‘London could 100% compete with Cannes’: Aids charity UK gala debut honours Tracey Emin | Culture

IIt's known for its pomp, celebrity endorsements and fabulously glamorous locations, but the man behind the amfAR Gala, a charity roadshow turned London for the first time this weekend, the event is deeply personal.

AmfAR – American Foundation for AIDS Research – is a nonprofit group that began in the 1980s to support HIV and AIDS research.

“I'm HIV-positive and I'm lucky to be alive because of organizations like amfAR,” said the foundation's new CEO, Kyle Clifford.

“I was diagnosed with AIDS, and until recently, no one in my life knew about it, including my family. But when I took on this role, I decided to be open about my diagnosis so that people living with HIV know that the person leading the organization is 100% committed. I live it every day.”

AmfAR galas are known as some of the most lavish parties on the international social calendar, bringing together celebrities and philanthropists to raise money for biomedical research. The likes of Jeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio regularly attend Cannes, while Richard Gere and Eva Longoria attended the event in Venice.

Now amfAR is bringing some of that glamor to the UK with its first London gala on Friday at the luxury Chancery Rosewood Hotel to coincide with the art fair. Frieze and the BFI London Film Festival.

To commemorate this event, they paid tribute to the memory of the artist Tracey Emin with a special reward.

“We believe London can 100% compete with Cannes and Venice,” Clifford said. “The interest we've received this week from across generations since coming to town has been enormous.

“Very quickly it became apparent that celebrating Dame Tracey Emin was the most authentic way to express London's DNA. She is not only one of the most creative female artists living today, but she has also been a voice for the voiceless and an advocate [the fight against] HIV and AIDS since the late 80s.”

The London gala was hosted by an actor. Joel Richardsonwith musical performances by Grace Jones and Jess Glynne. This year, amfAR grossed $17m (£12.7m) at the Cannes gala, $3.4m in Venice and $3.1m in Dallas.

Clifford said: “HIV is still a global health problem. There are currently between 42 and 44 million people living with HIV in the world. More than 10 million of them do not have access to the medicines that can keep them alive. This is similar to the entire population of London.”

He said the organization had “big plans for growth” in the capital. “We want to make amfAR the biggest event in Frieze and hopefully the biggest event in the city. There will be over 300 people in the hall for the first event.”

AmfAR was founded in 1985 by, among others, actress Elizabeth Taylor and research scientist Matilda Krim. “They realized that during large arts events there is an opportunity to bring everyone together for a good cause. I always say people come to the party and stay for the cause,” Clifford said.

“We're in Palm Beach around March. Then we go to Cannes, then Venice, then Dallas, now we're in London and we'll end the year in Vegas. We've raised almost a billion dollars for our research programs and awarded over 3,800 grants to research groups around the world. I believe London can bring us closer to a cure.”