May newsletter – Chadwell St Mary art trail: get involved!

Start creating your own window artwork!

This summer, Chadwell St Mary is turning into a giant outdoor gallery – and everyone is invited to take part.

As part of the Chadwell St Mary Art Trail launching this August, residents, shops and community spaces are being encouraged to create their own ‘Window Wanderland’ displays to help extend the trail across the area.

You don’t need to be an artist or creative expert to join in. The idea is simply to have a go using anything you already have at home – from paper, cardboard and tissue paper to lights, drawings, decorations or handmade scenes.

Artist in residence Lucy McDonald has also created art packs for residents to create pop-up artworks or scenes to place in their front window and, if they’d like to, post their entries to social media to enter a free prize draw.

For those looking for inspiration, free workshops in July and August will also offer support.

Themes for the displays have been inspired by local residents and include celebrating nature, neighbours, community and imagination.

You can make a start now, with the big Window Wanderland weekend taking place on 15 and 16 August.

Be part of Window Wanderland! See our page about it.

Starting the journey to WORDCUP 2026

You’ve heard of the World Cup – but WORDCUP2026 is something a little different…

Thurrock teens have been taking part in creative writing, poetry and performance workshops, developing and sharpening their skills ahead of a major showcase this summer.

Leading performance poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes, approached Start Thurrock to help make the project happen locally, and we connected them with Thurrock-based community partner CHOSEN Communities, ensuring the programme is rooted in local relationships and accessible to young people here.

People from the seven participating areas will unite to perform their work and collaborate with international poets at an unforgettable finale event at London’s Southbank Centre on July 10-12.

We’re so happy to be able to bring national creative opportunities to our borough for young people in Thurrock.

Start seeing Thurrock differently at the T100 Festival 

Kinetika’s T100 Festival is back! From 23 May to 7 June, Thurrock residents of all ages can get involved with free walks, workshops, performances and creative events.

Participants could be joining a graffiti workshop with Scotty Brave, listening to poetry in a dye garden, discovering hidden local stories on a heritage walk, watching live theatre along the estuary or getting stuck into bug hunts and bee hotel making with the family.

And the fun all builds towards the big community finale in Purfleet-on-Thames on 6 June – A Place at the Table: Celebrating Our Community – packed with live performances, singing, storytelling, art, exhibitions and hands-on creative activities.

Start Thurrock is proud to support the festival and we can’t wait to see the huge community tablecloth that was created by residents during our Green Light programme. During Kinetika’s A Place at the Table workshop in February, participants created their individual textile squares for the piece that will be unveiled at the finale.

Find out more.