Pollution in the River Thames has reached unprecedented levels in recent years, leaving many communities along its banks feeling outraged, powerless, and grieving the loss of a cherished natural space. Tales Of The Thames invites you to come together in response — to share, reflect, and begin to imagine new ways forward through art and citizen science.
The art portion of this workshop is led by Anya Gleizer and offers a creative space for processing ecological grief, reconnecting with the more-than-human world, and beginning conversations that matter. Through storytelling and collaborative embroidery, participants will contribute to the Tamesis Robe — a growing piece of communal textile art featuring a to-scale, 15-metre-long map of the Thames watershed. As the robe travels to communities along the river, it gathers new stories, threads, and perspectives.
The event will also include a citizen science taster session in collaboration with Thames21, offering an introduction to how local residents can play an active role in monitoring and protecting Oxford’s rivers and streams. It will provide a hands-on opportunity to explore the tools and approaches used in community-led water health monitoring.
This event is part of Makespace Oxfordshire’s Common Futures programme, a series of public workshops and events designed to foster connection, creativity, and collective imagining ahead of the opening of our new civic space on George Street.
We will meet at The Community Works but some of the session will be spent outside. The Community Works has an accessible bathroom and level access at the rear of the building. Let us know if you will need this and we will direct you.
