Tracey Emin to design Jubilee Gardens flag

The first commission for the Jubilee Flagpole is White Flag at Half Mast by Yinka Shonibare. The symbolic white flag, held at half-mast, is the artist's personal response to the crisis in the Middle East. Shonibare's flag will be on show until 31 March.

Tracey Emin's flag, the design of which is a closely guarded secret, will be unveiled at 6pm on Friday 13 April. Following the ceremony Emin will give a talk about her idea of happiness as part of the Southbank Centre's 100 Ideas series.

"We are delighted that Tracey has agreed to design a flag for Southbank Centre, in what is set to be an extremely busy and successful year for her," says Ralph Rugoff.

"Tracey's commission underlies the importance Southbank Centre places on individual artists and cements The Hayward's ongoing initiative to enliven the 21-acre site with temporary outdoor artworks – bringing cutting edge contemporary art to everyone who visits Southbank Centre."

The Forest Industry of British Columbia originally erected the Jubilee Flagpole for the 1951 Festival of Britain. It was re-erected by the provincial government of British Columbia in 1977 to mark the Queen's Jubilee in the newly created Jubilee Gardens.