A Mayor's Vision

Despite the unanimous recommendation of the Vacant Plinth Committee, the Plinth remained vacant for the next three years for two key reasons. First, management of Trafalgar Square had moved from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Mayor of London’s Office in 2000.

Second, a long-planned, major redevelopment of Trafalgar Square had started in 2002. Led by WS Atkins and Foster and Partners, the work lasted 18 months and it wasn’t until July 2003 that the square was returned to the Mayor’s Office. 

The Mayor’s culture team also took over the Fourth Plinth Project which had now become the Fourth Plinth Programme. It was headed by Justine Simons, OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries. 

In that same year, 2003, the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group led by Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery was established to start the process recommended by Sir John and the Vacant Plinth Committee in 2000. 

The Commissioning Group comprised of figures from the worlds of art and architecture and included artists themselves, curators and journalists amongst others. The journey had resumed. 

A long list of British and international artists are invited to submit proposals. The group then selects six of these to each submit a maquette (small preliminary display of the artwork). These maquettes then go on an open exhibition and the public can comment and vote for their favourite. The Commissioning Group considers these comments and votes as they select the final two entries for approval by the Mayor’s office.

The first commissioning round took place in 2003 and to date there have been a total of six rounds. So, in 18 years, 36 designs have been shortlisted and by 2022, 12 works from internationally renowned artists would have been displayed on what has now become the world's most  prestigious public art gallery.   

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world. It is being increasingly recognised that this distinctiveness in diversity is a tremendous asset. The Mayor is committed to ensuring that the capital’s population and history are celebrated and commemorated, and we have already seen this with an increased cultural representation in our public spaces.

The Fourth Plinth Programme is no exception and since its inception has increasingly and openly embraced the rich diversity in the art world.

Let’s take a look back at these works that have placed art on a pedestal in, at times, a most spectacular, innovative, outlandish and unorthodox way. They and the artists behind them have pushed artistic boundaries, generated endless debate, catapulted art into the hearts of audiences worldwide and helped redefine Britain’s nationality identity.