Bells and Whistles - A Look into the Archives

Bells and Whistles Event The Royal Docks has always been a place of arrivals and departures. Once alive with the sound of ship horns, church bells, and dockland families gathered at the water’s edge, it now thrives as a home for new communities from across the world. Sixty years on from the night the docks fell silent, we invite you to explore this story through conversation and making.

Join us on Saturday 20th September for a printing, drawing, painting workshop where you’ll be invited to respond to archival photographs and oral histories from the Royal Docks’ past. Together, we’ll reflect on how the area has changed—its rhythms, its people, its purpose—and imagine the connections between then and now.

This is not only a chance to make art, but to share stories, memories, and visions for the future of the Royal Docks. The works you produce in the session will be invited to be shown in a group exhibition at the Gallery on Saturday 4th October.

📍 Art in the Docks, 25 Shackleton Wy, London E16 2XJ

📧 Please get in touch and email info@artinthedocks.com if you have any questions.

⏰ Saturday, 20th September 1-3PM

These workshops are funded by the Notting Hill Genesis Love While You Live Fund.

All our workshops are free or very low cost, and continue to be possible thanks to our funders and supporters. Please donate what you can to allow us to continue providing these sessions. We want our events to be affordable to everyone. You can book a free place if you want, but we invite people to make a minimum £5 donation. This is still far less than the real cost. Paying more enables us to offer free places to other people who need them. All donations are anonymous.

Thank you.