World-Renowned artist, David Mach, unveils new artwork at a newsagent to celebrate the impact of The National Lottery over 25 years
16th October 2019
Today, a new piece of modern art by world-renowned artist, David Mach RA, is being unveiled in the unlikely setting of a Manchester newsagent to celebrate the start of six weeks of celebrations for The National Lottery’s 25th birthday.
Today, a new piece of modern art by world-renowned artist, David Mach RA, is being unveiled in the unlikely setting of a Manchester newsagents to celebrate the start of six weeks of celebrations for The National Lottery’s 25th birthday.
The artwork features a mix of famous and lesser-known national treasures including people, places, projects and icons that have been part of extraordinary things which have been made possible by The National Lottery. They have been brought together in one iconic image to represent The National Lottery's incredible impact on life in the UK over the last 25 years – across sports, film, heritage, the arts, and community projects.
From the Morecambe Brass Band, one of the first projects to ever receive National Lottery funding; to Idris Elba, Governor for The National Lottery funded British Film Institute; to Tracey Emin, Rio Ferdinand, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Betty Webb, a World War Two codebreaker from Bletchley Park and more. The impressive line-up features against a backdrop of National Lottery funded venues, including The Kelpies, Jodrell Bank, The Principality Stadium and Giant’s Causeway, composed in David Mach’s signature style. All of these individuals and places have one thing in common: they have all been positively impacted by The National Lottery over the past 25 years.
David Mach’s new artwork, titled ‘United By Numbers: The National Lottery at 25’ is being unveiled on 14th October and exhibited for the day in the window of Booth & Howarth on Mauldeth Road, Manchester, a shop that has been selling National Lottery tickets for 25 years.
“For the past 25 years, there is barely a part of our cultural, sporting and community life that has not been positively influenced by National Lottery funding. As someone who is involved in charities and institutions, and has artwork commissioned from National Lottery funding, I know the impact it has had on the UK. I wanted to help people to get a sense of this impact with this artwork through 25 stories and to have it shown on a local high street for anyone to view is fitting.”
David Mach, Reflecting on the inspiration for his new piece, and his own connections with The National Lottery
“The National Lottery helps thousands of athletes across the country reach for their dreams and inspire the nation. It helped fund those amazing experiences in 2012 that we all remember and cherish; and I doubt I would have been able to win Olympic gold without it. It is an honour to be chosen by David for this amazing artwork to represent the impact playing The National Lottery has had on the Olympics. I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming celebrations to mark the 25th birthday of what has become such an important institution.”
2012 Olympic gold medalist, Victoria Pendleton, who features in the artwork
“It’s a privilege to be part of this special celebration and appear in this wonderful image. Bletchley Park is a key-part of our heritage, and The National Lottery has helped tremendously in ensuring it can be enjoyed for future generations.”
Betty Webb, was a code breaker at Bletchley Park during World War 2 and features in the artwork
Over the next six-weeks (14 October – 6 December), The National Lottery is hosting a range of activities, including free events for the whole of the UK to enjoy. The 25th birthday celebrations will be designed to reflect the amazing impact of the work National Lottery players have helped to fund, from building local communities, sports teams, protecting the environment, unleashing creative talent, looking after the elderly and supporting youth projects.
“Since the first draw 25 years ago, The National Lottery has raised a staggering £40 billion for good causes across the UK. This funding has made an enormous difference to people’s lives and the issues they care most about. “The 25th birthday is a moment to celebrate this impact and say a sincere thank you to every National Lottery player.”
Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
“Since The National Lottery launched in 1994 it has changed lives across the UK, helping people and places to flourish. The range of people - from arts, heritage, charities, community, and sport - who are featured in this iconic image shows just how big a part of the fabric of life The National Lottery is.”
Dawn Austwick, Chair of the National Lottery Forum
Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has had on your community over the past 25 years by visiting www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the 25th hashtag: #NationalLottery25.
