![\"Adeline](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1785835121_581_image.webp\")
\nPhotograph: Nick TurpinAdeline de Monseignat, Gusano, Croissant and Up – Up , 2025 at theCOLAB The Artist\u2019s Garden 2026 . <\/p>\n
Here are some bleak stats for you. Of the nearly 1,500 monuments dotted across London, only four percent are dedicated to women. That\u2019s half as many as those that pay homage to animals. And of all the public sculptures in London, only 13 percent were created by female artists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But there are people out there trying to change that. A brilliant cluster of women-created artworks can be found on the roof terrace\u00a0of Temple Underground station. Ten years ago, art curator Claire Mander stumbled upon the abandoned space and, with her arts charity theCOLAB, raised enough money to turn it into the Artist\u2019s Garden in 2021. It\u2019s the world\u2019s first and only public sculpture garden devoted to work\u00a0by women. But after five years, Mander\u00a0has been told that\u00a0theCOLAB\u2019s\u00a0licence for the site\u00a0will not be renewed\u00a0on October 1 and that it\u00a0must vacate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nPhotograph: Nick TurpinAdeline de Monseignat, Gusano, Croissant and Up – Up , 2025 at theCOLAB The Artist\u2019s Garden 2026 .
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A spokesperson for Places for London (TfL\u2019s property branch, which owns the building) told the Guardian<\/a>\u00a0that the terrace and station roof need to undergo \u2018essential repair and safety works\u2019, which require it to be cleared. But Mander argues that the repairs relate to the vacant commercial property below and in the plans, there is no indication of a large-scale overhaul of the terrace. She told the paper that she worries it will be handed to a private developer.\u00a0London Centric<\/a>\u00a0reported that Soho House founder Nick Jones has shown an interest in taking on the lease of the parts of Temple tube station that aren\u2019t\u00a0needed by London Underground.<\/p>\n Now, there\u2019s a campaign and petition to save the Artist\u2019s Garden<\/a>. The petition says: \u2018This is bigger than one project. It is about keeping public land for the public. It is about private landowners not profiting from cultural and community place making. It is about women being seen, heard and represented in the fabric of our city.\u2019 There is also a Crowdfunder<\/a> aiming to raise \u00a338,000 to support the campaign and obtain a High Court Declaration.\u00a0<\/p>\n Places for London\u00a0added: \u2018The terrace is legally protected public open space and will always remain publicly accessible. We are working with Westminster City Council and local stakeholders to explore alternative locations nearby for The Artist\u2019s Garden, while also developing future plans for the terrace at Temple.<\/p>\n \u2018The leaseholder of the adjoining commercial space at the station is Vinyl Factory, a cultural operator already active locally. Any future proposals for the terrace will protect public access, support the area\u2019s cultural character and be subject to approval, including from TfL and Places for London.\u2019<\/p>\n Did you see that\u00a0Camden is getting a massive new \u00a338 million venue for Irish culture, theatre and film<\/a>?\u00a0<\/p>\n Plus:\u00a018 never-seen-before Georgia O\u2019Keeffe paintings are going on display at London\u2019s Courtauld Gallery<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke \u2013 from news and reviews to events and trends. Just\u00a0follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Linder,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1785835121_575_image.webp\")
\nPhotograph: Nick TurpinLinder, SHE IS HERE , 2026 commissioned by theCOLAB the Artist\u2019s Garden
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