The Fitzrovia Chapel is pleased to announce the appointment of artists and BAFTA nominated filmmakers Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard as Curators in Residence for 2026. This ambitious new annual initiative invites a guest curator to devise a programme of three stand-out exhibitions for the chapel. The shows – which will transform the chapel in January, March and autumn 2026 – will be immersive, resonant experiences that go beyond that of a traditional ‘white box’ art gallery, referencing the chapel’s rich historical, spiritual and cultural roots.

The first show, which opens in January, takes Souvenir, Michael Bracewell’s evocative eulogy to 1970s and 80s London as its starting point – more details will be released later this year.

Madeleine Boomgaarden, Director of the Fitzrovia Chapel, commented, “2026 will mark ten years since we at the chapel reopened our doors and began our own distinctive artistic programme. Now we embark on the next chapter, having invited the most creative curators to bring their ideas to the space. We couldn’t be happier that Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard have accepted the challenge to be our first curators in residence and cannot wait to see the cultural treasures they have in store for us next year.”

Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard said, “Every time we step into the Fitzrovia Chapel, we’re blown away by its transformative power. From Leigh Bowery to Gideon Mendel’s The Ward – the shows there have etched themselves into our memory. For us, the chapel is a symbol of resilience and defiance – one of London’s last hidden gems. Its dazzling visual intensity challenges us to rethink what an exhibition might be. We want to bring together literature, music, performance and visual art in bold new ways. Watch this space!”

As might be expected of artists who have regularly collaborated with musicians (such as Nick Cave, Scott Walker and Marianne Faithfull) and were co-curators of the blockbuster exhibition The Horror Show at Somerset House in 2022–3, Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard always demonstrate an egalitarian and unconventional approach to contemporary exhibition-making – which will be evident in their programme for the Fitzrovia Chapel.

All press enquires: madeleine@fitzroviachapel.org