Illuminated River is starting on site

Following the granting of planning permissions, work will shortly commence on site, two years since the winning team, led by artist Leo Villareal (The Bay Lights on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge) and London architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, was announced by the Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Illuminated River reframes the Thames at night, celebrating London’s historic links with its river and creating a legacy for London in an artwork that will be in place for at least 10 years.

The philanthropically-funded project incorporates a maintenance programme, funded for the lifetime of the artwork. The Illuminated River Foundation has committed to raising the funds for the project from private and philanthropic sources. It is pleased to announce that the Blavatnik Family Foundation has become the third major supporter, with a most generous, multi-million pound donation. This is alongside donations formerly announced from Arcadia, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin and the Rothschild Foundation.

Chair of the Board of Trustees, Neil Mendoza, said:

‘A tremendous amount of work has been done since the winning team of Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands was announced almost two years ago. Much of that work has been undertaken in collaboration with organisations up and down the river, including one of the largest and most detailed planning processes London has seen. We are grateful for the contribution of all our partners and look forward to continuing our work together.’

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