Estuary Festival is delighted to announce an Arts Council England ‘Place Partnership’ investment of £258,500 towards the third edition of the contemporary arts festival celebrating the Thames Estuary. Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “We are thrilled to support Estuary 2025 as part of our Place Partnership initiative. The festival showcases the power of collaboration between local communities and cultural organisations, creating rich creative opportunities for people at every stage of life. We can’t wait to see the exciting programme of participatory arts activities unfold.” 

An ambitious programme of participatory contemporary arts activities
Estuary 2025 explores the theme of ‘Vessels’ through an ambitious programme of participatory contemporary arts activities. Involving 54 partners ranging from schools and youth clubs to arts organisations and land and maritime agencies. National Highways' Lower Thames Crossing has provided funding to support the project, Shaun Pidcock, Programme Director, Lower Thames Crossing, said: “We are pleased to support Estuary 2025 because it represents a significant investment in the cultural and artistic landscape of the Thames Estuary. The Lower Thames Crossing is committed to creating a long-lasting legacy in the community, using designated funds to deliver an ambitious programme of wider investment in local communities and the environment. The support for Estuary 2025 will enable a diverse range of arts activities, fostering community engagement and celebrating the rich heritage of the region.”

Estuary 2025 (21-29 June 2025) Vessels
Estuary 2025 (21-29 June 2025) is the 3rd edition of the contemporary arts festival celebrating the stories, places & people of the Estuary. Through the theme of ‘Vessels’, Estuary 2025 looks beyond the boats and ships of the Thames Estuary, to explore how communities, people, flora, fauna and even art events might be thought of as vessels too, carrying stories, memories and ideas.  

Connecting across the Thames Estuary
Connecting six places across the Thames Estuary, Estuary 2025 will spearhead a transformative phase for culture in Castle Point, Basildon, Thurrock in Essex, and Gravesham, Medway and Swale in Kent. Cllr Dave Blackwell, Leader of Castle Point Borough Council, said: “Castle Point Borough Council are proud to be a part of this festival of talent, celebrating the beauty and diversity of our coastline and the people who are inspired by it. We are committed to ensuring our strong partnership work continues to flourish and that we engage our communities through creativity and the arts.”

Unveiling the Estuary 2025 projects
Major projects will be presented in sites on and across the Thames Estuary over 9 days, including a tidal pool on Canvey Island, in Gravesend, at Benfleet Yacht Club, Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea, Queenborough Harbour & Grays High Street:

• ‘On Water’ is a series of new co-commissions, including voyages past the Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm with Gravesend-based arts organisation Platform, creative journeys across the Estuary with Raybel Charters on board their newly restored historic Thames sailing barge, and a new site-specific outdoor aerial performance aboard Light Vessel 21.
• The first public art commission by Damilola Odusote; Who Am I? explores his identity as an internationally acclaimed artist of Nigerian descent, raised in the Estuary by foster parents of Romany Gypsy heritage. Odusote will be engaging young people along the Estuary to share stories that will be woven into his installation as symbols of inspiration and hope for the future.
• Artist duo Breakwater (Youngsook Choi & Taey Iohe) present Submarine Consciousness exploring Estuary climate knowledge through a participatory approach focussing on their lived experience as migrants and co-produced with local residents.
• A new climate responsive, site-specific performance merging theatre, dance and installation created for a tidal pool on Canvey Island by artist duo Arbonauts. Co-created with local open-water swimmers, students and emerging choreographers including a partnership with East 15 Acting School.
• New digital sound work and performance by Nwando Ebizie with Docklands Sinfonia exploring our relationship with the Estuary and guiding us to the water’s edge.
• Sleeping with the Dead by YoHa (Graham Harwood & Matsuko Yokokoji) invites people to sleep with the largely unknown remains buried in a mass grave on Canvey Island that were removed from the unconsecrated Bethlem (Bedlam) Burial Ground (active 1569 to 1738) in London.
• Estuary Anthology shines a spotlight on independently produced arts projects across the Thames Estuary to create an anthology of creative action during the festival, activities can register through a live open call invitation.

The full Estuary 2025 programme will be announced early next year. Download the full press release here.

Image credits: From left to right: Arbonauts Helen Galliano, Dimitri Launder with sound artist Lee Berwick & choreographer Becky Namgauds on Canvey Island sea wall; Breakwater – Taey Iohe and Youngsook Choi at Canvey Wick Nature Reserve. Artist Damilola Odusote 'Perception is Reality’ at Brixton House. Photograph by Sharron Wallace