LONDON, 1ST SEPTEMBER 2026 – Get Living has launched a £5,000 open call for artists and designers with a connection to Elephant & Castle to create a bold new public artwork at a prominent gateway to the neighbourhood, behind the site of Corsica Studios.
The commission will transform a highly visible structure into a new piece of public art celebrating the area’s distinctive cultural energy, musical heritage and diverse communities.
Located at a key entrance to The Elephant, Get Living’s neighbourhood in the heart of Elephant & Castle, the artwork will sit alongside new homes, shops, places to eat and drink, leisure and public spaces. Seen by residents, visitors and the wider community, the finished work is intended to become a new local landmark, shaped by an artist with a genuine connection to the area.
Working under the theme Basslines of the Elephant, applicants are invited to explore sound, rhythm and movement through abstract visual language. The brief draws inspiration from the experimental culture of Corsica Studios, local sound-system heritage, the dance traditions of the Latin Quarter and Elephant & Castle’s long history as a meeting point for different cultures.
Rather than depicting nightlife literally, the selected artist should translate these influences into a contemporary and welcoming piece of public art. Artists are encouraged to experiment with pattern, rhythm, form and colour to capture the movement, energy and cultural exchange that have long defined Elephant & Castle.
The selected artist will develop the concept with Get Living, Corsica Studios founder Adrian Jones and key stakeholders before producing the final design. The artwork will then be printed onto concrete cladding panels, with production and installation managed and funded separately by Get Living.
The commission includes:
Sanaz Amidi, CEO of Cultural Transitions, said: “Elephant & Castle has an extraordinary creative history shaped by music, migration, performance and cultural exchange. This commission is an opportunity for an artist with a genuine connection to the area to interpret that story in a bold, contemporary way and to create something that will become part of its evolving public realm.”
Diana Barranco, Partnerships Director at Get Living, said: “As The Elephant continues to grow, we want the neighbourhood’s public spaces to reflect the creativity and culture that have long been part of Elephant & Castle.
“This commission is a chance for an artist who knows the area to make their mark on a prominent gateway to The Elephant. We’re excited to see how they draw on the area’s music, movement and cultural energy to create something memorable for residents, visitors and the wider community.”
Adrian Jones, Founder of Corsica Studios, said: “Music and art have long been cultural cornerstones of the Elephant & Castle community. This is a great opportunity for artists with a personal connection to the area to channel its rich and diverse cultural heritage into a highly visible installation that will be enjoyed by locals and visitors for years to come.”
Applications close at midnight on Monday, 28 September 2026.
To read the full artist brief and apply, visit https://corporate.getliving.com/the-elephant-artist-brief/ or contact [email protected].
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Notes to editors
Further information for Get Living or The Elephant contact: [email protected]
To stay updated on The Elephant’s plans, you can sign up on its website or follow The Elephant on Instagram.
About the commission
The artwork will be installed on a boxed structure behind Corsica Studios at a key gateway into The Elephant. Applicants will be expected to submit initial concepts and, if selected, produce panel-by-panel TIFF artwork suitable for printing onto concrete cladding.
About Cultural Transitions
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About The Elephant
Get Living’s Elephant & Castle Town Centre scheme, now named The Elephant, will be a major new destination in the heart of the Capital. Set against the backdrop of the £4bn Elephant & Castle Opportunity Area, the scheme will deliver 485 new homes for market and affordable rent, alongside a new retail destination including 135,000 sq ft of shops, dining and leisure uses, 55,000 sq ft of workspace and a state-of-the-art new building for UAL’s London College of Communication. The public realm will be completely transformed with new streets, a public square and extensive landscaping for the whole community. Get Living already operates 652 homes in Elephant & Castle and a further phase of development is planned on the current site of the London College of Communication which will deliver a further 507 rental homes and 452 student homes.
About Get Living
Get Living is one of the UK’s leading build-to-rent investors, developers and operators. We provide quality rental homes in neighbourhoods that nurture togetherness, belonging and opportunity in a way that generates financial, environmental and social value for residents and shareholders alike.
Get Living’s portfolio has grown to over 6,200 homes for rent across seven neighbourhoods: East Village, Elephant Central and The Filigree in London, One Maidenhead in Berkshire, Sherlock Quarter in Birmingham, Oakgate in Leatherhead and New Maker Yards in Salford, Greater Manchester. Future neighbourhoods are planned or under construction, delivering a further 1,800 homes.
