Julian Fellowes Michelle Dockery - H 2012
Getty ImagesLos Angeles fans of PBS’ Downton Abbey will have the opportunity to celebrate other British cultural imports this spring.
BritWeek, a nonprofit organization celebrating the link between California and the U.K., honored Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and executive producer Gareth Neame at its Golden Globes press luncheon Saturday.
The organization also unveiled details of BritWeek 2013 at the luncheon, which also was attended by Downton star and Golden Globes nominee Michelle Dockery.
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“California is a wonderful, tolerant and encouraging host, for ideas and for people of every denomination, and it is no surprise to me that we should find such a marvelous celebration of the achievements of the British under its azure skies,” said Fellowes. “I am proud to be part of this year’s BritWeek.”
BritWeek announced its seventh annual week of events would take place in L.A. from April 23 to May 6. In addition to a reception at the British Consul General’s Residence and an annual charity gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, there will be an Echo Park music party and a street festival along Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade.
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“We have a lot of great new content in our 2013 program,” said Bob Peirce, chairman of BritWeek. “Our music program will be the best yet. We shall be celebrating a British-born architect, John Parkinson, who designed much of downtown Los Angeles. We shall have a fabulous street festival in downtown Santa Monica.”
Events also will take place in Orange County April 23 through May 6, while BritWeek will be coming to San Francisco beginning May 3, and Miami March 7-14, the first time it will take place in the city.
