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To advance architecture within Greater London by demonstrating benefit to society through delivering those projects approved by Regional Council that communicate with the wider public.
 
Forum Projects to deliver the objective
1. RIBA Awards
2. Architecture Week
3. Awards evening and local awards
4. Exhibitions
5. Work with local schools
6. Liaison with London Open House
 
1. RIBA Awards
To conduct a shortlisting and judging process annually. Over 100 entries and 15-20 Awards are the result.
 
Member help required: to assist with shortlisting and a couple are jury members. See the Awards| webpage.
 
(a) RIBA Awards presentation event
A prestigious event at a landmark building which reaches out to key players and potential clients in London. In recent years the event has been at the Laban Dance Centre, Deptford; Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone; Portcullis House, Westminster and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
 
Member help required: RIBA Members assist with hosting the event by being ushers or hosting the VIP guests for the evening or with badges and programmes or other general assistance.
 
(b) RIBA London local awards
These are fairly new awards: the RIBA London Building of the Year|  (awarded to the most outstanding of the 19 RIBA Award winners), and the RIBA London-English Heritage| award for work in an historic context.
 
2. Architecture Week
The main activity is Open Practice. A number of practices across London invite the public to call in to their offices to see how architects work and the environments in which they design. The regional office persuades practices to take part and organises guided tours around practices.
 
Member help required: Members are encouraged to open their practice in Architecture Week. We also need some members to lead tour groups around the various Open Practices and help with the thank you event.
 
3. Exhibitions
Probably the best known of the region’s public affairs projects, the annual exhibition aims to give London practices (particularly the smaller ones) the opportunity to promote their work under a particular theme each year. The exhibition goes to a number of venues and is promoted through a variety of means, including press, postcards, posters, launch reception and catalogues.
 
Member help required: Members are heavily involved throughout this project. Forum members are needed to assist with: (a) securing sponsorship, publicity, venues and speakers; (b) staging the exhibition; (c) hosting at the launch reception; (d) promotion.
 
4. Schools Design Workshop
The region invites between 200 and 500 13-15 year olds to Portland Place to hear from three or four architects talk about being an architect. Groups make models on the day with the assistance of an architect, and prizes are awarded for the best.
 
Member help required: Members are needed to lead design workshops with the participating schools, and help with the judging of the models. We also need members to give short, interesting talks on the day to explore different aspects of architecture and design.
 
5. Liaison with London Open House
The Regional Office supports London Open House| with a donation every year. In return, RIBA Award-winning buildings in London are specially designated in the London Open House brochure. It is also hoped that LOH will provide training for members who talk in schools.
 
London Open House welcomes assistance from informed building experts to assist on the Open House weekend at venues around London.
 
Forum Composition
 
The Forum is open to any RIBA Member (from all classes) in London plus co-optees who want to help advance architecture.
 
The Forum operates fairly informally and the aim is to have a small group (two, three, four or so people) responsible for action on each of the above projects. The Forum has a “circulation list” rather than a fixed membership and people on the circulation list are only expected to attend Forum meetings when the project in which they are involved is being discussed (this applies to both members and regional staff). It usually meets at 9.30am on the last Thursday of every month.
 
The intention is that this is not a “traditional” committee but a group of people who “get things done”. Minutes and Agenda are circulated by email not post and are usually prepared by the staff in the regional office.
 
The Forum is chaired by the Region’s Vice Chair (Public Affairs). The Vice Chair (Public Affairs) is elected by the Regional Council but the Council usually accepts whoever the Forum nominates from amongst its membership.
 
Contact the regional office| for more information.