Launched in 2016, UCL’s It’s All Academic Campaign has been our most ambitious to date, aiming to raise £600m and 250k volunteer hours. The following year saw the launch of our first ever £1m+ donor recognition group: The Circle of Benefactors. We knew from the outset that we would acknowledge the Circle at the heart of campus, but that it would need to be done in a uniquely UCL way. In partnership with colleagues across the institution we ran an open competition for a student-designed donor wall. Following the shortlisting of over 35 expressions of interest, 8 students were provided with honorariums to work on detailed plans for the wall. The winning design was ultimately chosen by a selection panel of senior leadership, Chaired by President and Provost. The design, developed by Dr Sarah Fortais (Slade School of Fine Art, 2019) proposed the bespoke casting of donor hands in either bronze or aluminium, and their installation on a feature wall of a main thoroughfare for students crossing campus. Over 60 donors chose to participate themselves or nominate someone on their behalf, and castings were carried out across the UK and US for individuals ranging from 15 to 99 years old. A plaque sits below the wall with the names of donors and their accompanying translation in braille. Publicly unveiled in 2019, the striking installation now stands as a permanent visual celebration of the power of philanthropy, dedicated to the UCL community and the transformational vision of those who support us.
