Open Call: City Alleyways - Heritage Lantern, Hive Curates

Hive Curates is excited to announce a new series of commissions in collaboration with Eastern City BID. These works will form part of an ambitious art and lighting strategy for Eastern City's historic alleyways, and we invite artists to submit Expressions of Interest to deliver one or more of the 4 commissions.

The project focuses on four key historic alleyways, creating a cohesive trail of light-based artworks that should provoke curiosity, encourage discovery and celebrate the area's architectural and cultural heritage, transforming the alleyways into an atmospheric and safer network of illuminated public spaces. Through artist led interventions, the trail will highlight the character, stories and textures embedded in Eastern City's built environment, offering residents, workers and visitors a fresh way to experience the area.

Artists working with light, projection, pattern, typography or site responsive visual storytelling are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest for consideration to one or multiple commissions.

We have a new commission for an artist or creative to design a lantern which will take the form of a heritage lantern that is often found in the surrounding alleyways. The sculptural lantern will be permanently installed in Castle Court and provides the opportunity to create an exciting landmark artwork, acting to increase nighttime safety but also as a wayfinding marker in a labyrinth of alleyways. Applicants are encouraged to respond to the project's themes of heritage, women's night-time safety and gateways. Submissions should include a proposal of approach.

Clarification questions deadline: 14th August 2026
Application deadline: 21st August 2026 (at midday)

Artist Fee: £2,500 (plus VAT if applicable)
The fee must include 1 community engagement session. Full production support will be provided and the artist is only intended to provide a digital design as the final output.

Installation dates: October/November 26