The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and The Architects\' Journal have joined English Heritage and Stone Federation Great Britain as major sponsors of the 6th Natural Stone Show and the associated Natural Stone & Building Conservation Conference 2004 that will take place at ExCeL, London, 9-11 March next year.

RIBA\'s backing of the Show and Conference includes active promotion to RIBA members, both individuals and practices, that use stone in their designs.

RIBA will also promote the Show and Conference at their headquarters in Portland Place, London and will be organising the speakers for two Conference sessions dealing with new design in stone and the use of hard landscaping to design the spaces between buildings.

The Architects\' Journal, along with its sister publications AJ Focus and Architectural Review, has become the architecture promotion partner for the Show/ Conference. The wide ranging package of support will include the distribution of expression of interest leaflets, visitor invitations, brochures, advertising, email alerts and editorial coverage of those aspects of the show of particular interest to architects.

Richard Bradbury, the Natural Stone Show manager, says: "Although the 2002 Show attracted a record number of architects, designers and specifiers - 31% up on the previous show - we are still committed to further increasing the number of visitors in order to promote the stone industry to its customers.

"By linking up with the architects\' own membership body and the UK\'s leading architectural publications group, and presenting a professional, CPD-accredited conference covering all three days of the show, we believe that both the appeal and profile of the event will be significantly raised for 2004."

He went on to say: "The Natural Stone Show is already the biggest, most comprehensive and best supported stone exhibition in the UK, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. But the current move will encourage even more of the industry\'s professionals to visit ExCeL next year.

"Our aim is for the Show to be relevant to the whole spectrum of people involved in the specifying and purchasing of stone and bringing strong partners alongside is a demonstration of our commitment to continue with the development of the Show as the place for the industry to do business with its customers."

For further details of the 6th UK Natural Stone Show, contact: