Over the summer months the public have been enticed into Zone29, the University of Westminster’s new home for careers and enterprise, by a playful exhibition that invites visitors to think differently about the signs that we see all around us.
Keep On the Grass explores how signs in public spaces encourage or discourage a sense of belonging. It was inspired by Parks for Health, Camden and Islington’s award-winning strategy to make parks and the wider public realm welcoming and health-promoting for as many people as possible.
The exhibition was staged at Zone29, a newly opened space where students, graduates and the local community can come together and access sector-leading digital facilities, collaboration and event spaces, and work-related workshops and experiences.
The curator, Catherine Max, teamed up with Professor Andrew Smith to produce a new version of Keep on the Grass which had previously been installed at the Building Centre in London and the Farrell Centre in Newcastle. The Westminster edition featured projects produced by a range of artists and academics which explored how a different approach to signs might produce more permissive and inclusive public spaces.
The exhibition launched with a panel discussion exploring the ways signs shape behaviours, attitudes and experiences. Panellists included the exhibition curator and Health and Sustainability Consultant Catherine Max, Chris Donkin from London Sport’s More Ball Games campaign, Sally Oldfield, Parks Partnership Manager at the London Borough of Islington, and Andrew Smith, Professor of Urban Experiences at the University of Westminster.
This launch event was part of the programme of events organised by the Destinations and Experiences Research Centre and formed part of the 2026 London Festival of Architecture.
Catherine Max said: "I'm thrilled by the response to Keep on the Grass from academics, students, practitioners and our younger visitors alike. We wanted to explore what are serious and complex issues in a playful and engaging way, and clearly we have succeeded. I think this is down to the combination of visual, audio and witty ‘outside inside’ installation alongside some more reflective commentary. Taking this approach has enabled us simultaneously to share insight and experience and engage a diverse audience in a really important conversation about inclusion in public space."
Professor Smith added: "It has been great to work with Catherine to produce a new version of her exhibition, and we are very proud that Keep on the Grass was the first event of this kind hosted at Zone29 - our new collaborative hub. The exhibition reinforces the University's reputation for research on inclusive place making and hosting it has helped to consolidate relationships with researchers and organisations working in this field."
This exhibition directly contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about Zone29, the University’s new home for careers and enterprise.
Learn more about impactful research at the University of Westminster.
