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Public Artwork Commission Opportunity

We are looking for an east London based artist to design an original artwork to be displayed in a permanent outdoor public location on the Queen Mary Mile End Campus. 

Published:
A mock up of the area on campus for a public artwork as part of the new SBM development

We are looking for an east London based artist to design an original artwork to be displayed in a permanent outdoor public location on the Queen Mary Mile End Campus. As part of the redevelopment of the School of Business and Management (SBM), there is a meadow between the new SBM building and the Arts One building which backs onto a cycle store. This provides a large canvas, which is a metal screen onto which an artwork can be realised through perforation patterns.

A commission of £6,000 is available for an artist to conceive and design an artwork, which will then be applied to the screen by a specialist contractor.

Proposed designs could be:

  • relevant to the site and its history
  • or to Queen Mary, and its history and community
  • connected to themes adjacent to the space (e.g. nature and the environment; culture and creativity; business and commerce)
  • something else you propose

We are looking for artwork which:

  • will stand the test of time
  • capture the imagination of staff, students and visitors
  • is thought provoking
  • contributes to the quality and enjoyment of the new public realm
  • creates a landmark reference point on the campus

To apply, submit an expression of interest using the link below by 5pm Thursday 23rd April 2026.

Queen Mary Public Artwork Commission expression of interest form – Fill in form

We are not looking for designs at this stage, just some information about your work and how you might approach this commission.

Please refer to the Queen Mary Public Artwork Project Scope [PDF 7,893KB] for more details on the site and spec.

Project timeline:

  • Deadline to apply – 5pm Thursday 23rd April 2026
  • Second round (invite to submit concept reference images) – by mid-May
  • Commission announced – end of May
  • Concept development and feedback – June
  • Final design submission – end of July

If you have any question please email publicengagement@qmul.ac.uk

 

 

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