The British Games Institute (BGI), is charity that was established by Rick Gibson and Ian Livingstone. Starting back in 2017 from a proposal for Video Games Tax Relief, the BGI has strove, “to advance the education of the public in general in the art, science, history and technology of digital games.” These advancements have come by way of the National Videogame Museum, the Videogame Heritage Society, and Games Careers Week. Known for his, “passion and drive for positively impacting the games industry,” Gibson will part ways with the BGI come July 2022.
Gibson had some parting words as he reflected on his time with the institute over the years. “After 4.5 years of growth, surviving the pandemic, and developing the charity’s new social mission, I’ve decided to step away from BGI. I’m very proud of what we have achieved with the new charity, especially tripling the museum’s income in just 3 years during Covid. It is vital that the games industry’s important contributions to our national culture are recognized in a national museum and preserved in a nationally significant Collection.”
Hosting all manner of video game consoles, games, and memorabilia, the collection has over 5,000 objects. These thousands of objects are used to not only preserve history, but also to teach it. Gibson mentioned his satisfaction with the BGI’s education efforts in his final remarks. “I am filled with gratitude and pride about what the team has accomplished both in the museum in Sheffield but also in our award-winning learning and vocational programs. I am so grateful to the trustees and all the charity’s supporters, especially to Andy Payne OBE for his unflinching support. The charity has a bright future in Sheffield.”
As the British Games Institute looks for a new CEO, two notable members of the charity had a few words in response to Gibson’s departure. The Board of Trustees Chair Claire Boissiere said that, “I’m proud to continue the charity’s new social mission, which wouldn’t have been possible without him.” BGI’s president and co-founder, Livingstone, echoed those sentiments and concluded by simply saying, “We owe him our sincere thanks and gratitude.”