UK-first AI artwork honours Arts & Film Game Changers to celebrate 30 years of The National Lottery

• Gurinder Chadha OBE, one of the UK’s most proven and respected film directors, writers and producers, whose films including Bend It Like Beckham highlight issues of identity, race, gender, sexuality, religion, and immigration.
• Sir Peter Murray, founder and executive director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park – the largest of its kind in Europe - supporting hundreds of artists locally and internationally since the 1970s.
• Adam Joolia, driving force behind Audio Active, which helps hundreds of disadvantaged young people, who are not served by traditional music pathways, with a star-studded contingent (Rizzle Kicks and Rag'n'Bone Man)
• Marc Brew, prolific choreographer and disabled dancer who rediscovered dance after being left with spinal cord damage following a car accident. He trains disabled and non-disabled dancers internationally, choregraphing for Candoco Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre, AXIS Dance Company, Scottish Ballet and Ballet Cymru.
• Berwyn Rowlands, founder and festival director of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, which takes place in Cardiff and is the world’s largest LGBTQ+ short film prize.
• Nandi Jola, poet, storyteller and playwright who explores themes of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience in her poetry, empowering young people in Northern Ireland from marginalised backgrounds.
• Marilyn Willrich and Nikki Stratton, deaf entrepreneurs who founded Deaffest, the UK’s leading Deaf-led Film & Arts Festival.

As an artist that has been directly impacted by one of the Game Changers, Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens is sharing his personal experience of organisations such as Audio Active, celebrating the remarkable achievements across 30 years of National Lottery funding for Arts & Film.

Musician and actor Jordan Stephens said: “Creativity and culture are the lifeblood of our communities, and I feel it’s important to champion the game-changing people who have given a sense of belonging, purpose and inspired passion for the arts on such a huge scale. I’ve experienced first-hand how National Lottery-funded organisations can be genuinely life-changing and it means a lot to see Adam, who channelled his passion for music so selflessly through Audio Active, recognised for his contributions that have impacted the lives so many young people.”

Darren Henley, Chair, UK National Lottery Forum and CEO of Arts Council England, said: "The National Lottery’s 30th Birthday is a huge milestone, and an opportunity to celebrate all the fantastic, life-changing investments it has made over the past three decades. Here's to another 30 years of supporting good causes up and down the country, all thanks to National Lottery players."

Ben Roberts, BFI Chief Executive, said: “We believe in the transformative power of screen culture for social good, which can bring people and communities closer together, and National Lottery funding has been instrumental in making that happen over the last three decades. It has had an incredible impact on our homegrown film industry, and is helping to build a representative, equitable and inclusive sector UK-wide which acts as an inspiration for future generations. From creating accessible pathways for those who dream of working in film, through to bringing unique cultural experiences to audiences. National Lottery funding has also been crucial in bringing brilliant UK films to the big screen, with many winning international acclaim and reaching audiences across the globe. It is wonderful to celebrate the Game Changers announced today – the term is thoroughly deserved. Huge thanks too, to National Lottery players; without whom, none of this would be possible.”

To mark the 30th anniversary of the first draw in 1994, The National Lottery is celebrating 30 inspirational people - Game Changers - who have achieved amazing things across the UK in the last 30 years, with the help of National Lottery funding.

The Game Changers were nominated by members of the public and selected by a panel composed of members of The National Lottery family and partners.

28 Game Changers have been revealed in September and October at four installations which focused on an area of National Lottery funding including, the arts & film, heritage, sport and community.

The final two Game Changers will be announced on The National Lottery’s New Year’s Eve Big Bash scheduled for broadcast on ITV on 31 December.

The seven Arts & Film Game Changers announced today were selected as examples of dedicated, inspiring, high achieving individuals who have had a transformative impact on their industry, and a significant impact on their wider communities and society.

For 30 years, money raised by National Lottery players has helped create extraordinary moments across Arts and Film that have inspired the nation and helped to transform lives and communities.

Since 1994, more than £7.9bn has been awarded to support thousands of Arts & Film projects across the UK- like those of the Game Changers.

The funding has been instrumental in nurturing and fostering the exceptional talent that graces both the big and small screens, while preserving its past and supporting its future. UK feature films funded by the National Lottery have won 551 awards, including 16 Oscars, 128 BAFTAs and 34 Cannes awards from 2,044 nominations.

Over the last three decades, the V&A has received £48.4m of National Lottery funding that has gone towards various projects such as the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries, the Black British Style Exhibition Tour- the first exhibition in the UK to explore the style and fashion of black people in Britain and the V&A London building, itself.