12th edition of sculpture in the city

The City of London, in partnership with the Arts Advisory Board and the curatorial team at Sculpture in the City, are pleased to extend a call for submissions to the 12th edition of Sculpture in the City, taking place from June 2023 to May 2024. Deadline for submissions: 5.00pm (GMT), Tuesday 1st November 2022.

WHAT IS SCULPTURE IN THE CITY?

Sculpture in the City (SITC) is an award-winning annual urban sculpture park, launching each year in June. It is a cultural initiative delivered by the City of London Corporation in partnership with 11 local businesses with a mission to present cultural projects in line with the Lord Mayor’s vision and support for London’s creative industries and artistic talent. SITC uses the Square Mile as an outdoor urban gallery space to show the best of contemporary art by established and emerging artists from the UK and the world. Open 24/7 with no admission charge, it is London’s largest free outdoor display of public art.

Each year the Arts Advisory Board selects artworks from an open call to realise a unique display of contemporary art in an urban setting. On average, SITC attracts 500,000 unique visitors each year.

SITE

SITC takes place in the EC3 area around the City’s historic buildings (Leadenhall Market, St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Churchyard) and iconic contemporary architecture (30 St Mary Axe a.k.a. ‘The Gherkin’ , Leadenhall Building a.k.a. ‘The Cheesegrater’, Lloyds Building, 22 Bishopsgate). The project’s character is set by the dialogue between the contemporary artworks and their old and new architectural settings.

EXHIBITION

SITC is the largest free public art exhibition in London. To date, SITC has presented 141 contemporary artworks in the City of London’s public spaces over 11 editions (2010–2022).

The exhibition does not have a specific theme. Selection is based on each work’s artistic merit and its suitability to the urban context (e.g. materiality, scale and style).

The 11th edition (on view until spring 2023) showcased 20 contemporary artworks by established and emerging British and international artists, including Alice Channer, Shezad Dawood, Bram Ellen, Sarah Lucas, Jocelyn McGregor, Emma Louise Moore, and Ugo Rondinone.