Vidal Sassoon snubbed for new £20 note as "Hairdressers are NOT Visual Artists"
In the Spring of 2015 The Bank of England aske the general public to nominate "people of historic significance" from the world of visual arts.
The hairdressing industry came together on a 'global scale' to nominate the late Vidal Sassoon CBE who revolutionized the Hairdressing industry and devoted his life to enhancing the profile of 'the craft' as he liked to call it. He also raised millions of dollars through his charity work, including the remarkable effort to rebuild homes after hurricane Katrina through his charity "Hairdressers Unlocking Hope".
The nominations movement was started by UK hairdresser Sean Dawson and Vidal's own daughter Eden Sassoon who wanted to see Vidal nominated not just for his remarkable achievement in fashion, but also to represent the 'often forgotten' role that the hairdressing industry plays both in fashion, beauty and in improving the lives of billions of clients worldwide.
Thousands of hairdressers worldwide nominated Vidal, but when the nominated list was released in July 2015 he's name did not appear.
Sean Dawson subsequently emailed the Bank of England for an explanation and received a reply with the reason, and I quote....
at the time of the nominations we consulted with the Banknote Character Advisory Committee and concluded that hairdressing did not fall within the field of the visual arts and therefore Vidal Sassoon is unfortunately not eligible to appear on the list of names to be considered by the Committee.
This exclusion is typical of the way both the hairdressing industry is viewed as a skilled craft and the importance of it to the British and Global economies.
The hair and beauty industry is worth £7.1bn to the UK economy annually, and is a key contributor to the UK’s dominant services sector, which overall accounts for more than three quarters of GDP growth and I would expect the Bank of England to be aware of this.....
But they are not, so we are going to make them aware.............
The list includes fashion designers Alexander McQueen and Laura Ashley, which we applaud but frankly I cannot see the difference between someone who creates fashion for the body being reconsidered as a 'Visual Artist' and someone who creates fashion for the head not being recognized.
I want hairdressers all over the WORLD to sign this petition which we will use to get Vidal Sassoon added to the nominations list, and receive an APOLOGY from the Bank of England for the exclusion of this great man and our great Industry...
Thank you for joining this campaign.
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
August 14, 2015
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 1, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
July 30, 2015
2,723 Comments
I am a visual artist in every respect! Hairdressers are painters and sculptors - we treat everyone - whether for a photo shoot or for everyday wear - as a walking piece of art. We deserve an apology and for Vidal Sassoon to be added to the nomination list!
My art is visual. It's many people's crown and glory. People wear their hair every day,they style it, it's their personality, they light up when they receive compliments...my art is one of the most tangible of the visual arts. #iamavisualartist
In disbelief! Every celebrity, politician, tv actor, and even the person(s) who made this comment, have their hair styled and perfected by a professional hairdresser before making a public appareance. Because hair is an ART! It is a VISUAL ART!
As a young starting artist in the hair industry it is sad that people think this way about hair not being an art. Our body is a canvas and the way we portray our hair or even our over all look is art. We are using art to represent who we are as humans.
This is an outrage hair is such a visual art form and we have Vidal Sasson to thank for that. He changed the face of the hair industry in every way and turned the fashion world on it head. It's just as visual an art form as painting or being an architect.
Vidal Sassoon was an artist like no other. He revolutionized the world of hair. ~he and the industry needs to be recognized.
Visual Artist' and someone who creates fashion for the head not being recognized. PIFFLE Hairdressing as it is known is as visual as it gets with the money that is spent by the creative number of you across the country. Hair and Fashion are as one and Vidal Sassoon his name continues to flow around the world He is a living ledgend and is known as Churchill-Thatcher- Napoleon-Thomas Hardy-Marilyn Monroe Come on Bank of England use your head not your lack of named knowledge from around the UK & World harold leighton
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Vidal Sassoon snubbed for new £20 note as "Hairdressers are NOT Visual Artists"
In the Spring of 2015 The Bank of England aske the general public to nominate "people of historic significance" from the world of visual arts.
