Native Land has unveiled a dedicated art exhibition window in a two year partnership with the Royal Academy of Arts at Burlington Gate in central Mayfair. The art exhibition space is located within the development’s public arcade, the first built in the area since the 1930s, and will complement the 25,000 sq ft of commercial gallery space that runs either side of the arcade.
A launch event held last night hosted key representatives of the Royal Academy, their students, and wider stakeholders of Native Land’s development, as the permanent exhibition space was revealed to the public.
The exhibition space was conceived by Native Land and the RA in order to showcase emerging talent and give young artists the opportunity to exhibit their work in a prominent public location close to the art school. With a depth of nearly 2 metres and the space extending to the ceiling of the arcade at above 6 metres, the selected artists will have considerable space to display their varied-medium work, the first of which being a large contemporary sculpture by former student of the Royal Academy Schools, Jack Killick.
The art will be selected by a panel made up of the RA and Native Land and will rotate quarterly, giving numerous students the opportunity to present their work over the initial two year period.
Alasdair Nicholls, Chief Executive of Native Land, said:
“We are extremely pleased to be collaborating with the Royal Academy in creating this unique art initiative at Burlington Gate. Native Land has always supported the arts in London, and public art plays and important and integral role in inner-city development. London is a talent hub for art and culture and we are committed to showcasing and nurturing this talent. As a supporter of the RA we are proud to work together with this respected institution to provide an opportunity for young talent to display their work in Mayfair’s renowned and historic arts district.”
Eliza Bonham Carter, Curator and Head of RA Schools, said:
“The Royal Academy Schools is delighted to be working with Native Land on this exciting project to display the work of artist graduates of the RAS at Burlington Gate. The display space in Burlington Gate, designed by a Royal Academician, Richard Rogers RA provides a spectacular setting in which to bring new work by emerging artists into the heart of the art district of Mayfair.”
The recently completed project, designed by internationally renowned architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, includes 42 apartments and penthouses, as well as a 2,605 sq ft gallery-lined public arcade with an open courtyard, creating a new pedestrian route between Old Burlington Street and Cork Street, along with 25,000 sq ft of commercial gallery space, sold by Native Land to The Pollen Estate in 2017 for £40m. Native Land undertook the development in a joint venture with HPL and Amcorp Properties, completing the building in late 2017.
Burlington Gate’s development has also been a catalyst and contributor to Westminster City Council’s East Mayfair initiative, which will focus on rejuvenating Cork Street along with Bond Street, Saville Row and Burlington Gardens. These extensive public realm improvements around Mayfair’s luxury retail, arts and fashion district also coincide with the completion of the new Royal Academy of Arts building on Burlington Garden. Native Land has recently provided £1.4m for street improvements in the area as part of the section 278 agreement for the development.
The arcade and Royal Academy Schools exhibition space is located within the arcade at Burlington Gate on 25 Cork Street, London, W1S 3NB.
