The Triumph of Art - A free party in Trafalgar Square, London

Client: The National Gallery

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN

The Triumph of Art' by artist Jeremy Deller was a nationwide performance that took the National Gallery towards and finally rounded off the end it’s Bicentenary celebrations. It marked how festivals are part and parcel of art, culture and civic life, and that art and artists can be catalysts of collaboration and joy.

In the run up to the event on Trafalgar Square, new participatory public events took place in all four Nations produced in partnership with The Box, Plymouth, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, Mostyn Gallery Llandudno and The Playhouse in Derry-Londonderry. 

For the final event on 26 July, we took over Trafalgar Square for a free celebration with contributions from all four nations.

Celebrations kicked off with a Bacchanalian procession at 11am on King Charles Street, moving along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square to celebrate art in all its forms in what was a day full of fun and surprises. There were processions, live music, performances, workshops, and a big birthday tea party that brought the National Gallery Collection to life! 

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the wonderful collaborators: The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry; Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee; Mostyn, Llandudno; The Box, Plymouth; Armagh Rhymers; Band Pres Llareggub; The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL; Boss Morris; Build Hollywood; Canolfan Technoleg Amgen / Centre for Alternative Technology; Celtronic; Commando Temple; Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design students; Ed Hall; Emergency Exit Arts; Etta Voorsanger-Brill; Fran Copeman; Frân Wen; Glow Inflatables; Greater London Authority (GLA); Heart n Soul; kennardphillipps; London Contemporary Dance School; LS Events; Melodian Steel Orchestra; Momentum; The Power Building Gym; Richard Cynan Jones; Seymour artistic swimming; Sports Banger, Biophilic Design; University of Plymouth’s Swimming, Synchro and Water polo Club; Westminster Council; William Morris Gallery.