The hairdressing industry came together on a 'global scale' to nominate the late Vidal Sassoon CBE who revolutionized the Hairdressing industry and devoted his life to enhancing the profile of 'the craft' as he liked to call it. He also raised millions of dollars through his charity work, including the remarkable effort to rebuild homes after hurricane Katrina through his charity "Hairdressers Unlocking Hope".
The nominations movement was started by UK hairdresser Sean Dawson and Vidal's own daughter Eden Sassoon who wanted to see Vidal nominated not just for his remarkable achievement in fashion, but also to represent the 'often forgotten' role that the hairdressing industry plays both in fashion, beauty and in improving the lives of billions of clients worldwide.
Thousands of hairdressers worldwide nominated Vidal, but when the nominated list was released in July 2015 he's name did not appear.
Sean Dawson subsequently emailed the Bank of England for an explanation and received a reply with the reason, and I quote....
at the time of the nominations we consulted with the Banknote Character Advisory Committee and concluded that hairdressing did not fall within the field of the visual arts and therefore Vidal Sassoon is unfortunately not eligible to appear on the list of names to be considered by the Committee.
This exclusion is typical of the way both the hairdressing industry is viewed as a skilled craft and the importance of it to the British and Global economies.
The hair and beauty industry is worth £7.1bn to the UK economy annually, and is a key contributor to the UK’s dominant services sector, which overall accounts for more than three quarters of GDP growth and I would expect the Bank of England to be aware of this.....
But they are not, so we are going to make them aware.............
The list includes fashion designers Alexander McQueen and Laura Ashley, which we applaud but frankly I cannot see the difference between someone who creates fashion for the body being reconsidered as a 'Visual Artist' and someone who creates fashion for the head not being recognized.
I want hairdressers all over the WORLD to sign this petition which we will use to get Vidal Sassoon added to the nominations list, and receive an APOLOGY from the Bank of England for the exclusion of this great man and our great Industry...
Thank you for joining this campaign.
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
August 14, 2015
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 1, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
July 30, 2015
2,723 Comments
I AM a visual artist. My medium is hair. My material is hair. My canvas is hair. I carve, mold, and sculpt hair into shapes. I illuminate and create depth in hair by painting it. My art is not simply stationary or printed. It has movement and moves.
I am a visual artist in every respect! Hairdressers are painters and sculptors - we treat everyone - whether for a photo shoot or for everyday wear - as a walking piece of art. We deserve an apology and for Vidal Sassoon to be added to the nomination list!
My art is visual. It's many people's crown and glory. People wear their hair every day,they style it, it's their personality, they light up when they receive compliments...my art is one of the most tangible of the visual arts. #iamavisualartist
In disbelief! Every celebrity, politician, tv actor, and even the person(s) who made this comment, have their hair styled and perfected by a professional hairdresser before making a public appareance. Because hair is an ART! It is a VISUAL ART!
As a young starting artist in the hair industry it is sad that people think this way about hair not being an art. Our body is a canvas and the way we portray our hair or even our over all look is art. We are using art to represent who we are as humans.
This is an outrage hair is such a visual art form and we have Vidal Sasson to thank for that. He changed the face of the hair industry in every way and turned the fashion world on it head. It's just as visual an art form as painting or being an architect.
Vidal Sassoon was an artist like no other. He revolutionized the world of hair. ~he and the industry needs to be recognized.
Visual Artist' and someone who creates fashion for the head not being recognized. PIFFLE Hairdressing as it is known is as visual as it gets with the money that is spent by the creative number of you across the country. Hair and Fashion are as one and Vidal Sassoon his name continues to flow around the world He is a living ledgend and is known as Churchill-Thatcher- Napoleon-Thomas Hardy-Marilyn Monroe Come on Bank of England use your head not your lack of named knowledge from around the UK & World harold leighton
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I AM a visual artist. My medium is hair. My material is hair. My canvas is hair. I carve, mold, and sculpt hair into shapes. I illuminate and create depth in hair by painting it. My art is not simply stationary or printed. It has movement and moves.