Regeneration news
Join the Docks returns: Call for submissions to Join the Docks Autumn Programme is now closed.
The Royal Docks Team has announced applications have now closed for projects to be included in its Join the Docks Autumn Programme. Priority will be given to Royal Docks and Newham based organisations, or those connected to the Royal Docks.
Organised by the Royal Docks Team, a joint initiative between the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Newham, Join the Docks aims to inspire online and physical audiences and participants to discover and celebrate the area’s 4km of historic docklands as well as its beautiful parks, water, diversity, creativity and more.
Last year, the Royal Docks presented over 150 events and activities ranging from heritage walks, poetry workshops, gigs, art exhibitions and more. In excess of 50,000 people, of all ages, attended from the local Newham community, London, the UK and internationally. This year the opportunity has been adapted to include an expectedly higher number of online attendees from Newham, the surrounding areas, as well as wider global locations.
It’s great news that the Join the Docks festival is being reimagined for its return to the Royal Docks. It will provide a boost to local creativity at this difficult time and celebrate the rich diversity of Newham and Royal Docks.
Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE
Funding is available to support the creation and presentation of a range of creative and cultural projects to be part of Join the Docks Autumn Programme and for research and development projects to be presented early next year. Activities large and small will be considered. Join the Docks champions the Royal Docks unique cultural offer, demonstrating its vibrant diversity, its history, its people, and its identity as a place of opportunity, ideas and innovation. Join the Docks returns to the Royal Docks and online, for a 2-phase period of celebration from September to December 2020 (Autumn Programme), followed by a live 10-day festival (Join the Docks Festival) in February 2021*.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the team have reimagined Join the Docks to allow for the changing nature of the situation, and restrictions that affect how cultural activities take place.
The first phase: ‘Join the Docks Autumn Programme’ will consist of a range of projects that can take place within the current Government guidelines for social distancing and will run from 14 September 2020 to 15 December 2020. Application calls for this phase are now live! Creative and cultural organisations, individuals, and community groups from Newham, and those near to, or closely connected with the Royal Docks are invited to submit creative and cultural project proposals that include physical, broadcast, or digital formats. This is to ensure projects provide the opportunity for social distancing as well as online delivery and engagement.
Applications and full details for the second phase: ‘Join the Docks Festival’ with creative production opportunities for delivery in a live festival format will be announced later in the Autumn.
Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE said: “It’s great news that the Join the Docks festival is being reimagined for its return to the Royal Docks. It will provide a boost to local creativity at this difficult time and celebrate the rich diversity of Newham and Royal Docks.”
Applications are open to both new and existing activities. Proposed activities for Phase 1 must take place before 15 December 2020, be free or low cost to attend, be accessible** and inclusive. While applicants do not need to be based in Newham, applications must show experience or knowledge of working in the area.
All ideas for activities are welcome. Those who would like to take part have until 6 pm on Sunday 23 August to apply.
To find out more about the opportunities available, and how to apply, please visit https://www.royaldocks.london/jointhedocks
*We are monitoring government guidelines and will announce details of that second phase if it is safe to run following advice and guidance. Further information will be made available via our website in due course.
** All applications must consider social distancing guidance when applying to ensure this is followed if a physical activity is being proposed. Applicants are encouraged to consider online activities as well.
