Dartford Creative celebrates the people and places of Dartford, during the summer through a programme of inspiring arts events in unusual spaces. We truly believe that there is something for everyone, so whether you are intrigued by film, amazed by art or inspired to fly a kite and enjoy a picnic with friends – we have a series of creative events and happenings especially for you.
About the activities
The programme of creative events is for everyone. All events are free and in most cases (unless indicated) there is no need to book. Most outdoor events will go ahead even if the weather is changeable, but please check our Facebook and Twitter for updates, as we may have to cancel or re-schedule events at short notice. We also ask that all children and young people under 12 years old are accompanied by an adult at all events. Some of the terrain for the outdoor events is uneven, so if you have any access requirements please do get in touch and we will do our best to advise. Dartford Creative is an arts programme that is funded by Dartford Borough Council and Arts Council England, exploring ways in which artists and local people can get involved in arts and cultural activity in Dartford. There is a huge wealth of artistic talent in Dartford, and we are proud that the artists involved in Dartford Creative all live or work in Dartford.
The activities
25th June, 3pm – 5pm
Launch Event
Priory Shopping Centre (under cover market)
Everyone is invited to celebrate the launch of Dartford Creative Summer of Arts. Meet and mingle with the artists and find out more about what is happening over the summer months and how you can get involved. Enjoy a print making workshop led by artist, Kasia Parker and display your art work for all to see! Please join us to celebrate, it wouldn’t be the same without you.
25th June (screenings throughout the day)
A Totally Normal Saturday in Dartford, short film edited by Nadia Perrotta and Lalita Bailey
Diamonds and Pearls shop unit, Priory Shopping Centre
Nadia created this short film with the help of young people from Dartford Science and Technology College. It is a documentary that explores an ordinary Saturday in Dartford, from the point of view of local young teenage girls.
25th June, 2pm – 3pm
Carving the View, Artist Walk and Talk with Clare McEwan
Meet inside Holy Trinity Church, Dartford High Street
Experience an intimate walk and talk event with the artist; starting from Holy Trinity Church, Clare will introduce the two artworks on site and then lead the group through the High Street to Hythe Street to highlight viewpoints and buildings used in the artworks. The walk will finish at the Priory Shopping Centre where you can enjoy the launch celebrations at 3pm.
25th June – 30th July
Understory, William Gould
Holy Trinity Church, Dartford High Street
Taking inspiration from the emerging leaves and waking wildlife at Temple Hill Woodland, William’s collaged art work reflects the beauty of this wild and sometimes forgotten corner of Dartford.
25th June – 30th July. Open Monday – Saturday 9am – 3pm
Carving the View, Clare McEwan
Holy Trinity Church (entrance via the Church Cafe) and
Hythe Street railings
Striking lenticular artwork in the beautiful surroundings of Holy Trinity Church and on the railings in Hythe Street.
Lenticular is a process whereby art work can be viewed from a number of angles.
1st – 30th July
Francesca e l’Aquilone, Nadia Perrotta
One Bell Corner, Dartford High Street
Drawing on her Italian heritage, Nadia brings to life the story of Francesca, an Italian girl who stumbles across a new place. The stories produced were created by young people who accompanied Nadia on walks along the river Darenth; they feature as a newspaper, so look out for the newspaper dispenser on One Bell Corner and collect your very own copy!
25th and 26th June, 9th and 10th July, 6th and 7th August (Saturdays 9am – 5.30pm and Sundays 10am – 4pm)
1>100 – The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts, installation by Annie Ho-Cooper
Priory Shopping Centre (under cover market)
Enjoy a beautiful sight of 100 memory boxes crafted from delicate worn textiles and linens. Join Annie and share your personal stories and help contribute to transform, inform and develop the art work.
2nd July, 12 noon – 3pm
Carving the View, Creative Workshop, Clare McEwan
Dartford Central Park, meet near the bandstand
Feel free to drop in and help make a large, rainbow coloured lenticular using fabric and cardboard. Materials will be provided, but you can bring colourful scrap fabric and clothes to use in the artwork.
9th July, 11am – 1pm
Puppet Shadow Theatre Fun, Hayley Byfield
What If Gallery, 67 High Street, Dartford
Create a puppet master piece and bring it to life in our very own puppet shadow theatre.
24th July, 2pm – 3.30pm and 5pm – 6pm
Place: Unexpected, Sidonie Carey-Green
Walk and talk dance performance. Meet at One Bell Corner,
Dartford High Street
Join dance artist Sidonie and local performers for an ‘out of the ordinary’ guided walk around the town. At 5pm meet by the Donkey Pond, Dartford Heath for an intimate dance performance that is influenced by the unexpected places of beauty in Dartford. Please register your interest on https://www.facebook.com/placeunexpected
27th July, 1pm – 5pm
Festa Degli Aquiloni (Fly your Kite Picnic) , Nadia Perrotta
Dartford Central Park, near the Bandstand
Enjoy inspiring story telling, bring your own picnic and decorate your very own kite to fly!
27th July, 5pm – 7pm
Place: Unexpected, Sidonie Carey-Green
Dance film installation at Brooklands Tunnel, Dartford Central Park
An intriguing film projection on the walls of Brooklands Tunnel exploring Dartford’s hidden places and spaces.
Please register your interest on https://www.facebook.com/placeunexpected
13th August
Sound Crystal Image, Anthony Elliott and Nadia Perrotta
Shop unit, Priory Shopping Centre
An experimental collaboration that combines sound waves with crystal sound filters and salt objects that preserve sound. Fine art students from North Kent College worked with the artists and created electronic crystal like moving images and drawings enabling voltage shape interpretations to emerge.
Dartford Creative Artists
Clare McEwan is a textile artist; with an interest in surface, shape and layer, she makes use of a variety of materials in her work.
Kasia Parker is a print maker and as part of this programme has led fun print making workshops with young people and families at the Bridge Estate.
William Gould describes himself as an artist gardener; primarily a sculptor his art work is informed by the natural world and our place within it. As part of this programme, William facilitated sessions with rangers from the Temple Hill Trust to create a beautiful collaged print.
Anthony Elliott is interested in creating relationships between sound, movement and shape; he creates installation, sculpture and painting.
Annie Ho Cooper is a fine artist who uses material objects such as worn textiles and linens; she is interested in memory and identity.
Sidonie Carey-Green is a dancer, choreographer, artist and film maker; interested in contemporary dance and cross art form working.
Nadia Perrotta is a multimedia artist and is interested in art installation, creative writing and film making.
Hayley Byfield is a performer and producer and as part of this programme she facilitated puppet making sessions with keen participants at the Tree Community Centre. Hayley is a performer, arts practitioner, producer, project manager & programmer.
Our friends and partners
The support of Ruth Howard and the team at the What If Gallery and Martin Henwood at Holy Trinity Church is truly appreciated.