Join us in Plaistow and Green Street for a festival of creative events to celebrate unity and community as part of Newham Unlocked Festival. View our full programme below. All activities are FREE!
The Newham Unlocked Programme is produced by Rosetta Arts with artistic direction by Jeanefer Jean-Charles.
Click here to view what time each exciting act is performing on the main stage
NEWHAM UNLOCKED FESTIVAL: GREEN STREET PROGRAMME
Queen’s Square, Queen’s Market and Green Street
Saturday 16th October, 10am-4pm
MUSIC in QUEEN’S SQUARE
Head to Queen’s Square and enjoy a celebration of dance, spoken word and music.
Green Street Window Art Trail
10am-6pm
Various locations
Head to Bees, Pure Jewels, Neelams Hair and Beauty, Henna Mehndi, Bidaai, Doli, Zaver Jewellery, Arabian perfume collection, Green Street Library, Hardwicks Textile and Market Office to view a selection of artworks displayed in their windows and discover what these local businesses have to offer.
All artworks are listed on our digital map, so get the map ready on your mobile device to help you navigate the trail.
A MASS MOVEMENT DANCE PROCESSION with live music by the KING BRASSTARDS
12.30 – 1pm and 3.30-4pm
Queen’s Market
A dance performance in Queen’s Market – by the community, for the community.
The Mass Movement is a procession of 60 dancers from 6 local community groups, directed by Jeanefer Jean-Charles with choreography by Charlene Low. This colourful and vibrant dance performance is inspired by the people in Green Street and acts as a celebration of the local community and will be accompanied by a live band.
Performing Dance Groups: Lister School, St. Angela’s Ursuline, Artistry Youth Dance, IMD Youth Dance group, UEL Dance Collective, Double Twist Dance Co. with music from The King Brasstards.
QUEEN’S SQUARE LIVE STAGE
12pm-4pm
Head to Queen’s Square to see performances from: Urban Development, Double Twist, The King Brasstards, IMD Youth Dance group, Leap Of Faith, Bollywood Vibes, Newham Music Jazz Collective, Sami Rhymes; hosted by Damien Anyasi.
FACE PAINTING
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Queen’s Square
Visit our Newham Unlocked Face Painter, who is overflowing with imagination and sure to delight the kids with spontaneous and creative face painting designs inspired by the theme of unity and community.
HENNA TATTOO
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Queen’s Square
Our henna tattoo artist, Saira Ahmed, specialises in creating beautiful and unique temporary body art and tattoos using only high quality henna.
We have a wide range of designs you can choose from, join us and get your temporary tattoo done!
CO-DESIGN A NEW COMMUNITY SPACE
10am-5pm, drop in sessions
Units 414-416, Queen’s Square
Three award-winning architects and Rosetta Arts will work with the Green Street community on designs for the Queen’s Square in a series of events over the next two months. This will ensure that the designs are shaped by local people and provide both what’s needed and wanted.
Drop in and have your say and test the ideas for a new community space in Green Street that will support residents and businesses.
The co-design events will help to:
1. Deliver improvements to the market so it works better for traders and shoppers
2. Make Queen’s Square more attractive to relax and socialise
3. Create a new workspace for residents and small businesses
4. Design a new creative and cultural community space
UNITY TOTE BAG PAINTING WORKSHOPS
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Queen’s Market
Join us for a Unity Tote Bag Painting Workshop! Under the guidance of our artist Ani Passerelli, you will have a chance to paint a tote bag with colours of your choice. You’ll leave the session with your free bespoke Unity Tote Bag designed by local artist Farah Ishaq.
PLANT POT PAINTING WORKSHOPS
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Queen’s Market
Get your creative juices flowing with our Plant Pot Painting Workshops with our artist, Annie Birch. By the end of the class you will have decorated your very own plant pot, which you can fill at home with either rosemary, thyme or chamomile seeds.
Managing stress, maintaining a sense of calm and clarity and looking after our physical wellbeing are all very important. Along with some simple daily practices, we can look to plants for help. We’ll provide three of the best herbs to help boost your mood, all of which you can enjoy either as herbal teas or to make your food more flavoursome.
MOSAIC PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Queen’s Market
Come and have your portrait taken by Sylvie Belbouab (photographer and one of the artists on Rosetta Arts’ Artist Accelerator Programme). The portraits will form part of a large scale artwork, symbolising unity and community.
GEOMETRICAL PATTERN TEA COASTER WORKSHOP
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Queen’s Market
Join us for a Tea Coaster Painting Workshop. We will be using the geometrical pattern from “The Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain” as inspiration to decorate coasters.
Our artist, Aisha Naim will introduce you to the history of the pattern and help you create your own.
POETRY WORKSHOPS
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Queen’s Market
Join us for poetry workshops run by Speak.Easy. These sessions are built on the notion that the most exciting writing begins after the first draft. Explore how poetry can change the way you and your readers think of the world and its inhabitants and turn a blank sheet of paper into a teeming concert of voices and music.
NEWHAM UNLOCKED FESTIVAL: PLAISTOW PROGRAMME
Plaistow Park
Sunday 17th October 12pm-4pm
NEWHAM’S TALENT UNLOCKED
12pm-4pm
Plaistow Park
See a wide range of talent perform at Newham’s Unlocked festival. Acts include:
New Young Voice Collective – choir, Afrika Jambo, Michael Spence, Iroko, Qawali, Michelle Adjei, Stratford East Singers, Bridging Sounds Orchestra, Manorma Joisi, NewMovementz, Beeja Dance Co., Andry Oporia; hosted by Damien Anyasi.
