health, made her musical debut in 2003 and went on to become one of Britain’s most-successful recording artists of the millennium.

This is so close to my heart. I’m so honoured to be part of the Arts & Minds gala dinner for Place2Be this year. Mental health going awry is pretty damn scary as an adult. I was 26 years old when I suffered an acute psychotic breakdown. I can't imagine how much worse it might be as a child. I’m so glad this charity exists and has done so for almost 30 years. Katie Melua

Throughout the evening, artist LUAP will also be creating a spectacular artwork which will be auctioned at the end of the event. LUAP is a British multidisciplinary artist, now based in London, whose work has been showcased on a global scale. Central to LUAP's artistic practice is "The Pink Bear", a cherished remnant of childhood memory resurrected through sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy. One of his most recent commissions Finding Light In Darkness took centre stage in the iconic Fortnum & Mason window displays in London.

The gala will also feature voices from within Place2Be; including students from our partner schools, and colleagues demonstrating how art can be used to support children and young people’s mental health.

Guests at Place2Be's Arts and Minds Gala. They are sitting on round tables in a formal setting, and are applauding.

About Arts & Minds

Place2Be created Arts & Minds in 2022 to shine a bright light on art as a creative tool to develop resilience and connect with each other. Our first Arts & Minds Gala Dinner was held on 12 October 2022 at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and raised over £275,000 for our work. In 2022, and again in 2024, the event has received generous pro bono support from Elmwood, a design consultancy with offices across the globe. We’re so grateful for their support developing the Arts & Minds brand.

Our enormous thanks also go to our event sponsors Marshall Wace, the Sadie Sherman Gallery and all those who have given their support.

Join us for Arts & Minds 2024

This year, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we hope to raise even more funds to drive forward our work, providing mental health support for children, families and staff in UK schools.

Tables of 10 cost £10,000 with limited individual tickets available for £1,000 each. If you would like to buy tickets or find out more about the event, please get in touch by emailing philanthropy@place2be.org.uk.

Find out more about the Arts & Minds Gala

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