Today 1,500 children from around the world gathered at the newly opened O2 to help pop artist Romero Britto create a 45 ft pyramid commemorating the return of King Tutankhamun to London after 35 years. To coincide with the arts project, organisers of the eagerly anticipated "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibition also announced that single tickets will go on sale to the public on 12th September 2007 and revealed that a new Howard Carter Gallery produced in collaboration with The British Museum will form part of the exhibition.
To date, more than 180,000 tickets for the exhibition, which opens at The O2 on 15th November 2007, have been reserved or sold in the UK, setting a pre-sale record for the blockbuster show which has been enjoyed by over 3 million people in the US during a four city tour.
The pyramid, designed by Britto, is the artist's tribute to the Pyramids of Giza, the last remaining of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World. To launch the Pyramid Project, 1,500 school kids from the UK, US, Belgium, France and Egypt painted panels for the pyramid alongside Britto. The Pyramid Project will culminate with the giant pop art pyramid travelling from the artist's studio in Miami to London to be unveiled at a ceremony in October. Details of the location of the giant pyramid will be revealed at a later date.
To commemorate today's art initiative, each school and student will have their names inscribed on the base of the 45 ft pyramid. A 25 ft replica pyramid will be on display outside The O2 for the duration of the Tutankhamun exhibition while 12 smaller pyramids (8 ft ), also designed by Britto, will be on view in the capital in one of the largest public arts installations London has ever seen.
The international arts event has received significant response with almost 7,000 students from 192 schools registered for participation. Events have already taken place in Fort Lauderdale and Philadelphia, two of the US markets for the Tutankhamun exhibition. Students from each of these cities have been selected to fly to London to join this unique arts initiative.
"I am extremely honoured to participate in such an important and historic project," said Romero Britto. "The Pyramid Project is a fun and interactive way to educate children about ancient Egyptian civilisation and culture. Through this initiative, students will have the opportunity to embrace their inner artist and express their creativity, while leaving a lasting historical mark. "
"I am thrilled to see school children from all over the world working together to commemorate Tutankhamun's return to London," said Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. "The opportunity for children to participate in the construction of a pyramid will be a life-lasting memory and one that I hope will further endear the world's youth to the wonders of Egypt."
Visit London's chief executive, James Bidwell, said: "The Tutankhamun exhibition will draw hundreds of thousands of people to London to experience the ancient wonders of Egypt alongside the brand new, world class facilities of The O2. The Pyramid Project is a wonderful way to welcome Tutankhamun back to London, involving children from around the world in working with one of today's most exciting artists to produce artworks which will be displayed across the capital for everyone to enjoy. "
David Campbell, CEO and president of AEG said: "We are elated to host the forthcoming Tutankhamun exhibition and are excited to be involved in bringing this unique spectacle to the attention of a whole new generation. There can surely be no more exciting way to launch the designated exhibition space at The O2. "
Pyramid Project is climate neutral. Climate Care is offsetting a total of 88.10 tonnes of CO2 emissions produced from the students travel to and from The O2 plus overnight hotel accommodation.