Notes to editors
For further information, please contact:
• Antonia Brook, Associate Director at freuds 02030036345 | 07747630301 Antonia.Brook@freuds.com
• Chris Mounsey-Thear, Director at freuds 02030036679 | 07912514388 chris.mounsey-thear@freuds.com
• Paul Smith, Associate Director at freuds 07540913774 | 02030036474 paul.smith@freuds.com
Or email nationallottery@freuds.com
An interactive version of the image is available at http://www.unitedbynumbers.co.uk/.
Interviews available on request on 16th October (and availability depending) with:
• Victoria Pendleton (2012 Olympic gold medalist)
• David Mach, RA (Scottish Painter and Sculptor)
• Dawn Austwick (Chair of the National Lottery Forum)
Pictures, interviews and case studies of people and projects who have benefitted from National Lottery funding are available upon request.
Art will be unveiled at 10 am on Wednesday at: Booth & Howarth on Mauldeth Road, Manchester, M19 1AJ
List of people, places and icons celebrated in David Mach’s ‘United by Numbers: The National Lottery at 25’ artwork:
1. The Kelpies
The world's largest equine sculptures in Falkirk's Helix park were designed by Andy Scott. The Kelpies have received £25million of funding from The National Lottery.
2. Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher Smith
Gold Medal Winners for Great Britain & N.I at the World Athletics Championships
Katarina Johnson-Thompson won the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships, breaking the British record. This ranks her sixth on the all-time heptathlon lists. She won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2018 Commonwealth Games before winning the silver medal at the 2018 European Championships. She also won gold medals in the women's pentathlon at the 2015 and 2019 European Indoor Championships, and the 2018 World Indoor Championships.
Dina Asher Smith is the fastest British woman in recorded history. She is the 2019 World Champion at 200 metres, the 2016 and 2018 European champion at 200 metres and the 2018 European champion at 100 metres. She also won 2016 Olympic bronze and gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships in the 4 × 100 metres relay.
3. Courtney Cooper
Courtney is from Monkstown Boxing Club in Northern Ireland whose #INYOURCORNER project helps improve the health, well-being and employability of young people in the area. The InYourCorner project has received almost £600,000 of funding through The National Lottery.
4. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
One of the UK’s greatest Paralympic athletes, Tanni Grey-Thompson, amassed a remarkable medal haul over 16 years. Over her career she won a total of 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 golds, held over 30 world records and won the London Marathon six times between 1992 and 2002.
5. Dementia Dogs Project
The National Lottery has supported the Dementia Dogs Project, which helps those caring for loved ones with early stage dementia by providing assistance dogs in Scotland. Dementia Dogs have received £314,000 of funding through The National Lottery.
6. The Hendrix Flat
The legendary rock guitarist’s flat at 23 Brook Street, London was permanently restored thanks to £1.2 million in funding from The National Lottery in 2014.
7. James Nesbitt
Star of the film Bloody Sunday, patron of WAVE Trauma, Action Cancer, and Big Telly Company; and Chancellor of Ulster University - all recipients of National Lottery funding.
8. Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton
Gold medal winning Olympians whose careers culminated at London 2012; the games that would not have been possible without National Lottery funding.
Sir Chris Hoy is eleven-times world champion and six-times an Olympic champion. With a total of seven Olympic medals, six gold and one silver, Hoy is the second most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time.
Victoria Pendleton is Britain’s greatest ever female track sprinter, and one of the most decorated of all time with two Olympic titles to her name and nine world titles.
In 2008 she won the sprint in the Beijing Olympics, and in 2012, she won the gold medal in the keirin at the London Olympics, as well as silver in the sprint.
9. Morecambe Brass Band
One of the first-ever projects to receive National Lottery funding. The band was set up by Bernard Vause and is still going strong to this day. Morecambe Brass Band received £47,566 of funding through The National Lottery - they still play with the 24 brass instruments they bought with that funding.
10. Sir Tim Smit
Founder of the popular Eden Project and The Big Lunch, which were both made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. Eden Project have received £60 million of funding through The National Lottery.
11. Giant’s Causeway
The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported the building of a Visitor Centre at the Giant's Causeway that provides a beautiful view of the North Coast landscape and facilities. Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre has received £3 million of funding through The National Lottery.
