Organizer Information
This open call is commissioned by Westminster City Council, the local governing authority for one of London’s most densely populated and internationally visited boroughs. The Council oversees a wide range of civic responsibilities, including urban planning, housing, public services, environmental strategy, and cultural development. In recent years, it has expanded its focus on placemaking and cultural regeneration as tools to improve the quality of public life across high streets and neighbourhoods.
For the delivery of this specific commission, Westminster City Council is working in partnership with LACUNA, a cultural studio specializing in public art, urban interventions, and community-engaged artistic programming. LACUNA supports municipalities and developers in integrating contemporary art into the public realm, with a strong emphasis on site-specificity, community consultation, and long-term cultural impact.
Together, the two organisations are delivering a multi-site public art programme across Praed Street, Paddington, as part of the wider Westminster High Streets Programme. This initiative aims to strengthen high streets as cultural, social, and economic infrastructures that are more inclusive, resilient, and responsive to community needs.
Title & Description
Expression of Interest – Outdoor Permanent Public Art (2D Artwork) – Praed Street Public Art Programme
This opportunity invites artists to develop a permanent, site-specific 2D public artwork for installation on Praed Street in Westminster, London. The commission is part of a broader transformation strategy for the Paddington–Bayswater area, focusing on high street regeneration through cultural and artistic interventions.
The selected artist will create a large-scale mural or vinyl-based artwork designed for outdoor public visibility. The work should be high-impact, accessible, and reflective of the local context, integrating narratives drawn from Praed Street’s layered history, contemporary community life, and evolving urban identity.
The curatorial framework emphasizes three core thematic directions:
- Creating a welcoming, safe, and socially engaging public space
- Diversifying the high street’s uses and cultural functions
- Encouraging social interaction and community cohesion
Artists are encouraged to respond to Praed Street’s unique context, including its historical role as a gateway into London, its proximity to major transport infrastructure such as Paddington Station, and its association with scientific innovation, migration, hospitality culture, and everyday urban life.
The final artwork will be installed permanently at a designated wall site on Praed Street, with potential for future expansion into a secondary wall commission.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Public Art
- Mural / Street Art
- 2D Installation
- Site-specific Art
- Urban / Environmental Art
- Contemporary Art
Eligibility
- Open to professional artists and collectives internationally
- Emerging and mid-career artists are encouraged to apply
- Applicants must have experience in the public realm or large-scale 2D work
- Inclusive of all nationalities, genders, identities, and backgrounds
- Only one application per artist/collective is permitted
- Applicants must be able to engage in community workshops and participatory development stages
Program Benefits & Awards
- Shortlisted artists receive a £5,000 fee to:
- Develop concept proposal
- Participate in community workshops
- Present to the jury panel
- Final selected artist receives:
- £15,000 artist fee for final development and delivery
- Full production, fabrication, installation, insurance, and maintenance costs are covered separately by the commissioning body
- Professional support from muralists, fabricators, and installation teams
- Public credit in all communications and media
- Invitation to the official unveiling event
- Possible increase of total fee to £20,000 if a secondary wall is added
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed Expression of Interest form (via Curatorspace)
- Artist CV
- Portfolio (relevant public art / 2D work strongly recommended)
- Project proposal responding to site and themes
- Optional: sketches, visual references, or concept drafts
- Optional: outline of community engagement approach
- Personal and contact information
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 24 April 2026
- Community workshops: May – June 2026
- Winner announcement: Mid July 2026
- Installation: November 2026
- Public unveiling: November 2026
Location
Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
The commission emphasizes site-specific storytelling grounded in local identity, encouraging artists to research and engage with surrounding communities. Suggested thematic entry points include:
- Local history (transport infrastructure, canal systems, historic figures such as Alexander Fleming)
- Health and innovation (St. Mary’s Hospital, scientific discovery, medical heritage)
- Movement and infrastructure (railways, canals, urban flows of people)
- Community life (residents, youth groups, cultural diversity, social exchange)
Artists are encouraged to engage with local stakeholders such as residents’ associations, schools, and community groups as part of their proposal development.
The final artwork must comply with strict public realm standards, including accessibility requirements and restrictions on nudity, political messaging, and religious content.