Over the next three years, Steve McQueen’s film installation Grenfell will travel to six public art galleries across the UK, visiting cities in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The tour begins this spring at Tramway in Glasgow, followed by stops at Chapter in Cardiff, The MAC in Belfast, The Box in Plymouth, Tate Liverpool, and the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham.
McQueen, the renowned artist and filmmaker (b. 1969, London), created the work as a response to the Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017, a disaster that took 72 lives. His film captures the tower in its stark, exposed state before it was covered with hoarding, acting as both a memorial and a powerful reminder of the tragedy. “I knew once the tower was covered up, it would start to leave people’s minds,” McQueen says. “I was determined that it never be forgotten.”
The fire led to a government inquiry conducted in two phases. While the findings have been published, the recommendations remain unfulfilled, raising concerns that such a tragedy could happen again. A criminal investigation is still underway, underscoring the urgency of McQueen’s work as a call for accountability and remembrance.
Grenfell was first shown in 2023 at the Serpentine Gallery in London’s Kensington Gardens. Before its public debut, private viewings were held for bereaved families and survivors, ensuring their experiences were central to the work’s presentation. The installation is now in the care of Tate and the London Museum, a testament to its importance as an artistic and historical artefact.
The national tour is organised by Tate in partnership with the host venues and is supported by public funding from the National Lottery, Arts Council England, and Art Fund. Admission will be free at all locations, and each stop will feature a programme of talks, workshops, and community events supported by the Grenfell Foundation. These activities aim to encourage dialogue, reflection, and solidarity, keeping the memory of Grenfell alive in the public consciousness.
McQueen’s Grenfell is not just an artwork—it is a tribute to resilience, a demand for justice, and a plea to confront the consequences of neglect. As it travels across the UK, it calls on us all to bear witness, remember, and act.
Steve McQueen, born in London in 1969, is a filmmaker and artist whose work spans the art world and cinema. He studied at Chelsea College of Arts and Goldsmiths, University of London, before moving to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts to further his education.
McQueen first made his mark as a visual artist, creating video installations that tackled themes like identity, history, and social justice. His art has been showcased globally, from the Tate Modern to the Venice Biennale, where he represented Britain in 2009.
In 2008, he stepped into feature filmmaking with Hunger, a raw and unflinching look at the 1981 Irish hunger strike. The film won the Camera d’Or at Cannes, establishing McQueen as a formidable filmmaker. He followed this with Shame (2011), a stark exploration of addiction, and 12 Years an enslaved person (2013), an adaptation of Solomon Northup’s memoir. 12 Years an enslaved person won three Oscars, including Best Picture, making McQueen the first Black filmmaker to achieve this.
McQueen’s work often grapples with challenging themes, blending artistic vision with a profound sense of empathy. More recently, he directed Small Axe (2020), a series of films focusing on London’s West Indian community, and Grenfell (2023), a film installation memorialising the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.
Throughout his career, McQueen has used his art to spotlight marginalised voices and question societal norms, solidifying his place as one of his time’s most important and influential creators.
Top Photo: Steve McQueen © Photo James Stopforth Courtesy Serpentine Gallery
Listings information
Tramway, Glasgow, in partnership with The Common Guild
8 – 23 March 2025
Chapter, Cardiff
10 May – 15 June 202
The MAC, Belfast
17 July – 21 September 2025
The Box, Plymouth
In 2026. Dates to be announced
Tate Liverpool
In 2026-27. Dates to be announced
Midland Arts Centre, Birmingham
In 2027. Dates to be announced
Admission free. Visitors are advised to check with the relevant venue for booking information, and any access and support needs they may have.