Rankin gives South Bank a facelift

A giant frieze featuring some of London's most influential cultural figures is to be unveiled outside the Royal Festival Hall tomorrow.

Portraits of famous names such as Sam Taylor-Wood, Antony Gormley, Fiona Shaw, Anthony Minghella, Joanna Lumley and Salman Rushdie taken by acclaimed photographer Rankin will adorn the riverfront facade of the hall, which is due to reopen in June after a £91million refurbishment.

The photographer has also taken pictures of people who live close to the venue and gathered together some of their memories of the hall, which was opened in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations.

The 154ft frieze, called Front Row, is part of the campaign to raise funds for the building. Every £300 donor will have their name on a plaque fixed to a seat in the refurbished auditorium.

The work, which also shows Sir Terence Conran, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Willard White, Brian Eno, David Gilmour and Vanessa Mae, will remain in place until the end of April.

Rankin said: "My first big break came when I was 22 years old and decided to enter a photography competition at the Royal Festival Hall. I submitted a contact sheet portrait and ended up winning second prize.

"I feel honoured to support the place that gave me such a boost at the start of my career."