LONDON.- Artists across the UK are being invited to submit proposals for the inaugural Spitalfields Sculpture Prize. The winning sculpture will be sited in one of London’s most high profile public spaces, Bishops Square, Spitalfields. The sculpture will be seen by more than 70,000 people a week and go on display in October 2010.

Spitalfields links the vibrancy of the City with the creativity of the East End and is itself a hub of commerce and the arts. New and historic buildings, landscaping and large piazzas combine to provide the ideal canvas for an inspirational and large scale sculpture. Artists are being asked to respond to the site’s urban and historic surroundings to produce a work that will have contemporary relevance.

Judges include sculptor Nigel Hall, architect Sir Richard MacCormac and Alex Sainsbury, Director of Raven Row. Members of the public will also be able to vote, choosing from eight shortlisted designs which will be exhibited during January and February 2010 in the Allen & Overy LLP offices on Bishops Square, next to the planned site of the sculpture.

The winning sculpture will go on display in October 2010 for 18 months and will become a permanent part of the Spitalfields Public Art Collection, with the intention to create a sculpture park within the site featuring the winning sculptures of 2010 and beyond.

Toby Brown of Hammerson said: “This is an exciting new project for Spitalfields. The Sculpture Prize creates an artistic focus for the site. And we hope it will produce a fantastic new feature for those who live, work and visit Spitalfields. I’m looking forward to seeing the ideas put forward by artists across the UK and seeing the winning sculpture on display in Bishops Square. ”

The Spitalfields Sculpture Prize 2010 is supported by real estate company Hammerson, developer and joint owner of Bishops Square, and international legal practice Allen & Overy LLP.

For further information about the Spitalfields Sculpture Prize and downloadable entry forms can be found at www.spitalfields.co.uk/sculpture.