Key information
Request reference number: MGLA111122-3118
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
With regard to the work of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm:
- Since its establishment in 2020, has the Commission, or any committee connected to the Commission, undertaken a review of statues and monuments in London on diversity and representation among Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, women, LGTBQ+ and disabled groups?
- If the answer to Question1 is yes, can you list which statues and monuments have been renamed or are under review to be renamed in connection to the above-mentioned groups?
- Can the Commission please list what it is doing to address the issue of statues and monuments’ lack of representation with connections to Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, women, LGTBQ+ and disabled groups?
- Is there any report produced on the review of these issues, and if yes, could the report be provided?
Our response
The Commission has helped fund the first comprehensive audit of London’s public sculpture and monuments as part of national research conducted by Art UK. Published last year, its findings demonstrate the stark lack of equality in London’s public realm.
Further information on this data can be found here.
The Mayor does not have a remit or authority to change names of roads in London or remove statues. This remit lies largely with the planning authority (although sometimes private landowners) and can only be done with public consultation as is appropriate. This will include weighing the harm against the public benefit.
Where there is a desire by the public to make changes, the Commission can help to ensure that any approach meets best practice by providing support and guidance.
The purpose of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm is to lead a London-wide conversation on how to achieve greater diversity of representation across the public realm and heritage sites.
Activities so far have included:
- Launched a £1m grants programme to support community-led organisations to increase representation in public spaces.
- Designed a public engagement programme to find out what representation is important to Londoners from all backgrounds including London Unseen, a season of trails, tours and events that celebrate the many incredible histories of the city, as told by communities, practitioners, artists and activists.
- Delivered a series of panels and roundtables to widen the conversation on how to achieve greater diversity in public spaces.
- Set out a programme of support for London’s boroughs to share best practice and provide greater transparency about how decisions are made.
As per the above link, the Commission has supported Art UK to produce an overview on London’s public sculptures and monuments.
If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting reference MGLA111122-3118.