Three groups aid M2000 bid

Event Communications, Ideas and Neal Potter Design Associates are pitting their combined skills against Imagination for the operation of the Millennium Exhibition for the year 2000.

The commission has revealed that Imagination will now battle alone against one competitor, M2000, which has these consultancies under its aegis. The third competitor, MAI, merged with M2000 at the last minute, says a commission spokeswoman.

The commission originally shortlisted four applicants to operate its year-long festival. Potential operator Granada pulled out in November (DW 24 November).

Event, Ideas and Neal Potter have all confirmed that they are part of the M2000 bid.

“Whether there are two competitors or one it doesn’t really affect our bid,” says Imagination director Ralph Ardill.

M2000 is organised by management group Touche Ross. Its members include Stanhope, Bovis Construction, Reed Exhibition Companies, Gillespie’s Landscape Architects and leisure company The Principles.

According to the commission, Imagination’s bid is designed for Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, while M2000’s bid is for Greenwich. Both designs are transferable, it stresses.

A site for the Millennium Festival will be announced at the end of January, as will the operator.

The Tate Gallery is seeking 25m in Lottery funds for a new Gallery of British Art. It has already received 50m from the Millennium Commission for the redevelopment of London’s Bankside Power Station. And the National Science Centre in Derby, designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, has applied for a 25m grant from the commission.