The Ebbsfleet Landmark Project commission was announced in May 2007 aimed at attracting an artist with an international reputation to create a physical artwork of great scale for a dedicated site at Springhead, part of the new Ebbsfleet Valley development. Five internationally acclaimed artists were commissioned to produce proposals for the landmark; Daniel Buren, Richard Deacon, Christopher Le Brun, Mark Wallinger and Rachel Whiteread.
The ambitions of the project are to provide a high profile marker for Ebbsfleet Valley, the Gravesham and Dartford communities and the North Kent region that will help identify Ebbsfleet Valley and Ebbsfleet International station.
At 40-50m high, the landmark will be one of the biggest artworks in the UK, comparable in scale to the Statue of Liberty. The landmark will be seen from the A2 where there are over 44 million car journeys every year and from Ebbsfleet International station which is expected to see over one million passengers every year. The landmark will also be accessible on foot as part of Springhead Park.
The Ebbsfleet Landmark website will follow the progress of the project, from information on the artists' proposals, to the final decision and the manufacture and installation of the winning commission.
In January 2009 Mark Wallinger's 'White Horse' won the competition to become the chosen design for the Ebbsfleet Landmark. The design was submitted to Gravesham Borough Council for planning consideration in January 2010. The project team is now also focussing on the financial challenges of the project and fundraising.