The British Museum in London has officially announced its inaugural Met Gala-style fundraising ball, to be held on 18 October with a pink theme.
The sold-out fundraiser will transform the British Museum, with guests arriving for a drinks reception and speeches, before sitting for dinner at tables situated amid some of the museum's most spectacular objects.
A silent auction will run throughout the evening, and there will also be performances by British musician Anoushka Shankar and English conductor and composer Jules Buckley.
The pink theme is inspired by the colours and light of India and presented alongside the British Museum's Ancient India: living traditions exhibition.
The ball is chaired by arts patron and businesswoman Isha Ambani, as well as the British Museum's director Nicholas Cullinan and the institution's trustees.
The ball committee includes global icons such as Naomi Campbell, Idris Elba, Edward Enninful, and Miuccia Prada.
Cullinan said the ball "will be an incredible gathering of artists, designers, collectors and cultural icons from around the globe, across the galleries of the British Museum, which have welcomed hundreds of millions of visitors for free for nearly 275 years".
Sold-out fundraiser to celebrate museum
"This is a celebration not only of this extraordinary institution and our shared humanity, but of our city and country – a global crossroads and a creative powerhouse," he added.
Ambani said: "I am honoured to be the co-chair of the inaugural pink ball at the British Museum, set amidst the extraordinary exhibition Ancient India: living traditions, illustrating how significantly early devotional art from India has influenced global contemporary culture.
"This incredible event celebrates the rich creative legacy of India and furthers cultural conversations globally, deepening mutual respect and understanding."
Established in 1753, the British Museum was the world's first public national museum. It's home to more than 8 million artefacts spanning millennia.
Images courtesy of the British Museum
Josh Silverman
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