We’re thrilled to announce the first part of the programme today, inviting audiences to join us for 23 days of contemporary visual art, literature, film and music set against the spectacular landscape of Thames Estuary.

http://www.estuaryfestival.com/  #EstuaryFestival

During Estuary 2021, artists, writers and estuary communities will respond to powerful themes resonant to the river including protest and rebellion, imperial legacy and climate emergency with both historic and contemporary events in mind. #EstuaryFestival

We’ve worked together with partners to reshape the programme and ensure the production of a safe and exciting festival. Artworks will be presented in the landscape, on the river, online and in port towns and seaside resorts along 83 miles of Essex and Kent estuary coastline.

Estuary 2021 will take place from 22 May to 13 June 2021, celebrating culture, creativity, recovery and renewal. We’ll host site-specific works in the landscape, animating the wharfs, piers, high streets & venues of key estuary towns including Southend, Chatham & Gravesend.

An Opening Weekend with the working title of Into The Mystery of an Unknown Earth (taken from Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad) will be brought by four artists & curators all of whom know the estuary as home: #JasbirDhillon, @thisiselsajames, #JamesMarriott and @Luluannmay.

We commissioned @ARBONAUTS, @ShaunCBadham, @RobGMacfarlane, @MetisProjects, @HarunMorrison, @jhhwright, #ShonaIllingworth and @tattery, @WormArtEcology and many, MANY others to respond to specific sites and their history, wildlife and stunning panoramas of estuary life.

Trade, industry, leisure and fun are all part of estuary life too. The wharfs, piers, high streets and venues of key estuary towns Southend, Gravesend and Chatham will be full of contemporary artworks to discover, including @MemphisHennessy, @BobAndRoberta and @cohesionplus.

Celebrating 20 years of the 83 mile walk around the estuary coastline, as defined by writer Tom King in his book. An artist-commissioned map & new works responding to #ThamesEstuaryTrail will inspire you to set out on the walk of a lifetime, in partnership with @EstuaryEnvoy

We know that there are many walkers who already enjoy the estuary landscapes. We would love to see your photographs and hear about your experiences and ideas on how signage, access or facilities along the trail might be improved. Join the conversation using #ThamesEstuaryTrail

Our large-scale programme #TheWaterReplies asks for poetry and prose from those who live along the estuary. Led by poets @CarolineBirdUK & @SelinaNwulu, over 1000 poetic responses will be shared through exhibitions, public posters and performances. https://bit.ly/3l8yLkj 

Download #TheWaterReplies book on teaching contemporary poetry - a collection of provocations, ideas and original works selected by @CarolineBirdUK & @SelinaNwulu, designed to release the poet in all of us. Hard copies will be available in January 2021. https://bit.ly/3m7DxQm 

Get involved in Estuary 2021 through open calls, the Associated Programme, artist-led workshops, work placements and volunteering - sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with future opportunities: https://bit.ly/2JcfJwo