The Box announced as UK partner for National Gallery’s Bicentenary Commission with artist Jeremy Deller

The Triumph of Art, the National Gallery’s commission to round off its Bicentenary year, has announced the partners it will be working with, to develop, produce and deliver the project – and The Box is one of them. Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller will be celebrating festivals, gatherings, and art in the public realm, in this UK-wide performance work.

The Box will join Mostyn in Llandudno, The Playhouse in Derry/Londonderry and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee as partners with the National Gallery. Together, they will recruit four specialist curators, each of whom will be seconded to a partner to work on The Triumph of Art. The research, public programme and performances that result will be developed with close links to their local communities and geography.

Deller's inspiration for the new work comes from the important role of art as encountered in our public collections, museums and cultural spaces: from Renaissance paintings to folklore, dances, plays and rave culture.

Each partner will research, develop and stage a local performance piece. All four projects will then join together in a major performance outside the National Gallery, on Trafalgar Square in July 2025.

Deller has been researching and cataloguing events on the Square as a history of celebration, commemoration and demonstration, collecting countless instances of joy and art in activism. The Triumph of Art will bring 'NG200', the National Gallery's year-long festival of art to celebrate its 200th anniversary to an end, and look to the start of the Gallery’s next century.

Jeremy Deller said, “I’m looking forward to working with partners across all four nations to create something epic to mark the Gallery’s 200 years.”

Emily Stone, Project Curator at the National Gallery, said, “We couldn’t have found better partners to work with for this commission – they represent a fantastic combination of history and heritage, and emerging talent. Researching places of joy and gathering has unearthed some very exciting ideas that showcase both individuality and common ground across the UK. We’re excited to find four brilliant curators to bring together local communities with an unparalleled celebration in Trafalgar Square.”