The RCA Riverlight Award extended the cultural partnership between St James and the Royal College of Art (RCA). Developed by Futurecity in collaboration with RCA sculpture tutor Kate Davis, the award supported emerging artists from the RCA’s School of Fine Art to produce a series of permanent commissions for the Riverlight development in Nine Elms.

The programme selected five RCA graduates to create unique, site-specific artworks for the residential lobbies of the Riverlight scheme, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSH+P). These works now occupy prominent internal and external-facing locations - transforming the lobby spaces into high-profile public gallery windows onto Nine Elms Lane and the Thames River Walk.

The award enabled early-career artists to engage with a professional commissioning process and to realise permanent works in a high-quality architectural context. For residents and visitors, the artworks enhance the arrival experience and embed a lasting cultural identity into the development.

The RCA Riverlight Award is an example of how developer-academic partnerships can support emerging talent and deliver long-term cultural value within new urban neighbourhoods.