Get Living has launched a £5,000 open call for artists and designers with a connection to Elephant & Castle to create a bold new public artwork at a prominent gateway to the neighbourhood, behind the site of Corsica Studios.
The commission will transform a highly visible structure into a new piece of public art celebrating the area’s distinctive cultural energy, musical heritage and diverse communities.
Located at a key entrance to The Elephant, Get Living’s neighbourhood in the heart of Elephant & Castle, the artwork will sit alongside new homes, shops, places to eat and drink, leisure and public spaces. Seen by residents, visitors and the wider community, the finished work is intended to become a new local landmark, shaped by an artist with a genuine connection to the area.
Working under the theme Basslines of the Elephant, applicants are invited to explore sound, rhythm and movement through abstract visual language. The brief draws inspiration from the experimental culture of Corsica Studios, local sound-system heritage, the dance traditions of the Latin Quarter and Elephant & Castle’s long history as a meeting point for different cultures.
Rather than depicting nightlife literally, the selected artist should translate these influences into a contemporary and welcoming piece of public art. Artists are encouraged to experiment with pattern, rhythm, form and colour to capture the movement, energy and cultural exchange that have long defined Elephant & Castle.
The selected artist will develop the concept with Get Living, Corsica Studios founder Adrian Jones and key stakeholders before producing the final design. The artwork will then be printed onto concrete cladding panels, with production and installation managed and funded separately by Get Living.
The commission includes:
· A £5,000 artist design fee (all fabrication and installation costs will be met by Get Living)
· The opportunity to create a highly visible public artwork
· Concept development and feedback with Get Living, Corsica Studios founder Adrian Jones and Cultural Transitions, the arts advisory company managing the commission
· Production and installation funded and managed by Get Living
· The opportunity is open to artists and designers who can demonstrate a meaningful connection to Elephant & Castle through living, working, studying or developing their creative practice in the area.
Sanaz Amidi, CEO of Cultural Transitions, said: “Elephant & Castle has an extraordinary creative history shaped by music, migration, performance and cultural exchange. This commission is an opportunity for an artist with a genuine connection to the area to interpret that story in a bold, contemporary way and to create something that will become part of its evolving public realm.”
Diana Barranco, Partnerships Director at Get Living, said: “As The Elephant continues to grow, we want the neighbourhood’s public spaces to reflect the creativity and culture that have long been part of Elephant & Castle.
“This commission is a chance for an artist who knows the area to make their mark on a prominent gateway to The Elephant. We’re excited to see how they draw on the area’s music, movement and cultural energy to create something memorable for residents, visitors and the wider community.”
Adrian Jones, Founder of Corsica Studios, said: “Music and art have long been cultural cornerstones of the Elephant & Castle community. This is a great opportunity for artists with a personal connection to the area to channel its rich and diverse cultural heritage into a highly visible installation that will be enjoyed by locals and visitors for years to come.”
Applications close at midnight on Monday, 28 September 2026.
