Dan Thompson

Dan Thompson

Dan Thompson is an award-wining social artist, writer, and speaker living in Margate. His work is about people and places. He has worked with communities across England, often uncovering layers of immigration and exploring how they are very much part of being British.

Dan has a Culture 100 award, recognising him as one of the hundred most influential people in the world of arts and culture. Dan also made The Independent Happy List 2012, the BBC Radio 4 iPM Alternative New Year Honours 2011, received a Team London Award from the Mayor of London, was named in GQ’s 100 Most Influential list and was winner of the Coast Awards 2011 ‘Unsung Hero’ trophy.

Empire and Arcadia 
The MV Empire Windrush and the SS Arcadia both docked at the Tilbury Terminal. Three works - signal flags in Margate and Tilbury, and a reading room onboard LV21 in Gravesend - explored themes of empire and arcadia, immigration and emigration.


Photo by Benedict Johnson Photo by Michaela Freeman

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