We're thrilled to announce the Heritage Summer Trail, our creative partnership with London Heritage Quarter.

The London Heritage Quarter is a collective of four central London Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). This summer, they are hosting a series of vibrant activities to celebrate the area's rich history, culture, and community.

Starting June 17 and running through August 4, the Heritage Summer Trail will span from Victoria to the Strand, passing through Westminster and Whitehall. This unique public art trail features eleven London-themed sculptures, hand-painted by artists we've selected from our network.

The sculptures include iconic symbols like a British post-box, a London bus, a black cab, a phone box, a Coldstream Guard, and a larger-than-life sculpture of a crown near Buckingham Palace. The objects may be traditional, but the artists are contemporary and have creatively interpreted these symbols according to their own influences and creative practices.

This initiative is part of a series of vibrant summer activities that will celebrate the area's rich history, culture, and community. This series of events will commemorate significant anniversaries, including the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery, while benefiting local businesses, residents, and attracting national and international visitors.

Enhancing the experience, each sculpture will be linked to augmented reality (AR), revealing archival imagery of nearby landmarks and the surrounding area via a QR code embedded on the plinth of the respective sculptures. The feature is a collaboration with Westminster City Archives and the local charity Thorney Island Society, who helped source some of the historical materials, providing an educational and interactive experience for all visitors.

Read more about this project on BBC, Secret London and Far Out Magazine