UNITY TOTE BAG PAINTING WORKSHOPS
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Plaistow Park
Join us for a Unity Tote Bag Painting Workshop! Under the guidance of local artist Farah Ishaq, you will have a chance to paint a tote bag with colours of your choice. You’ll leave the session with your free bespoke Unity Tote Bag designed by Farah herself!
MOSAIC PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
12-4PM, drop in sessions
Plaistow Park
Come and have your portrait taken by Sylvie Belbouab (photographer and one of the artists on Rosetta Arts’ Artist Accelerator Programme). The portraits will form part of a large scale artwork, symbolising unity and community.
COMMUNITY MURAL and GEOMETRIC PATTERN WORKSHOP
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Plaistow Park
Join us for geometric pattern workshops. Geometrical patterns reflect the unity and order of the universe while giving the artist an exceptional degree of flexibility and freedom. Our artist, Aisha Naim will introduce you to the history of an extraordinary geometric pattern and help you produce your own work of art.
FACE PAINTING
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Plaistow Park
Visit our Newham Unlocked Face Painter, who is overflowing with imagination and sure to delight the kids with spontaneous and creative face painting designs inspired by the theme of unity and community.
MUSIC WORKSHOPS
Between 12 and 4pm
Plaistow Park
Join New Young Voice Collective for a Singing Workshop and Iroko for a Drum and Dance Workshop.
DANCE AND MOVEMENT WORKSHOPS
12-4pm, drop in sessions
Plaistow Park
Get moving in these fun workshops led by experienced dance collectives.
What’s on offer: Street dance workshop by New Movementz; Contemporary dance workshop by Instigate Unknown; Contemporary dance workshop by Sardines Dance; Movement workshop by Pathways to Healthier Newham; Bollywood dance workshop by Beeja Dance Co.
TREE DRESSING
12-4pm
Plaistow Park (near the playground)
Come and do some tree dressing and pavement art in Plaistow Park, just by the playground. You’d be surprised what a bit of colour can do to beautify the park. This is an informal arts activity suitable for all ages and abilities. The activity will be run by Ros Southern from Plaistow South Big Local.
PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATION
12-4pm
Plaistow Park
Get your portrait drawn by professional portrait artist Peter Payne. You’ll get to take home this original artwork as a wonderful reminder of Newham Unlocked Festival.
Other ways to explore Newham Unlocked Festival: Plaistow and Green Street
Friday 17th September-Sunday 17th October
Newham Unlocked Window Art Exhibition – various locations
An art exhibition in front windows and front gardens around Plaistow and Green Street, curated by Newham-based artist Michael Nash. View the map on your mobile device and take an exciting walk around these two neighbourhoods.
Newham Unlocked Art Trail – various locations
A public art walk curated by Newham-based artist Melina Merlin and view the inspiring artworks covering everything from murals and mosaic to landscapes and heritage.
All works are listed on our digital map,
Unity Art Exhibition – For Real: Four Women Artists in Newham at Tower Gallery – Memorial Community Church, 395 Barking Road, London, E13 8AL
Newham-based artists Sylvie Belbouab, Farah Ishaq, Ada Jusic and Aisha Naim will bring their incredible original photography, miniature and large scale artwork, vibrant illustrations, hand printed lino, mono and screen print works and a healthy dose of community spirit for you to enjoy.
A series of Meet the Artists events will take place at Tower Gallery as part of the exhibition. These are free to attend and can be booked via the links below.
Can’t come in person? We’ve also provided the Unity Art Exhibition in a digital gallery.
Saturday 16th October, 12-4pm
Performances at Queen’s Market – Upton Park, Green St, London E13 9BA
A celebration of local music, dance, poetry, visual arts and more
Sunday 17th October, 12-4pm
Newham’s Talent Unlocked in Plaistow Park
Local talent show with performances and creative workshops for all the family to take part
Thanks to our many partners and supporters, including Plaistow Big South Local and the Memorial Community Church.
These events are part of the Newham Unlocked Festival, funded by Newham Council.
Past events
Sunday 19 September, 12-4pm
Meet east London printmaker Farah Ishaq. Farah will also have some smaller works for sale including prints, tea towels and greetings cards.
Click here to book your free place
Sunday 26 September, 12-4pm
Meet artist Aisha Naim. Aisha will lead tours of her bold collection of paintings in the exhibition.
Click here to book your free place
Sunday 3 October, 12-4pm
Meet documentary photographer Sylvie Belbouab. There will also be an opportunity to have your portrait taken for her Stories From Newham project.
Click here to book your free place
Sunday 10 October, 12-4pm
Meet local muralist, illustrator and animator Ada Jusic and find out more about her work.
Click here to book your free place
Monday 6th September, 1-4pm
Geometrical Patterns Workshop at Katherine Road Community Centre – 254 Katherine Road, Forest Gate, London E7 8PN
Create simple but extraordinary geometric patterns commonly used in Middle Eastern art
Tuesday 7th September, 12-3pm
Geometrical Patterns Workshop at Plaistow Library – 79 North St, London E13 9HL
Create simple but extraordinary geometric patterns commonly used in Middle Eastern art
Tuesday 7th September, 1-4pm
Screen Printing Workshop at Katherine Road Community Centre – 254 Katherine Road, Forest Gate, London E7 8PN
Make easy and unique colour artworks for your Newham Unlocked window art exhibition
Thursday 9th September, 12-3pm
Screen Printing Workshop at Jeyes Community Centre – 1 James Cl, London E13 9BB
Make easy and unique colour artworks for your Newham Unlocked window art exhibition
Thanks to our many partners and supporters, including Plaistow Big South Local and the Memorial Community Church.
