Influencing policy

London is one of the world’s leading cities for art and architecture, culture and the creative industries.  It is also distinct from any other city – both in the UK and abroad – in terms of supporting art, architecture and design in public space. It has a different planning regime, its own strategy for culture, larger areas of development and regeneration, significant strategic issues, and a diverse and cosmopolitan population.

Open-City’s Art in the Open is London’s advisor for art in the public realm and influences London’s policy, as part of Open-City’s Advocacy and Enabling work. 

Major policy and strategy impact to date:

  • The Mayor’s Cultural Strategy now includes art in the public realm and architecture as a major focus, and also details of our work for London.
  • Art in the public realm is referenced for the first time in the Mayor’s draft London Plan
  • The Mayor’s Great Outdoors: A Manifesto for Public Space acknowledges the importance of a strategic approach and specifically refers to our initiative, Light London, and the role that artists can play alongside architects and others in enriching the city.
  • Our Light London Principles, developed in partnership with the London Development Agency/Design for London, offer principles to support high quality light in public space, and are endorsed by the Mayor in his Cultural Strategy.