Simon Bolivar at the British Academy  

Wednesday 13 July 2011, 6pm-8pm
The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH

In April 2010, in an event jointly organised with the Embassy of Colombia, the British Academy was pleased to sign an agreement of co-operation with Colciencias (Colombia's Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation).  The event entitled, UK-Colombia Collaboration: Past, Present and Future, focussed on the strong and enduring relations between Britain and Colombia, from British involvement in the Independence of Colombia, to the present-day Colombian diaspora based in the UK.  Audio recordings and presentations from the event are available here.

In recognition of this agreement, and in the spirit of further collaboration, the Embassy of Colombia has presented the British Academy with a sculpture of Simon Bolivar, by acclaimed Peruvian artist, Miguel Baca Rossi.  To mark the occasion, the British Academy and the Embassy of Colombia, hosted an event on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 at the British Academy's newly refurbished premises at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, at which the sculpture was officially unveiled by the Colombian Ambassador, H.E. Mr Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera.  The event also featured a keynote speech on Simon Bolivar by world renowned historian, Professor David Brading FBA, and provided a fitting occasion to launch the book, The Role of Great Britain in the Independence of Colombia, based on the papers given at the UK-Colombia Collaboration event in April 2010, a PDF version of which can be accessed here (PDF file - 458 KB).      

Programme:
Welcome and Introduction - Professor Duncan Gallie FBA (British Academy Foreign Secretary)
The British Academy and Latin America -  Professor Linda Newson FBA (Chair of the British Academy's Latin America and the Caribbean Panel)
Reflections on Simon Bolivar - Professor David Brading FBA (Emeritus Fellow University of Cambridge)
Unveiling the Statue - H.E. Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera (Colombian Ambassador to the UK)
Close - Professor Sir Adam Roberts (President of the British Academy)

Further Details

David Brading is generally recognised as the leading foreign historian on Mexico.  In November 2002 he was awarded the Aztec Eagle, the highest decoration for a foreign citizen given by the Mexican government, and received the honour from the then President of Mexico, Vicente Fox.  He is retired from the University of Cambridge, where he had taught Latin American history for more than thirty years.

Miguel Baca Rossi is a Peruvian sculptor whose work adorns public squares, buildings and parks across Latin America.  He has received many awards and prizes throughout his career, including, in 1999, the award by the Peruvian government of the "Orden al Mérito por Servicios Distinguidos" for his contribution to Peruvian sculpture.

For further information, please contact the International Relations Department