Culture, history and racial justice - City of London

Above: Yinka Shonibare's globe for 'The World Reimagined' on display in Centenary Square Birmingham in 2021

A unique sculpture trail comes to the Square Mile this weekend to encourage City of London workers, residents, and visitors to take a journey of discovery to explore the many layers of our shared history, and how we can make racial justice a reality.

'The World Reimagined' is transforming the Square Mile’s streets with a free art trail of 10 globe sculptures, each of them designed by an individual artist who is responding to themes, ranging from Mother Africa to Still we Rise and Expanding Soul.

Connected by a digital platform that enables visitors to dive into a distinctive heritage collection, the trail will stretch from Bank, through to St Paul’s Cathedral, Guildhall, and towards Aldgate. Visitors will be able to plan their days out in early August when the full trail details will be released.

The trail takes place at the same time as trails in six other cities as The World Reimagined invites people across the UK to acknowledge this history, and support the work of brilliant community activists and organisations.

Supported by the City of London Corporation, the globes will bring people, families, and communities together to talk about how we understand our history, how our past shapes our future, and how we can act for social change.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Wendy Hyde, said:

“The globe trail is an excellent opportunity to provide a platform for artists and creatives, both, emerging talents, and those who have enjoyed success and recognition on the world stage, and we are proud to support this initiative.

“This is an important programme that will help to shape and inform our understanding of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and its impact on all of us.

“For our part, the City of London’s role in the Trade should be recognised and acknowledged – and not overlooked or hidden - because it is our collective responsibility to highlight its historic role in creating the area that we know today.”

The globes have been created by artists from London and across the UK, bringing the city to life with diverse experiences and creative styles. They include Foluso Oguntoye, Glen Brooks, Kione Grandison, Phoebe Boswell, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Curtis Holder, Winston Branch, Sarah Owusu, Gil Mualem-Doron. A tenth Globe has been created by Zimbabwean-born visual artist, Natasha Muluswela, who is based in the UK - inspired by collaboration with local communities.