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 for preexisting works that can be exhibited outdoors from May 2018 to May 2019. Deadline for applications is 16 November 2017.

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.

We are now launching the call for submissions for Sculpture in the City 2018.

Deadline on 16 November 2017.

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

Requirements to participate

The artworks exhibited are primarily 3D. The proposed artworks need to be pre-existing; the project does not commission.  The artwork needs to be suitable for exhibiting outdoors and available from May 2018 to May 2019.

There are many potential sites in the area of varying size and conditions. The scale of the surrounding tall buildings calls for large scale works which have been shown very successfully to date, and the shiny monochrome buildings also make colour work particularly well. In addition there are sites, such as the churchyards, which make ideal sites for smaller works. Over the years we have also hung works in Leadenhall Market, in trees, and for the latest show on the Lloyds building, on the Cheesegrater and on a lamppost. The scope of the project allows for sculpture to be showcased in the most contemporary fashion.

Weight and installation ease are often a defining factor as not many of the spaces have large weight loading capacity and in many cases sites chosen for artworks prove inaccessible. For the 2018 edition we are keen to consider artforms which would work in this dynamic urban environment including performance and digital artwork.

Selection Process

Works submitted are shortlisted for consideration by the Arts Advisory Group made up of  Iwona Blazwick (Director Whitechapel Gallery), Robert Hiscox (Honorary Chairman Hiscox) , Whitney Hinz (Hiscox Curator) , Stephen Feeke (Director New Art Centre) , Jane Allison (Head of Galleries Barbican ) and Wendy Fisher (Chairman of the Guggenheim Board of Trustees).

The shortlist is expected to be confirmed in December 2017.

Following shortlisting by the Arts Advisory Group each artist / gallerist is invited for a site visit to identify which site(s) in the area are most suitable for showcasing the selected work. When all shortlisted artwork sites have been identified the project team liaises with the landowners to obtain their approval for particular artworks to be shown on their land. The project team also takes care of health and safety, planning, engineering and installation requirements, and any other legal requirements the project needs to comply with.

We aim to confirm the final installation list in April 2018 and will be installing works in May/June 2018.

Conditions of participation

The works are on loan at no fee for 12 months (May 2018-May 2019).

Sculpture in the City covers shipping within the UK, installation, insurance and maintenance costs. Please note shipping from outside the UK will be considered and dealt with on an individual basis.

Sculpture in the City works exclusively with MTEC who ship and install all the artworks.

All artists and galleries participating receive full credit on all marketing and press material and are invited to the official Launch event and other associated events.

How to submit work for consideration

Submissions have to be made online here by 16 November 2017.

Sculpture in the City - Press, Film, Map, Tours and background

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              
‘The Sculpture in the City is a dynamic yearly public art exhibiton in the City of London, launches each summer with a new selection of contemporary art pieces placed in and around the Square Mile’ - Artlyst

Tours of Sculpture in the City 2017

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. The tours will take approximately 90 minutes and will provide artists with the opportunity to view the works currently on show and take into account the particular urban environment in which the work is placed.

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 http://lacuna.eventbrite.com.