Ken Livingstone £230K raised £230 raised

London is a city where the arts flourish. Artists in all fields make a central contribution to how we see our city and our society as a whole, and I am delighted that so many fantastic artists are willing to contribute in this practical way to helping keep London on a progressive and forward-thinking path. Ken Livingstone

Model for a Hotel 2007 by Thomas Schütte

Since Ken Livingstone was elected as Mayor eight years ago London has become the most exciting city in the world.

Seven out of ten people say that access to London’s incredible array of museums, galleries, cinemas, theatres, restaurants, music venues, sporting events and myriad of other cultural opportunities – very many of them free – is one of the main reasons they come to live and work in, or visit London. It is what has made London the most visited single city destination in the world, topping Paris and New York.

Part of the reason for this success is the incredible richness and variety of London’s culture. it is truly the world in one city. Ken’s policy has been to celebrate this, make it more accessible to all Londoners by organising and supporting the maximum number of free events as well as the tremendous fourth plinth commission and to support the development of London’s arts and culture across the board.

Artists