Sotheby’s said it is renewing its sponsorship of Tate Britain’s contemporary-art commissions for three years -- a program that in 2008 saw Martin Creed send sprinters through the London gallery.

No figures were given for the sponsorship, which began in 2008. The yearly commission allows a sculpture to be created and later shown in Tate Britain’s columned hall. It recalls Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall installations, which Unilever backs to the tune of 2.16 million pounds ($3.5 million) over five years.

“We are very proud to be supporting Tate for the fourth year,” Cheyenne Westphal, Sotheby’s head of contemporary art in Europe, said in an e-mail sent by the Sotheby’s press office. It “will allow the work of a British contemporary artist to be exhibited on this international and well-known stage.”

Tate Britain Director Penelope Curtis said the name of the artist selected for 2012 -- year of the London Olympic Games -- will be announced later.

“I am delighted that Sotheby’s (BID) have chosen to continue their sponsorship of the Tate Britain commission for a further three years,” Curtis said in an e-mail sent by the Tate press office.

The last sculptor commissioned to create a work for Tate Britain’s 86-meter Duveen gallery was Fiona Banner, who showed two disused fighter jets. Her display lasted from June 2010 to January 2011.