SOMERSET HOUSE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH A SPECIAL YEAR OF PROGRAMMING AND NEW INITIATIVES
25 years ago, Somerset House was a set of government offices and a carpark, a far step away from its radical transformation to become an unrivalled centre for cultural innovators and internationally acclaimed arts destination. To mark its 25th birthday year, the organisation announced a number of ‘firsts’: a special year of programming and a brand new visual identity. A number of cultural luminaries also comment on the role Somerset House has played and continues to play in the cultural world.
HIGHLIGHTS
- TALENT 25: Acclaimed interdisciplinary artist, Yinka Ilori, will helm a brand-new initiative which will expand upon Somerset House’s existing commitment to investing in creative potential. The scheme, aided by an industry-leading panel, will spotlight five innovative gamechangers from Somerset House’s creative community who are shaping the future, providing them with financial and professional developmental support.
- STEP INSIDE 25: In a way that’s not been done before, the entire building, including its lesser-known artist studios, will be opened to the public. This free, inclusive and family-friendly event invites everyone to connect with the resident cultural innovators and their inspiring work. The diverse programme features dance, music, performances, exhibition viewings, film screenings, workshops, tours, and family-friendly activities, offering something for all.
- NEW RIVERSIDE BAR SETLIST: Setlist, a brand-new riverside bar, will be joining the existing onsite culinary offerings when it launches in April 2025. Featuring innovative chefs, inspiring artists, and exceptional musicians.
- NEW VISUAL IDENTITY: Today Somerset House also revealed a fresh visual identity designed to reflect its role as a hub for cultural innovation. The new design embodies the essence of its spirit line: “Step inside, think outside’.
- SPECIAL YEAR OF PROGRAMMING: including large-scale courtyard commissions and multidisciplinary commissions from Tai Shani to Sir Wayne McGregor.
- CULTURAL LUMINARIES: From Pedro Almodovar to Nitin Sawhney comment on the impact of Somerset House’s role in cultural life.
Alongside these firsts, a number of PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS were unveiled with major courtyard takeovers from high profile artists and distinctively ‘Somerset House’ exhibitions looking at real world problems with a creative lens;
- Landmark exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet, celebrating the wonder of soil and its unbreakable bond to all life on Earth.
- A large-scale courtyard sculpture from Turner prize winning artist and Somerset House Studios resident Tai Shani, drawing on the archetypal fairytale image of a sleeping figure. The Spell and the Dream brings together sculpture, radio, live gatherings and a host of guest contributors, to collectively dream of new horizons.
- The first ever exhibition exploring the polymath practice of acclaimed choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor, and his trail-blazing collaborations that have radically redefined how we think about performance, movement and the body.
- As part of the acclaimed annual Summer Series, Somerset House Studios resident Akinola Davies Jr. will premiere his latest film, capturing the everyday rituals that shape the rhythms of Black life in the UK. The screening will be accompanied by live music, creating a unique and immersive experience.
- Virtual Beauty explores the impact of digital technologies on the traditional concept of beauty, inviting visitors to examine their relationship with identity in the post-internet era.
- Salt Cosmologies – a multi-dimensional project featuring a large-scale courtyard installation by cross-disciplinary collective Hylozoic/Desires exploring the complex weave of histories and myths around Britain’s imperial salt monopoly in India.
- Jennie Baptiste – celebrating the visionary work of renowned British photographer known for her portraits capturing the essence of youth culture, music, fashion, and urban life of the Black British diaspora in the 1990s and beyond.
- Researched and developed in residence at Somerset House Studios, artists Sophia Al-Maria and Lydia Ourahmane create a new outdoor artwork on site inspired by the history of the building, and their collaborative exploration around the idea of ‘right to remain’.
Jonathan Reekie, Director of Somerset House commented: “Somerset House’s 25th birthday programme has been carefully curated to showcase the artistic innovation and cross- disciplinary creativity that defines who we are today. Our intention is not only to celebrate our history but also to highlight our role as a platform for bold new ideas, fostering an inclusive creative community. By turning over space to artists and creatives, we’re supporting the next generation of cultural innovators, feeding a programme that provides creative solutions to real-world issues through alternative perspectives. It is remarkable to think how far we’ve come income since the public first entered this beautiful building and courtyard 25 years – establishing Somerset House as a welcoming, leading international arts destination for all.”
Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries said: “Over the last 25 years, Somerset House has become a staple of London’s cultural scene and a dynamic home for creatives, bringing people together and nurturing the tremendous talent in our city. I’m really looking forward to this great 25th birthday programme which will inspire and excite audiences,helping us create a better London for everyone.”
STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO ‘CULTURAL FORCE’
Gareth Pugh, fashion designer said: “I think of Somerset House as a cultural aorta, pumping creative, well-oxygenated ideas from the margins upstream. As home to one of the largest and most diverse creative communities in the UK, Somerset House continues to challenge the notion that art and culture are solely the province of the elite. Somerset House is willing to take risks and create space for new ideas to flourish. That’s why within just 25 years it has transformed itself from being a dreary old backwater of the civil service into London’s leading repository of bold ideas and new thinking.”
Leah Williamson, England footballer said: “Somerset House has always been somewhere for us to come as a family and just spend time together. Be that in the fountains on a summer day back when I was a kid, ice skating at Christmas or coming to concerts here with my Grandma. It’s always been my favourite place in the world since I was a little kid and I now recognise Somerset House as less of a place and more of a feeling.”
Pedro Almodóvar, filmmaker said: “I hosted three of my own premieres there and, watching films in Somerset House’s magnificent courtyard under the stars, come rain or shine, are some of my most memorable cinematic experiences. These screenings reminded me of the ones in the village square open-air cinema of my childhood and these are moments I will always cherish and treasure.”
Brian Eno, musician, songwriter, record producer and visual artist said: “This great institution is evolving into something beautiful and significant for the future.”
Alison Goldfrapp, musician and record producer said: “Somerset House is truly a special place. To perform there under the open sky and within its historical grounds is a real treat and an honour. The building has a unique atmosphere. It’s a space where art, music, and life converge so beautifully. Whether on stage or wandering through an exhibition, I feel a deep connection to the spirit of the place – it fuels my imagination every time.”
Floella Benjamin, broadcaster and author said: “Somerset House has become an oasis for creative inspiration in the heart of the city. It’s somewhere for Londoners of all generations to explore their own creativity and to view the world afresh through the eyes of artists. I’ve seen the impact of this on young people myself through my involvement in Zak Ové’s Get Up, Stand Up Now exhibition back in 2019 that celebrated 50 years of Black creative pioneers. Long may Somerset House continue to encourage creativity nirvana.”
Nitin Sawhney, musician and artist said: “For me Somerset House perfectly embodies the spirit of London. With its neoclassical grandeur and versatile history, it stands as a timeless treasure bridging the past and present. Since Jonathan Reekie’s appointment as Director, Somerset House has blossomed into a cultural hub, transforming with the seasons from a shimmering ice-rink in winter to a vibrant stage for summer’s live events. Ever changing, shifting with the times and inspiring both innovation and historical understanding, Somerset House is at the core of London’s heartbeat.”
