Jude Law and other supporters of the Whitechapel Gallery attended its annual fundraising party last night to provide �225,000 for its education and community programmes.
Gallery director Iwona Blazwick hosted an evening of live drama with actors including Jonathan Pryce, Ashley Walters and Maxine Peake performing five-minute scripts written by gallery artists.
Johnny Borrell, artist Dinos Chapman, Mariella Frostrup and Natasha Khan of band Bat for Lashes were among the many guests at the gallery who also enjoyed a solo performance by Marta Romagna, the prima ballerina from the La Scala opera house in Milan,
Celebrity DJs including artist David Shrigley entertained the crowds and an auction was held for a one-off bag from Italian fashion company TOD, the gallery’s partners for the evening.
It was customised by artist Ian Davenport with his trademark lines of multicoloured paint.
Commissioned artworks by Sir Anthony Caro, Angela De La Cruz, Nan Goldin and other artists were also put under the hammer by Sotheby’s Oliver Barker.
Chef Angela Hartnett, who lives in Spitalfields, devised an Italian-inspired menu, including canap�s with carpaccio of beef and mini brochettes of chargrilled vegetables.
The gallery’s community programmes work with 3,000 children and 30 diverse groups each year.
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