Purfleet-on-Thames communities invited to design flags ahead of T100 festival
We are reaching out to communities across Purfleet-on-Thames to design and make silk flags that celebrate a new future for the town. The flags will be showcased at the finale of the T100 festival in September.
Kinetika is renowned for its beautiful, colourful flags that are designed and made by communities illustrating the stories, characters and places that are significant to them.
Kinetika’s home town, Purfleet-on-Thames, is on the cusp of extensive redevelopment and working with developer, Purfleet Centre Regeneration Ltd, Kinetika will create a series of silk flags to profile and connect the many different groups and organisations who live and work there.
Kinetika artist Jacci Todd has begun by designing and making a silk flag with the Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum using its logo to translate a bold design that represents the group who work tirelessly to promote the town and its people.
Earlier this year, Purfleet was officially renamed Purfleet-on-Thames and the new flag celebrates this and was unveiled on 4th July.
‘The wonderful flag for Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum was designed by Kinetika with input from the forum. The rope background, lifebelt and centre design show the link between Purfleet and the River Thames. That is one of the main reasons Purfleet will be renamed Purfleet-on-Thames on 4th July 2020. The name change was an initiative by Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum that received 100% support when it was voted through by the council earlier this year. The centre design with sun, boat and river are from the forum’s logo. The bright coloured ring shows the bright future of an area that is on the rise.’
Trevor Batchelor
Vice Chair of the Community Forum
Kinetika is inviting up to 25 Purfleet-on-Thames groups to take part in creating hand-painted silk flags that collectively celebrate the Purfleet community and tell the story of the area.
Kinetika will supply a design pack and instructions to guide groups so that everyone can get involved with varying degrees of input.
No previous artistic experience is necessary. Kinetika artists will be offering support sessions in July. Any group in Purfleet-on-Thames is welcome to get in touch and find out how to get involved in the designing and making of a flag.
Email katie@kinetika.co.uk to find out more.
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Kinetika made the move to Purfleet in 2014 and its annual T100 Walking Festival has featured Purfleet in many walks over the years. In 2020, the festival will culminate in a procession and finale event in Purfleet on 27th September to celebrate the diversity and creativity of the town as it looks towards the future and the regeneration of the town.
The £1bn regeneration of Purfleet-on-Thames is being delivered by Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited in partnership with Thurrock Council. PCRL is a joint venture between Urban Catalyst and Swan Housing Association.
The 25 local community groups will capture the essence of the wonderful community at Purfleet-on-Thames and its multi-cultural environment through their painted Batik silk flags.
The PCRL team are already looking forward to joining the T100 Walking Festival which will bring the community together again in a safe way, inspiring even greater community bonds and celebrating the creativity and rich craftsmanship of the area.”
All the Purfleet communities are invited to come together and walk their flags from the town to High House Production Park for the celebrations and culmination of T100 Calling on 27th September. They will then be available for community events and exhibitions in the coming years.
Ali Pretty, Artistic Director of Kinetika said: “It’s very exciting for us to have the chance to work closely with the communities in Purfleet and together play an active role in the town’s development as it evolves into an innovative creative hub on the banks of the Thames.”
‘Kinetika has always put the community of Purfleet-on-Thames at the centre of its activity and, as we at Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL) always strive to do the same, we are delighted to be supporting their work.
We are determined to bring the Purfleet-on-Thames regeneration scheme together in partnership with the community to create a thriving environment, which creates not only new homes but also brings wider creative, healthy living, employment and educational opportunities for Purfleet-on-Thames.’
Ken Dytor
PCRL founder
Kinetika is working hard preparing for T100 to take place from 12th September. The programme includes walks along the Estuary from Shoeburyness to Purfleet with a series of artworks planned along the way. At certain locations, artists, walkers and local people will come together to design and make mandalas.
To find out more and discover how to get involved in T100, please email katie@kinetika.co.uk to find out more or see links below.
About T100 Calling
