Royal Dock Originals
Royal Docks Originals Engineers: resident artists programme
The RDO Engineers programme provides longer-term support for up to three creative practitioners from any art form to progress a specific developmental element of their creative work from December 2026 until October 2027. Whether focused on innovative practice, extending a promising area of work, or forging a new partnership, the residency is designed to help deliver a step-change in each creative practitioner's practice.
The creative process will include participation opportunities for local communities and will have a final creative output presented at Royal Docks Originals festival in September 2027. The making process will also deliver a lasting benefit to the Royal Docks cultural ecosystem.
This programme aims to enrich and develop the area's cultural ecosystem, so will prioritise creative practitioners based in the Royal Docks.
Each selected creative practitioner will receive a £35,000 grant for work taking place throughout the making process and the presentation of the work in the festival. They will also receive the support of a Royal Docks producer during this time. Appointed Royal Docks Originals Engineers may wish to seek additional funds to supplement the project.
Royal Docks Originals is the flagship cultural festival of the Royal Docks; a bold celebration of creativity, community and place, the festival showcases the original stories, talent and ideas shaping the Royal Docks as London’s Cultural Engine - a thriving centre for creative innovation, cultural production and inclusive growth.
Rooted in the area, Royal Docks Originals aims to create opportunities for local artists and cultural practitioners to test new ideas and explore creative developments.
The festival’s newly created Royal Docks Originals Engineers resident artists programme is a major initiative designed to support this aim and the wider Royal Docks cultural ecosystem.
