The Ship of Tolerance

The Ship of Tolerance is an international art project created by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, two of the most celebrated artists of their generation and widely known for their large-scale installations. A retrospective of their work was held at Tate Modern in 2018.

The Ship of Tolerance – a 60-foot long, hand-crafted wooden ship - is dedicated to educating and inspiring young people through the universal language of art. Its unique potency emerges via a curated workshop programme with primary schools, refugee groups and cultural organisations in which children paint silk panels to make sails for The Ship of Tolerance based on their discussion of diversity and the agency ideas gain through art.

First launched in Egypt in 2005, The Ship of Tolerance has subsequently been created in various locations around the world including Venice, Havana, Moscow, New York and Rome. The project was awarded the prestigious Cartier Prize for the Best Art Project of the Year in 2010.

For its presentation in London, the sails of The Ship of Tolerance have been made by children from forty London primary schools, from Great Ormond Street Hospital and from refugee centres in Birmingham, Leeds, Peterborough and Calais.

Produced by The Kabakov Foundation and Art Action Change in collaboration with Thames Festival Trust. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Royal Docks, VolkerBrooks Ltd, NDL Foundation, Sofia Barattieri Weinstein and Frieze London. Supporting the UN Global Goals.

Note: If the wind is too strong the sail will not be able to be raised