‘This is Us’ creative conversations about Castle Point

Estuary Festival is based in Castle Point in South Essex where we run workshops, exhibitions, events and activities with diverse local participants. Together we explore community needs and opportunities in direct response to local feedback for joined up creative collaboration and community engagement. This work has been fundamental in shaping the approach for the wider programme planned for Estuary 2025 and beyond, informing and connecting to our work across the wider Thames Estuary region.

This Is Us! is a pioneering creative programme commissioned by Castle Point Borough Council and delivered through a partnership between Estuary Festival and Metal in collaboration with local artists and community groups. 

Over 18-months, local people have been involved in creative activities that draw out diverse perspectives about places across the borough and sharing and dreams for the future.

Our mission is twofold: to celebrate and strengthen the borough’s existing artist networks while welcoming new voices into the mix. The insights and outcomes from This is Us! will play a pivotal role in shaping the Castle Point Local Plan, ensuring that the future of the borough is built on the experiences and aspirations of its people. 

Local artists have been leading a programme of dynamic activities, workshops, and creative experiences that bring together voices of all ages and backgrounds from across the area.  

Each initiative is tailored to different neighbourhoods, empowering residents to come together and create something meaningful. From art exhibitions to photography projects, digital storytelling, and music events.

GET INVOLVED If you are an artist or a creative working in Castle Point and would like to express your interest, please join our database by completing this short form here.

An Anthology of Castle Point
Artists from across Castle Point have partnered with local community groups and schools to lead engaging workshops and activities inspired by the project’s themes. Participants are exploring a variety of creative processes, including printmaking, journaling, drawing, painting, collage, soundscapes, psychogeography, mural design, and sculpture. These activities offer a chance to dive into imaginative and meaningful artistic practices and tell the story of where we live. 
Collaborating artists and groups: 

  • Kelly Buckley with Yellow Door Youth Group 
  • Sally Chinea with Open Arts: Mental Health and Dementia Groups 
  • Laura Whiting with Jotmans Hall Primary School 
  • Simon Keenleyside with Cornelius Vermuyden School 
  • Charlie Stafford with Little Lions Family Hub 
Live Briefs with USP College 
At USP College, we have been collaborating with tutors to design engaging live briefs for students, spanning from graphic design to creative enterprise. These briefs challenge students to apply their creative talents and envision the future of their community. As part of this initiative, students will have the opportunity to curate and host their own exhibitions, showcasing their work and ideas. 

Picture This – A Year in My Life
Professional photographers Tessa Hallmann and Jack Delmonte are leading Picture This — a year-long project featuring a diverse group of Castle Point-based photographers. Ranging from beginners to seasoned professionals, these photographers are capturing the essence of their community, each offering a unique perspective on life in the borough. Throughout the year, participants will receive mentorship, creative guidance, and professional development to hone their skills. The project will culminate in a public exhibition at HOFS from 20-23 March 2025, showcasing their work. Follow the journey on Instagram: #PictureThisCastlePoint

Video Stories
Local filmmaker George Morgan has been capturing the story of Castle Point and its residents offering a personal glimpse into life in the community. George’s documentary film to showcase the diverse experiences of the areas’ residents while highlighting the importance of art as a creative tool in shaping the borough’s future local plan. 

Desire Paths
‘Desire Paths’ is a project led by artists Laura Whiting, Kate Monson and Liam Heatherson who have devised a series of walks incorporating creative activities along the way to explore neighbourhoods, collecting diverse creative responses including poetry, architectural observations and photography. The artists have produced a set of three hanging panels to display the creative responses gathered through these walks and invite new contributions to new collective vision of the social fabric of our neighbourhoods. 

This is Us is a groundbreaking approach to local planning and place making, placing creativity and community voices at its core. 

For more information about This Is Us! or our creative work across the Thames Estuary contact [email protected]

Follow the This Is Us programme on Instagram using the hashtag: #ThisisUsCastlePoint


Estuary Festival is supported by

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