A new on-street exhibition called City Vistas is bringing creativity to unexpected places in the City of London.
Monday July 18 saw the launch of City Vistas, an area-wide exhibition which offers a new view of the City.
Emerging artists from London will display their work in City businesses creating a street-level exhibition through the City’s Culture Mile (which runs from Farringdon to Finsbury Circus).
The exhibition, curated by partner Artiq, is visible from external street level vistas – from global corporation lobbies and receptions to the window spaces of shops and bars – activating the public realm and making the City a more vibrant and welcoming place.
The wide-ranging businesses taking part include Lloyds Banking Group, international law firm Simmons + Simmons, global charity British Red Cross, nail salon details. and cocktail bar The Long Lane.
Gwynne Master, Managing Director, Lending and Working Capital, C&IB at Lloyds Banking Group said: “The pandemic has changed how many people work, which has affected our town and city centres. Projects like City Vistas are valuable for local businesses as they create experiences that energise spaces and reflect what makes our cities appealing, which in turn can attract people and build vital footfall.”
Collectively, City Vistas tells the story of the local business community’s values through displaying artwork that reflects each participant organisation’s interests or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities.
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Correspondingly, each one of the selected, exhibited artworks has been created by a diverse snapshot of emerging London-based talent, including former City of London worker turned artist Stephanie Ho, sculptor David Worthington and Ukrainian artist Yuliya Dan.
Sebastian O’Driscoll, Senior Innovation Officer at British Red Cross, said: “As a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are, we are particularly pleased to champion the work of Ukrainian artist Yuliya Dan through our involvement in City Vistas.
“Yuliya’s work Empathy Has No Borders is an urgent reminder of the importance of universal care, which is core to the values of our social enterprise for refugee women, Leaps & Grounds, where this incredible artwork will be displayed.”
City Vistas is a Culture Mile Business Partnership demonstration project, funded in part by the Culture Mile Business Partnership Board, which is made up of local business community representatives.
The Culture Mile Business Partnership has formed to champion the creation of a new Business Improvement District – the Culture Mile BID – and develop projects that make the area a better place to live, work and learn. Subject to the outcome of a ballot of eligible businesses in the area, the BID will be launched in spring 2023.
Wendy Hyde, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee said: “As we continue to recover from the pandemic, we are working towards transforming the Square Mile into a vibrant and welcoming destination of choice for everyone.
“Through these types of innovative business-led projects that showcase partnership between the cultural and commercial sectors, we are collectively getting closer to that aim.”
Ruth Duston, Managing Director of Primera, said: “Across London, BIDs are demonstrating that they are an enormous force for good, delivering tangible enhancements on the ground and giving business communities the chance to shape the future of their areas.
“The Culture Mile BID presents a huge opportunity, helping to attract visitors and workers alike, bolstering the offer of the City and cementing its reputation as a global economic powerhouse.”
More information about each organisation and their priorities, selected artworks and featured artists is available on the City Vistas webpage on the Culture Mile website.
City Vistas is delivered by Culture Mile in partnership with the City of London Corporation and Artiq.
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