LONDON, ENGLAND.- The Fourth Plinth in the North West corner was designed by Sir Charles Barry and built in 1841 to display an equestrian statue but due to insufficient funds, the statue was never completed. The plinth remained empty until the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA) commissioned three contemporary sculptures by Mark Wallinger (1999), Bill Woodrow (2000) and Rachel Whiteread (2001) to be displayed there.

The sculptures generated enormous public interest and the Fourth Plinth project, now the responsibility of the Mayor of London, will continue its commitment to contemporary art and a new sculpture will be chosen every other year.

Six artists have been shortlisted for the 2004 commission. Models of their proposals are displayed in the National Gallery Sainsbury Wing Foyer from 12 December 2003 to 8 February 2004.

The public’s views will inform the recommendations made by the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group to the Mayor in March 2004.