2026 will mark 200 years since UCL’s establishment as the first University in London and the start of a year of Bicentennial activity and celebration. An exciting programme of public art is in development as part of the UCL200 Programme.

Through artworks, residencies, workshops and events, the UCL200 public art programme will bring together staff, students, researchers, local partners and artists to reflect on UCL’s history and identity and to help shape the next chapter of our story.

A call is now live for the UCL200 Artist in Residence programme, as the university opens its doors to artists who are curious, courageous, and inspired by the opportunity to work within a vibrant, diverse university community—students, staff, researchers, and local partners alike.

Three artists will be invited to be embedded in a distinct area of UCL life across the bicentenary year - UCL Bloomsbury, UCL East and the student community - and create work that responds to these areas in relation to the institution’s history, culture, and future ambitions.

The idea is to create more inclusive spaces for less heard voices, to creatively reflect on UCL’s core values, share ideas, find common ground, and reframe our story.

Find out more about the residencies including the online drop-in sessions being held on Thurs 5th June and the application form here.

🙆🏼 The next artist in residence at Two More Years, Stella Gere is a photographer who captures raw, human moments from her surroundings, focusing on the body's fragility and strength as the primary site of reality. She uses both digital and 120 film cameras to explore themes of combat (like Muay Thai boxing), vulnerability (through intimate portraits), and resilience. From today, Wed 21st May.

💪🏾 Award-winning dance artist and cultural creator Ivan Michael Blackstock’s powerful work, TRAPLORD, comes to Sadler’s Wells East 28th-30th May explores raw and confrontational themes around the stereotyping of Black men in contemporary western society. Read our interview with him from last week’s edition of The Wick.

🚙 Campervan Collective present a four-day festival of joyful public resistance, Carnival of Collabor-ART, taking place May 23rd – 26th at The Loop. Expect performances, talks and installations from migrant, queer, and racialised voices. There’s a Private View on Friday and talks by artists including Delaine Le Bas, Harold Offeh, Vlatka Horvat and more, plus performances by the likes of Hromoda Ukrainian Choir, Arambh Kathak Pathshala through the weekend.

👖 Returning for its third year 23rd - 25th May, the Westfield Good Festival aims to empower visitors to embrace a more circular lifestyle. You can discover pre-loved treasures at the Depop Marketplace, revitalise your wardrobe at the SOJO Fix & Fit pop-up, unleash your creativity with eco-conscious workshops led by experts from Depop and Sante & Loanhood, and explore greener skincare at Kiehl's refillable beauty pop-up.

🌏 You and I Are Earth at UCL Mashgate and the One Pool St Cinema is the Degree Show by students from UCL’s BA Media programme, with films, games, installations, and podcasts that examine our evolving relationship with each other and the planet. Fri 23rd May – Sun 1st June.

👚 At Fish Island’s Indra Gallery, Fashion Relevancy is a show from the C303 Collective that is not about trends, but taking a look at the agency of clothing in shaping cultural futures. Runs to Thurs 22nd.

💡Remember tonight’s community meet-up - all welcome

🤫 Shhh! Three of the biggest DJs in dance music join No90’s resident booker, Toby, for a 7-hour long Housewarming party is celebration of a new chapter in London nightlife: the recent opening of their brand new Hideout room. Fitted with eight-point D&B sound, wooden dancefloor and 360 degree visual mapping around the walls, go check it out this Sat 24th May.

🎶 From UKG and UK Funky to Grime and Jungle, Nights on Mars is a celebration of everything that makes Black British electronic music so powerful. Years of influence, energy, and evolution, all come together under one roof at Colour Factory this Sat 24th May with Headtops, Nosa, Sald3, and Tori playing.

🔊 Through sound, performance and ritual, artist Louise Romain will guide you on an immersive journey to a distant archipelago as An Immersive (Sound) Journey to the Caribbean comes to The Bath House this Fri 23rd May, partnering with Niche Studios who’ll be bringing their quadraphonic ambisonic sound system for a really deep immersion.

PRIZE DRAW

🙏🏼 Thanks to all who have referred friends so far! There’s still chances to win full-week wristbands for the SXSW London music festival if you do the same…

A full week-long music festival wristband (worth £99 each) gets you access to 500+ gigs featuring artists, including Miraa May, Sienna Spiro, Mabel, Alice Glass, Lila Iké, Carleen Anderson and more, every night.

For a chance to win one of 5 pairs of the wristbands, share this newsletter with a friend using your unique referral link in the box below. The more of your friends who subscribe to our free weekly updates, the more chances you both have being at SXSW London’s gigs for free. You can also reply to this newsletter with the subject line ‘SXSW London wristbands’ to enter, too.
We’ll draw and announce the winners at random on Thurs 29th May. Over 18s only please. Prize value is not transferrable.

🌍 Climate Change All Change is a charity that takes designers into primary schools to explore the causes and consequences of climate change through design. They are looking for designers interested in sustainability from various disciplines to undertake a six week, climate-focused educational workshop programme, the Young Designers Award 2025, with a £5,000 bursary. Appy before 8th June. 

🎓 The Inspiring Success Scholarship at Loughborough University London covers 100% of tuition fees on a masters programme, including career guidance and support, to unemployed or under-employed graduates from East London at their London campus at Here East. Residents of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, or Waltham Forest who are willing to actively contribute to the local community are invited to apply for the programme by 31st July.

💻 Evo Pioneers is a free 12-month programme for Hackney locals who have recently started a business or have a purpose-led idea and are looking for the next steps to get it off the ground. You’ll enjoy free workspace in Old St with business support, networking opportunities, regular check-ins with the community team, peer-to-peer support and access to a wider business network, all as part of The Trampery family. Apply by 26th May.

🌍 Apply now for the QEOP-based British Council’s Connections Through Culture (CTC) Grants 2025, which support artistic collaboration between the UK and select countries in Asia, Europe and Australasia’. Grants of up to £5k or £10k depending on region will be awarded across a wide range of creative disciplines from architecture to theatre. Deadline 23rd June.

🦵🏽 Well loved local fitness crew Strong + Bendy are about to open a brand new dedicated reformer Pilates studio in the building formerly known as Akasa and Open House Hackney before that. Classes start from Mon 26th May and they are also currently looking for experienced local reformer teachers to join the team - email [email protected] for more info.

🩰 Head to Stratford’s The LightHouse & Gardens next (and every) Wed 28th May to dance with your sprog at Ballet With My Baby. Sessions for kids from 16 months up to age four.