In 1951, across Britain, in communities large and small, a government-organised celebration took place. From an open air production of Hiawatha in Paignton, to the celebrations throughout the summer on the South Bank of the Thames in London, the Festival was for all the people of Britain and as many from further afield as could be attracted. Britain was at home to the World, there was a cheerful optimism and a positive image presented of a nation that was moving forward and was proud of its place in the World. The Second World War had been won, hardships and shortages might still have been an everyday reality, but it was time for a celebration.This is the story of the Festival of Britain, of Britain in 1951, and the Festival's place in the history of national and international exhibitions. Britain in 1951 was still a land of bomb sites and damaged houses, rationing was still in place, the school leaving age was 14 and the National Health Service was in its infancy. Many people still did not have inside plumbing, Everest had yet to be climbed, airports for commercial passenger flight were only just opening. In so many ways a vastly different Britain to that of today, yet in 1951, on the South Bank, buildings with glass walls, steel structures and suspended walkways were decorated with strikingly modern statues by artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. At a time when few people had seen television, let alone owned a set, London saw the first ever computer game and promised a future with newly developed technology which would result in never-before-imagined possibilities of travel, health, education, opportunity and above all national prosperity.The events of the Festival year give us the opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation in 1951 and to assess the claims that were made for the future. Greatness in the arts, design, and architecture is not enjoyed equally by all generations across history, a brief list of those who played a part in the Festival (Hugh Casson, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, John Piper, Robin Day, Graham Sutherland, Barbara Hepworth, Wells Coates and Basil Spence) suggests that this truly was a great period in art and design.