Festival of the Lea is an artist and community-led cultural festival jointly produced by our project Hinterlands Enfield and BLOQS. It aims to celebrate Enfield’s integral waterway, the River Lea, by transforming a stretch of the canal from BLOQS to Chalk Bridge with artistic interventions. BLOQS is one of the key creative drivers in the area and want to share their cultural and creative offering with local communities as they reach their 12-year anniversary. Hinterlands Enfield is supported by the Arts Council and through funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
What to expect
Join a day of free, family-friendly arts and cultural activities, with highlights including:
- Four interactive artistic interventions along the River Lea by artists Cathy Wade, Renin Bilginer, Chantelle Purcell, Cath Carver and Christina Kalinowski.
- An interactive children’s theatre performance by Chickenshed.
- An interactive dance performance on Chalk Bridge by Ceyda Tanc Dance in collaboration with Renin Bilginer’s artwork.
- Creative workshops for families - colour the towpath with chalk spray and imagine your own future city.
- Performing arts stage with spoken word by Write2Speak.
- Live performances and DJ sets by Mission London and the Royal Sounds.
- Learning and educational activities surrounding the sustainability and protection of the River Lea.
- Food and drinks from the BLOQS café.
To book free tickets and see the full line-up, visit the Eventbrite page.
An important role in London's story
Ros Daniels, ur regional director, said: “The River Lea has long played an important role in London’s story, with evidence it was used for transport as early as the Bronze Age. Today, the river flows through some of the most diverse and creative parts of the capital. We want to celebrate the Lea, and the communities who call it their river. We’ve worked with artists and local people to create Festival of the Lea and we look forward to welcoming Londoners to come and discover our wonderful river and, perhaps, a new perspective on life in the city.
“As a charity, we’re passionate about the canals and rivers in our care and we understand the benefits they bring to those who spend time by them. For those who are as inspired as we are by the Festival of the Lea, there are many more ways to get involved, from volunteering to becoming a Friend, helping us secure the future of these special places.”
Contact Us
To find out more about the festival and discuss sponsorship opportunities with us, please contact (Festival Producer Sophie Thompson-Semple on [email protected]) or visit our Instagram page @Hinterlands2324
