HOLT’s Conference: Public Art: Aesthetics in the Public Realm

We were thrilled with our annual conference this year – Public Art: Aesthetics in the Public Realm, held at RIBA on Friday.

Over 300 people joined us to talk about the history and impact of public art, how we engage with sculpture, iconic public artists, the challenges of commissioning public art, regeneration of historic spaces, plus public art as a tool for social justice and vibrant, characterful places for public health and happiness.

We had an amazing line up including contemporary artists Hew Locke and Anya Gallaccio, designer Thomas Heatherwick, Jason Gaiger from Oxford University, Godfrey Worsdale from the Henry Moore Foundation, historian Dawn Pereira, developer Richard Upton, Kirsten Dunne from the Mayor’s Office, George Kekatos from Future City, Stella Ioannou from Lacuna and Lisa Anderson from Black Cultural Archives. Panel sessions were chaired by Louisa Buck from the Art Newspaper and Honor Fishburn from MurrayTwohig.

Director Nicola Stacey spoke about HOLT’s work and Sir Laurie Magnus introduced Thomas Heatherwick.

With exhibitions, photography and a team of young volunteers from schools in Tottenham and Southwark, the conference was bursting with creative ideas about social impact, art and heritage.

Our huge thanks to our sponsor Richard Upton and all those who joined us on the day.

HOLT’s Director Nicola Stacey on the Standard 100 list

We are thrilled that HOLT Director, Dr Nicola Stacey, has been listed as one of the 100 top people shaping London as part of The Standard 100’s list published today. The list covers a wide range of categories including the arts, politics, media, sport and charity: "the movers and shakers...representing the rich tapestry that defines our great city."

The list includes amazing Londoners from Dr Tim Spector to David Attenborough and Tracey Emin. The three people in the Heritage category are Shobi Khan, CEO of Canary Wharf, Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, and Nicola Stacey.

With over 850 projects completed and 8,000 young people involved in our projects in the last four years we’re excited about future developments. Please stay in touch with us!

To see the full Standard 100 list see here:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/standard-100-list-shaping-london-influential-names-2024-b1190708.html

For our entry:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/science/100-list-people-shaping-london-science-medicine-environment-b1190247.html

Christchurch drinking fountain

Work has started on restoring the Christchurch fountain in Blackfriars’ Road, Southwark.

This drinking fountain was erected in the churchyard of Christchurch in Southwark in 1900 by John Passmore Edwards, a philanthropist and newspaper owner who financed 70 public buildings and 11 fountains across London. 

The fountain was in poor condition with a damaged roof, missing stone basin and had not been working for some years. HOLT is working with Southwark Council to include a new concrete foundation, repairs to the masonry and timber roof, recarving a stone basin, new slate tiles and inserting new taps in order to restore it to public use. Our thanks to Delancey for supporting this project.

As part of our Proud Places programme, around 75 young people from alternative provision schools, youth groups and primary schools have already visited and met the conservators on-site.

Christchurch fountain is one of 14 historic drinking fountains currently being restored by HOLT, with 13 already fully restored to working order.