Sculpture in the City

Sculpture in the City is an award winning urban sculpture park which launches every summer in June. A cultural initiative delivered by the City of London in partnership with 11 local businesses, it is sited in the EC3 area of the City, around the iconic towers of the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater, Lloyd’s building as well as inside Leadenhall Market.

The call for submissions for Sculpture in the City 2018 is now open and the deadline for applications is November 16, 2017.

For the 2018 exhibition we are looking to expand the project area towards Aldgate incorporating some interesting new sites and are particularly keen to incorporate other forms of art in the area including digital and interactive work. 

The aim of Sculpture in the City is to use the area as a contemporary urban gallery space and showcase cutting edge art in an area represented by the iconic contemporary towers but also the layers of history nestled amongst the towers.

Since its first showing in June 2011, the project has grown significantly in size and scope, with 16 artists in 18 locations for the 2017 edition that is currently on show until May 2018.

The works submitted for consideration need to be pre-existing, suitable for outdoor display and, in the case of sculpture, available for display May 2018 to May 2019.  

How to submit work for consideration
Submissions have to be made online by November 16, 2017. You will find a link to the submissions page here.

Sculpture in the City: press, film review and tours
The 2017 exhibition has achieved extensive press coverage with a successful campaign led by Brunswick Arts.  

A film review of Sculpture in the City 2017 can be viewed here and a full map and brochure of the 2017 exhibition is available on the City of London website.

“A project such as Sculpture in the City diminishes the sense of doubt and embarrassment many people may feel when encountering ‘works of art.’ Instead, it creates an open-air arena which promotes unconditioned thought.”
–Hannah Poulton, Artlyst

“Sculpture in the City is a terrific initiative that encourages interest in modern sculpture.”
–Victoria Sadler

“For the organisers of Sculpture in the City, the vogue for modern architecture in London’s financial district has made the area especially suited to showing contemporary works, including more challenging pieces by artists such as Damien Hirst and Paul McCarthy. The project allows people to experience and see the area in different ways.”
-Christie’s 

We have organised a series of tours for artists led by Stella Ioannou, co-director of Sculpture in the City, with a view to ensure artists interested in submitting an artwork for consideration understand the particular context of the City, and the particular area the project inhabits. These tours are exclusively for artists, or their appointed representatives, interested in proposing work for Sculpture in the City’s 2018 edition.

Tours are listed on Eventbrite.