London-based fine artists are being invited to apply to become the first Artist in Residence for Guildhall, the seat of the City of London’s government.

The three-month residency focuses on ‘Celebrating City Women’ and is aimed at mid-career artists with ‘outstanding’ portfolios that feature predominantly 2D work (e.g. drawing, painting, textiles, works on canvas and paper), and who can demonstrate a keen interest in the City’s history and culture.

The successful artist will be awarded £10,000, which covers the fee, materials, travel costs, and other related expenses, as well as free use of a studio space next to the City of London Corporation-owned Guildhall Art Gallery.

The resulting artwork is expected to be displayed at the gallery and may be acquired for the City Corporation’s extensive art collection, which includes works by John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Marianne Stokes, Elizabeth Stanhope-Forbes, and John Constable.

The first year’s ‘Celebrating City Women’ residency is expected to run from 2 September to 29 November this year. Plans to hold a second residency in 2020, linked to the City, its Livery Companies, and the ‘Mayflower 400’ celebrations, are currently being considered.

The City of London Corporation owns and manages Guildhall Galleries, which include several visitor and civic attractions and venues, such as Guildhall Art Gallery, London’s Roman Amphitheatre, City of London Heritage Gallery, Guildhall Library, City of London Police Museum, Guildhall Great Hall, St Lawrence Jewry Church, and The City Centre.

Graham Packham, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, said:

“We are throwing down the gauntlet to artists to celebrate women’s achievements by applying for this inaugural residency at Guildhall, with the ultimate aim of having their work displayed in our beautiful gallery in the heart of the Square Mile.

“It is an opportunity that many artists should find hard to resist, especially, if they are familiar with the Square Mile, so I hope that this call for submissions will be taken up enthusiastically.”

Tom Hoffman, Chief Commoner of the City of London Corporation, who established the Guildhall Artist in Residence programme (GAiR), said:

“This residency programme represents a perfect opportunity for artists to make their mark on the City by creating an original artwork that celebrates women, and offer fresh perspectives on this historic and culturally diverse area of London.

“As a keen supporter of the arts, I am looking forward to driving this idea forward with colleagues from Guildhall Galleries, and to helping judge the artists’ submissions later this year.”

Elizabeth Scott, the City of London Corporation’s Head of Guildhall Galleries and Principal Curator of Guildhall Art Gallery, said:

“Using the medium of their choice, we are encouraging talented artists to explore Guildhall, capture the spirit of this unique area of London, and the contribution made by the City’s remarkable women.

“Our chosen artist will enjoy access to our extensive art collections and archives, as well as engage with the City’s diverse communities and senior figures at Guildhall to help inspire them to produce an outstanding piece of art.”

Submissions for the Artist in Residence at Guildhall programme open on 10 June and must be received by post or email by 5pm on 8 July. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to present their work on 23 July. For full details, please contact Katherine Pearce at Katherine.pearce@cityoflondon.gov.uk or 020 7332 3404.

The City of London Corporation is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £100m every year.

It is also developing Culture Mile between Farringdon and Moorgate – a multi-million-pound investment which will create a new cultural and creative destination for London over the next 10 to 15 years. This includes £110m funding to support the Museum of London’s move to West Smithfield and £4.9m to support the detailed business case for the proposed Centre for Music.

ENDS

Elizabeth Scott, the City of London Corporation’s Head of Guildhall Galleries and Principal Curator of Guildhall Art Gallery; and Nick Bodger, Director of the City of London Corporation’s Culture and Visitor Development Department, are available for interview. Please contact Andrew Buckingham (see below) for details:

Media enquiries:

Andrew Buckingham

Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Andrew.Buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

020 7332 1452 / 07795 333060

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

About Guildhall Art Gallery:

Guildhall Art Gallery and London’s Roman Amphitheatre

Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AR – telephone 020 7332 3700

The closest tube stations are Bank, St Paul’s, and Moorgate.

Twitter @GuildhallArt

Website www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhallartgallery

The historic Guildhall Art Gallery originally opened in 1886 and is home to City of London’s magnificent art collection. Particularly rich in Victorian art and ranging from Pre-Raphaelites to depictions London’s colourful past, the Gallery offers a spectacular arena. The Gallery also owns one of the largest oil paintings in Britain, John Singleton Copley’s Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar (1783 – 1791), which is on permanent display.