Head to London’s iconic river this September to experience Totally Thames – a month-long, annual arts and culture festival, celebrating everything about the River Thames. Different events pop up along the length of the Thames, with a diverse programme planned to inspire, connect and delight!
The centrepiece of this year’s festival is the ‘Ship of Tolerance’ installation, moored by the Tate Modern from 4th September to 6th October. This 60-foot long, hand-crafted wooden ship was created by internationally renowned artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov – two of the most respected artists of their generation – and designed to inspire unity and understanding of diversity through the universal language of art. The installation’s pioneering project is its curated workshop programme – working with primary schools, refugee groups and cultural organisations – where participants paint silk panels for the ship, based on discussions about diversity. Originally launched in 2005, ‘The Ship of Tolerance’ has travelled the globe, and was awarded the prestigious Cartier Prize for Best Art Project of the Year in 2010. For its autumn at the Royal Docks, the ship’s sails have been created by children from London primary schools, Great Ormond Street Hospital and refugee centres across the country.
There are plenty of other activities to experience, too: try some late-night tango at the Mid-River Milonga, as you travel down the Thames aboard a replica nineteenth-century paddle steamer; descend to the subterranean world below Tower Bridge for the Bascule Chamber Concerts; find out what it felt and smelt like to live by the Thames over the last two centuries at The Barking Stink: A Scented Heritage Exhibition; or paddle through the heart of London as part of Regatta London.
With events taking place all along the Thames, staying with us at the Indigo Paddington puts you right in the heart of the action. Book to stay with us, and prepare to experience the capital’s wonderful waterway like never before!
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