HC Deb 10 March 1948 vol 448 c1244
Mr. H. Morrison

The House may wish to know about certain appointments in connection with the Festival of Britain, 1951, and, with permission, I would like to make the following statement:

Arrangements for the celebrations of the centenary of the Great Exhibition, 1851, were outlined in my statement in the House of 5th December, 1947.

A Council will be set up to supervise the arrangements for the Festival. The House will be glad to know that General Lord Ismay has agreed to serve in an honorary capacity as Chairman of this Council. Mr. Gerald Barry has been appointed Director-General of the Festival of Britain. He will act as Chairman of a small Executive Committee composed of senior officers of the Arts Council of Great Britain, the Council of Industrial Design and the Central Office of Information. Mr. Leonard Crainford has been appointed Secretary.

The offices of the Festival of Britain. 1951, will be at the Royal Society of Arts headquarters, Adelphi, from which the Great Exhibition of 1851 was organised.

A further announcement about the Festival, including the composition of the Council and arrangements for Scotland and Wales, will be made in due course.

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