Key information
Request reference number: MGLA140926-7834
Date of response:
Summary of request
- Please could you explain how Lady in Blue was selected, who made the final decision, what weight was given to public consultation and whether Black British women, London based Black artists or cultural organisations were consulted.
- I would also like to know the total cost attributable to this commission, including the artist’s fee, fabrication, transport, installation, maintenance and removal, and how much of that came from public funds.
Our response
- Please refer to FOI - Fourth Plinth Evaluation [Mar 2026] | London City Hall for information related to the decision-making process. Page 37 (of the PDF MGLA170226-4458 - FOI response) indicates the gender of those who submitted a response on the shortlist. Pages 37-38 indicate the location of those who submitted a response on the shortlist. At the time of the consultation on the shortlist, we do not know which proposal will be selected, therefore we do not approach specific groups for feedback and we do not request ethnicity data from respondents.
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Each artist is given a £30,000 fee for the commission. They are allocated up to £200,000 towards the production and installation of the sculpture. If the production and installation costs exceed £200,000 the artist/their representation is expected to underwrite the shortfall. This is established at the shortlist stage, where they are asked to provide evidence that these funds are available should they be required.
If the sculpture is sold, it is a contractual condition that the GLA's contribution towards production costs will be recouped.
Maintenance and removal costs are unknown at this point. Removal costs vary depending on the specifics of each sculpture.
Actual costs incurred by the GLA for Lady in Blue were: