A large-scale arts festival is celebrating the landscapes and history of the River Thames.

Estuary 2021 is opening in May with a mix of large scale and intimate visual art, literature, music and film, some of which is available in Gravesend.

The festival celebrates culture, creativity, recovery and renewal and more than 50 artworks along the 107 miles of Essex and Kent coastline will be available to see.

Alongside an online discussion and events programme, the physical artworks will explore and respond to themes relating to the Estuary.

The festival invites visitors to take a walk along the coastline of South Essex and North Kent.

The route offers contemporary artworks and performance within the estuary landscape, historic sites and coastal towns.

Visual artist Maria Amidu will design a series of eight Watermarks artworks to be placed in the landscape which physically mark the Thames Estuary Trail.

Supported by the Thames Estuary Growth Board, these plaques will be hosted by small businesses and visitor centres along the route.

The art work available in Gravesham includes Golden Years, Our Time, Art in Transit and The Water Replies - Poetry.

An accompanying illustrated map by Adam Dant will highlight all the reasons why setting out for a walk along the Thames Estuary promises great adventure.

Conceived as an affordable ‘multiple’ artwork, it depicts the landmarks, great beauty spots, historic pubs, friendly restaurants, welcoming cafes and all of the stories to be discovered, along the route.

The Estuary 2021 website will host new artworks connected to the wider programme, including a film programme specially curated by Gareth Evans, and a series of artists’ podcasts released throughout the festival.

To find out more visit the Estuary 2021 map and website here.

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