18 October 2025

To mark Anti-Slavery Day (18 October), the iconic Piccadilly Lights screens paused its usual adverts for ten minutes at 11:30am to display powerful artwork created by survivors of modern slavery.

The art is part of Hestia's annual ‘Art is Freedom’ exhibition, created by survivors of modern slavery who are supported by us. The exhibition is currently on display at Trafalgar Square and New Change Gardens until Monday 27 October 2025.

Piccadilly Lights provides an amazing opportunity to raise awareness of modern slavery on Europe’s largest electronic advertising space. Hestia has supported over 7,000 victim-survivors in London over the past 13 years. Victims endure a range of serious abuses, from repeated physical and sexual violence to debt bondage and forced labour. This exploitation is too often overlooked or poorly understood. Modern slavery crimes are identified in every London borough, and yet many Londoners do not realise that modern slavery is an issue in their local area.

Hestia team at Piccadilly Lights

This opportunity was possible thanks to the support of Landsec and Westminster City Council. With thanks to Tom Dunn from Toaster agency for creating the film.

Find out more about Art is Freedom