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Justine Simons OBE
Justine Simons OBE is Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries. She has played a central role in the cultural transformation of London for two decades.
You can follow Justine of Instagram @justinesimons or X @justinesimons1.
Our capital is buzzing with activity during the summer months, and July is a fantastic time that showcases the best of what London has to offer.
The Serpentine Pavilion is synonymous with summer, and this year’s installation from Minsuk Cho is a great example of how art and culture can bring people together, sparking conversations and imaginations. Cho’s Archipelagic Void is made up of five islands, each unique in size and structure and connected to smaller ‘content machines’, including a gallery and library of unread books.
Just around the corner, RIBA will be exploring the complex histories of colonial architecture. South Africa based Sibonelo Gumede and Nombuso Mathibela’s Reframing Colonial Legacies will use music, vinyl and voice recordings to prompt discussions around imperialism, race, gender and architecture. We can see the influence of the British Empire on London’s architecture all around us, so there will be something we can all learn and reflect on.
Until 19 July, we’re calling on Londoners to have their say on the shortlisted proposals for the Memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery. The memorial will be located at the Museum of London Docklands and we want to hear your views on the six powerful proposals. While there are monuments commemorating abolition, and many statues and buildings reflecting the wealth and power the trade in enslaved African people created, there is little to remember the millions of African people who were enslaved and abused as a result. That’s why the Mayor announced the plans and has committed £500,000 to help create it. We want as many people as possible to share their feedback.
This year’s Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy has extended its architecture display, doubling its size. Turner Prize winner, Assemble, has turned the two architecture rooms into a ‘space for making’, bringing a new twist to the summer showcase.
The ACME Propellor Factory Studios will open to the public this month. Located in Lewisham’s Creative Enterprise Zone, the former propellor foundry and paper bag factory is home to over 100 artists who will be showcasing their work to the public. It’s a great chance to see inside the UK’s largest building dedicated solely to artist studios at genuinely affordable rents.
Peter Murray OBE, Co-Founder of New London Architecture, will deliver the inaugural Murray Lecture at the Royal Geographical Society. Peter always brings a fresh perspective to architecture and will be exploring what makes London the greatest city in the world. ‘London – Greatest City on the Planet?’ will discuss how architecture can make a city stand out and what makes London’s architecture so special.
London really sparkles in the summer and there’s nothing better than taking a guided tour to discover more about the history of the capital’s architecture. The Barbican’s Architecture Tours are always a highlight for me and I discover something new about the Brutalist estate every time. And the Tate Modern Architecture Tour will open up the architectural secrets of one of London’s landmark buildings.
As always in London, there’s something for everyone this July.
