Be part of Royal Docks Originals 2025: A brand new festival from London's cultural engine

Newham is the beating heart of London’s culture and one of the city’s most diverse boroughs. Home to a vibrant community of artists, dancers, musicians, and production agencies, it is the capital’s newest and fastest-growing cultural destination. Some of the UK’s most ambitious and dynamic cultural regeneration is taking place in this pioneering borough, including the Royal Docks, London’s Cultural Engine.

Royal Docks Originals, a brand-new biennial festival speaking loud and proud to Newham’s unique cultural heritage, diversity, and dynamism hits London next year.

We need you to be part of it!

With a wide range of opportunities on offer, we would love to hear from Newham creatives and cultural organisations, local residents and community groups who want to collaborate, participate, and help shape the programme.

About Royal Docks Originals

Taking place from late September to November 2025 and responding to the Royal Docks stunning land and waterscape, the festival will present world-class arts, spectacular new installations, and premier performances.

The theme of Royal Docks Originals 2025 is transformation, and the programme will reflect the evolution of the area and its pivotal role, past and present, in London’s story as a global city. Built over 100 years ago, the Royal Docks was part of the industrial revolution and British colonial trading. Today it stands as a beacon for more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable growth.

Royal Docks Originals Festival 2025, will enable artists, Londoners, and visitors to explore the area’s past and future through the lens of transformation, revealing the stories, history, heritage and aspirations of the Royal Docks and its diverse community.

Take a look at highlights from the incredible 2021 pilot here.

More than a showcase of exciting projects made by some of the most relevant and imaginative artists and creatives who are based here. Royal Docks Originals is also a large-scale creative collaboration involving the whole Royal Docks community. Residents, workers, and students are joining together with leading Newham creatives and businesses to make Royal Docks Originals into a fantastic celebration of the area’s heritage, people, and places, and to stake a claim in shaping the area’s future.

Ways to get involved

Register your interest in the following projects now by clicking on the links below. Or email us directly on RDO@RoyalDocks.London

• PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
  We are seeking an artist(s) to create a mural with local communities as the first art work in a series responding to the festival theme. The artist will be announced in October 2024 - marking ‘one year to go’. The work will be launched in spring 2025 at an entry point to the Royal Victoria dock, setting the tone and demonstrating the ambition of Royal Docks Originals.
  
  Apply now
  
  
  
• FESTIVAL STAFF TRAINEESHIPS
  In 2025 we will launch a training programme for jobs delivering Royal Docks Originals and future events across the area.
  
  Find out more
  
  
  
• CULTURAL PRODUCER TRAINEESHIPS
  A new Creative Newham traineeship programme run by University of East London will support early career Cultural Producers.
  
  Find out more about the programme including opportunities to work on the Royal Docks Originals 2025 festival.
  
  Find out more
  
  
  
• ROYAL DOCKS’ CREATIVE CONNECTORS
  Residents, workers, and students – are you passionate about creativity? Then why not sign up to be a Royal Docks Creative Connector and get involved in cultural projects here.
  
  A representative group of Connectors will also help to shape the festival projects over the next 18 months.
  
  Find out more
  
  
  
• OUR PEOPLE AND STORIES
  Have you known the Royal Docks all your life or are you new to the area?
  
  We would love to hear your memories of the past and your hopes and dreams for the future for a new ‘Oral History’ project being made for Royal Docks Originals in partnership with Eastside Community Heritage.
  
  Find out more
  
  
  
• ADD YOUR CULTURAL PROJECT TO THE PROGRAMME
  Are you a cultural organisation or community group operating in the Royal Docks? Do you want your project to feature in Royal Docks Originals?
  
  Let us know your plans or have a chat with one of our Creative Producers to help formulate ideas about how to get involved.
  
  Enquire now
  

The Royal Docks is undergoing a profound transformation into an exciting new urban quarter and waterfront for London, with culture at its heart.

Royal Docks Originals is part of our ambitious strategy to enhance the area’s appeal as a vibrant and inclusive place, to live, work and visit and through this festival we plan to harness the dynamism and diversity of the local community to transform the Royal Docks into a cultural beacon – unlocking creative opportunities and jobs, which support more inclusive growth and community wellbeing.

We want everyone to get involved. Want to ask us something not listed here?

Get in touch

Over the next 18 months, many festival projects will be developed providing opportunities across the community. Sign up for updates via the Royal Docks newsletter and social channels.