Unity Arts Festival 2020

About

Unity Arts Festival is a celebration of creativity in Leamouth Peninsula, one of east London’s most exciting new cultural and artistic hubs, uniting London City Island and Goodluck Hope with exhibitions, installations, performances and workshops.  Welcoming guests of all ages, entry to the festival and its workshops are completely free, and all necessary Covid-19 safety measures will be in place. 

Forming part of annual Open House London that celebrates architecture and urban landscape of London, a series of tours to discover the inspiration behind the design and evolving creative landscape across the island will take place across the weekend. Starting from Canning Town station, the walks will head across the island’s iconic red bridge over River Lea and through the heart of London City Island, followed by neighbouring development Goodluck Hope.

Home to resident creatives and local artists, London City Island’s gallery spaces, studios and workshops will host a number of activities throughout the festival. Full programme includes:

• The Unity Film Studio, Unity Arts Festival is setting up a film studio for the weekend. Take part in a short film with international animator Tim Allen where you yourself will be the animation puppet!
• The Unity Live Stage, This year for the first time, Unity will be presenting a live stage where local talent from Arch1, Sirlute and Devotion will perform in an intimate setting.
• Open House Tours, Open House guided tours of Leamouth Peninsula, allowing visitors to discover the inspiration behind the design and evolving creative landscapes of London City Island and neighbouring development Goodluck Hope.
• POWERPLAY Exhibition, arebyte Gallery and The National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo will be exhibiting POWERPLAY, a group exhibition featuring artists working within digital media, moving image and technology.
• Architectural Photography Workshop, Opening its doors for the first time, new on-site London Lighthouse Gallery & Studio will be hosting architectural photography workshop through theory and practice, led by resident architectural photographer Sokari Higgwe.
• Black Lives Matter photography exhibition, London Lighthouse Gallery & Studio will also host a pop-up photography exhibition by Gay Photographers Network, inspired by George Floyd’s tragic death, showcasing photographic and written displays on the issues raised by the movement.
• Trinity Art Gallery exhibitions, The gallery is hosting two exhibitions: ‘Let The Grass Grow Beneath Your Feet’ featuring works from the lockdown period, and ‘Vestiges and Bloom' by Michele Turriani, a celebration of the Royal Docks heritage.
• Music Workshops: Sirlute Youngstar will be hosting a programme of dj-ing, music production and songwriting workshops, led by industry professionals and for kids under 18 years old.

Unity Arts Festival is committed to the wellbeing of staff and visitors, and to ensure that the safety and security of everyone is prioritised, the organisers have implemented a broad range of Covid-19 compliant safety measures; signage on the floors in venues enforcing 2m distance, time slots for visitors to limit capacity and interaction, requirement to pre-book all activities, contact tracing, increased frequency of cleaning in the venues, stationed hand sanitiser dispensers and face coverings worn by staff members and volunteers in all indoor venues.

For more information, and the full events programme, please visit https://www.unity.london/festival