About

23 Days of Art, Music, Literature and Film

Estuary 2021 is the second edition of the large-scale arts festival that celebrates the lives, landscapes and histories of the spectacular Thames Estuary.

Taking place on the river itself, and along the 83 miles of South Essex and North Kent coastline, contemporary artworks, discussion and events explore and respond to powerful themes resonant to the estuary.

Artworks set in the landscape, online and within Covid-safe venues, explore the estuary through the lens of contemporary concerns, including climate justice, protest and rebellion, imperial legacy and the rich, often overlooked stories of its diverse communities, bringing new audiences to a deeper understanding of the estuary.

Estuary 2021 is led by a partnership between estuary-based arts organisations, Metal (South Essex) and Cement Fields (North Kent).

The full 2021 programme will be announced in November 2020. Join our mailing list to be the first to hear Estuary 2021 news and announcements over the coming months.

2021 Programme

what's on

Image caption: Film maker, Jem Cohen, working on the estuary in 2016

Full programme to be announced in November 2020. In the meantime be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear news and announcements.

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To deliver Estuary 2016 Metal worked in partnership with four estuary local authorities, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock, Gravesham and Kent and a wide range of regional agencies, business and arts partners, including:-

  • Arts Council England
  • Capital Cruising
  • Port of Tilbury
  • Southend Pier & Foreshore
  • Southend Museums
  • Coalhouse Fort
  • Focal Point Gallery
  • Whitstable Biennale
  • Whitechapel Gallery
  • Totally Thames
  • Artswork and ROH Bridge
  • Ideas Test
  • Kinetika
  • Port of London Authority
  • Thames Estuary Partnership
  • South Essex College
  • SEEVIC
  • South Essex schools.

Estuary 2021 builds on the success of Estuary 2016 which reached…

The archive programme from Estuary 2016 can still be viewed through this website HERE


Estuary 2021 is made possible by

Principal Partners

Creative_Estuary_New_1   ace

Major Partners

ecc uok thurrock thames_gateway selep medway  thames estuary   ebbsfleet    Ebbsfleet mayor locatekent kentcc gravesham uoe bas_coun   south_coun Here for Culture

Commissioning Partners

book_fest community_fund heritage_fund creative_coast bexleysalford fpg lesnes Essex2020Logo The Old Waterworks Logo UCA1

Festival Partners

arts_human uni_south uni_oxford uni_glas send_pier pla opp_se henley Flowers Gallery logoc2c roh southeastern Thamesmead2 Peabody2 BowArts3 raddison uber arriva Canterbury Dartford Faversham Swale1 Thanet Visit c2c1 Chat

Festival Supporters

essex_diversity SouthEssex1 UniversityCentre1 Churches International Exeter Wales Ramm Artist Grand