12. Ray and Barbara Wragg
After winning £7.6m on The National Lottery, Ray and Barbara Wragg are some of the most generous winners after giving away £5.5m, mostly to charities in Sheffield.
13. ‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ soldiers (also far right)
We’re Here Because We’re Here, by Jeremy Deller, was just one part of a large scale cultural programme marking the Centenary of the First World War. The National Lottery invested £15 million over five years for this programme overall.
14. Tracey Emin
Tracey Emin’s artwork has been exhibited at National Lottery funded galleries across the country, including at The Turner Contemporary Art Gallery in her hometown of Margate.
15. Gurinder Chadha
English film director whose film ‘Bend it Like Beckham’, starring Keira Knightley in her break out role, has become one of the UK’s best loved films and is just one example of the films funded with National Lottery funding through the BFI, awarded £945,000.
16. Jodrell Bank
Supported by The National Lottery, the First Light Project conserves the heritage of Jodrell Bank for future generations, thanks to £12.1 million of funding from The National Lottery.
17. Edna Smith
A volunteer for 15 years with the National Lottery funded charity Home-start. Edna has helped hundreds of families recover from post-natal depression. Home-Start have received over £1 million of funding through The National Lottery.
18. Ewan McGregor
Actor who featured in Trainspotting 2, one of the first productions to benefit from Creative Scotland’s Production Growth Fund of £500,000 supported by The National Lottery.
19. Rio Ferdinand
Pundit and former England footballer whose ‘Rio Ferdinand Foundation’ which exists to help tackle social issues, is part funded by The National Lottery.
20. Suffragettes
The National Lottery has supported projects across the country exploring the history of the suffragette movement, including the 2015 film, Suffragette (£1m); The Face of Suffrage artwork and the East End suffragettes project.
21. Idris Elba
Award-winning actor, writer and producer. With the help of £1m National Lottery funding he made his directorial debut in 2018 with ‘Yardie’.
22. Betty Webb
Betty is a 96 year-old veteran of Bletchley Park. In 2011, The National Lottery helped restore the decaying huts in which Betty and other codebreakers worked. Bletchley Park have received £5 million of funding through The National Lottery.
23. The Principality Stadium
Ahead of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, £46 million of National Lottery funding was secured to build Cardiff’s iconic stadium.
24. Paul Sinton-Hewitt
Founder of parkrun, the free weekly 5K runs open to all enjoyed by over 2 million people across the UK, National Lottery funding has significantly supported parkrun to allow communities to benefit from free, weekly, social activity in open spaces. Parkrun have received over £3 million of funding through The National Lottery.
25. Krystal Lowe
Dancer for Ballet Cymru, which received funding from The National Lottery allowing them to expand its outreach work with local communities. Ballet Cymru have received around £930,000 of funding through The National Lottery.
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David Mach has strong and historic links to The National Lottery since its inception in 1994. In fact, some of David’s most famous pieces were commissioned by the National Lottery including ‘Train’ (the largest piece of public sculpture when it was commissioned in 1997 & nominated for ThenTurner Prize) (1997) in Darlington, ‘Big Heids’ (1998), ‘Elevator’ (2006). Other links include:
● A 3m x 70m collage for the Millennium Dome that featured many images of British people at work and at play
● Royal Academy Schools, and Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
● Royal Scottish Academy
● National Portrait Gallery
About The National Lottery and its 25th Birthday celebration:
● The National Lottery’s celebrations are running for a six-week period (from 14 Oct until the end of November). There are some incredible activities planned across the UK to celebrate the good causes that have been made possible thanks to National Lottery players over the last 25 years.
● Since The National Lottery’s first draw took place on 19 November 1994, more than £40 billion has been raised for good causes in the areas of arts, sport, heritage and community.
● The 25th birthday is a moment to celebrate the extraordinary impact The National Lottery has had on the UK, and to say thank you to National Lottery players for contributing around £30 million to good causes every week.
● The National Lottery has made more than 5,500 millionaires but its primary purpose is giving to good causes - over 565,000 individual grants have been awarded across the UK, that’s the equivalent of 200 life-changing projects in every UK postcode district.