Open Call for Sculptors: Timber Square, Southwark
Timber Square public realm from the south, looking north towards Lavington Street (the future Ink building on the left and Print on the right)
Are you a sculptor with a connection to Southwark and a passion for sustainability and heritage? Help us to create an iconic creative landmark at Timber Square.
Hive Curates and Landsec invite applications from artists or creative studios to create a new public sculpture at Timber Square in Southwark. This vibrant location, known for its rich history provides the perfect backdrop for an innovative and inspiring sculpture that will become a much loved landmark for locals and visitors to the area.
Background:
Timber Square is located on Lavington Street, in the cultural and creative heart of Bankside , close to Southwark Street, the river, a wealth of arts and social amenities, including Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre, Borough Market and a host of bars, restaurants and cafés.
The first of its kind in Bankside, Timber Square's first phase is one of Europe’s most exciting net zero development projects, helping pioneer the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the UK. The project will deliver 380,000 sq ft of modern work, retail and leisure space and targets net zero emissions in both construction and operation.
The public sculpture should aim to encourage connectivity through the site and create a sense of arrival from Lavington Street into a new welcoming public space leading to the former Grand Vitesse arches. The artwork will animate the green space and help to establish a sense of escape for locals, occupiers of the scheme, and visitors. The site will be accessible 24 hours a day.
Bold in ambition and human in scale, Timber Square will be a place for people to gather. The public sculpture will establish an anchor point between the former Print Building and newly constructed Ink Building. A visual gathering point that celebrates Bankside’s identity, reflects its industrial heritage and diasporic communities that live in the area and contribute to its vibrancy.
The Print and Ink buildings of Timber Square will be completed by the end of the year with occupiers moving in next year. Timber Square phase 2 will then commence in 2026. The second phase adds another 380k+ sq ft to the south of the scheme and will utilise the existing arches,as the ground floor and entrance of the future buildings.
Timber Square
Artist Brief:
The artwork should echo the heritage and surrounding context. Bankside is London’s Other Side, an area that has experienced constant reinvention. From its earliest days, the area was a natural landing place for outsiders and free thinkers. We are looking for proposals that embrace Bankside’s sense of otherness, joviality and welcome an unexpected sense of play.
In 1889-1896 the site was occupied by a timber and builders' yard. Adjacent to Lavington Street sat the former Print Building with strong links to printing and the arts and craft movement.
Timber Square aims to be the flagship for sustainable projects in Southwark. We are looking for proposals that minimise the environmental impact. Artists should outline ways in which they might consider sustainability within the production of their artworks.
All artists are encouraged to apply, and although previous experience is welcomed, artists without public realm experience are equally encouraged to apply. Hive Curates will match artists with fabricators, engineers and installers throughout the process.
To read the full brief download below.
Submission and Selection Process
Stage 1: Expression of Interest
In the first stage we are searching for sculptors to register their interest in the Open Call. Please fill out the short form and include relevant examples from your portfolio. In addition please describe in 250 words (max) how you might approach the commission.
EOI LINK HERE
Deadline: Monday 31st March midnight
Stage 2: 5x Shortlisted Artists (paid £1,000 honorarium)
Five shortlisted artists will be selected to develop their ideas further, creating a proposal that takes into consideration Timber Square’s heritage and future aspirations. At this stage, five artists will be invited to a site visit and receive an honorarium of £1,000 to further develop their proposals. The shortlisted artist’s proposals will be exhibited in Timber Square’s marketing suite. More information and dates will be provided nearer the time.
Site visits: will take place with Hive Curates on either Thursday 10th April or Wednesday 16th April (times tbc)
Deadline for developed proposals: midnight Wednesday 23rd April 2025
Stage 3: Artist Appointed
Appointed Artist Fee: £22,500 inclusive of expenses.
Please note there is a separate budget to cover the fabrication of the public sculpture (£50,000) and Hive Curates will facilitate installation and any access equipment required. Support will be provided by the Hive Curates team throughout the commissioning process so we encourage artists with no prior public sculpture experience to apply.
Fabrication Budget: £50,000
Fabrication budget must include all necessary costs associated with proposed sculpture (structural engineering costs, materials etc.) however Hive have additional budget to assist with the installation of the artwork. Hive are happy to provide approved sub-contractors should artists not have experience working at scale.
All budgets are excluding VAT.
For more information please download the PDF.