Shoalmates Community Parade
On 27th April 2024, approximately three hundred residents of the Royal Docks area of Newham came together in an event celebrating the true spirit of community. This was the culmination of a spring programme of creative workshops engaging circa seven hundred school pupils and family groups from across Newham.
The event programme was designed and led by Art in The Docks - the fastest growing community arts organisation in Newham. This collective experience revolved around a public parade where people carried windsock puppets in the shape of fish. Each fish was handmade and decorated in ways that made them uniquely personal to the person creating them. Some people had incorporated their heritage into their designs, others used their personal interests as motifs (we had a least one West Ham fish!). Most simply used their favourite shapes and colours.
“
Amazing! So playful and impactful. Thanks for bringing our community together in such a creative way.”
All of the individual fish were carried by their makers in a parade, as all the individual fish came together to move in a bigger ‘shoal’. The underlying message was a visual metaphor for the spirit of community: the idea that we can retain our sense of unique individuality whilst simultaneously being an active and contributory member of a wider cohesive group.
Large numbers of family groups spanning all generations were involved. The oldest members of a family walked alongside the youngest. Significant numbers of individuals joined the parade as it progressed, including many who heard and saw the parade and decided to join in, swelling the size of the shoal.
Two local primary schools played central roles in the event, including pupils from Winsor Primary and Gallions Primary. Some of these were taught how to play drums made from recycled materials, others were taught how to dance to the sound of the drums (we also had a small group of Dhol drummers).
The event started and finished in Royal Albert Wharf and incorporated the surrounding residential areas adjacent to the nearby River Thames. This allowed the event to be seen and heard by the residents of Woolwich and Thamesmead on the opposite side. To add to the sense of occasion and atmosphere, approximately one hundred and fifty ‘Flying Fish’ were rigged across the dock to creating a vibrant aerial display of swimming fish.
Art in The Docks also worked closely with the Royal Docks Management Authority (RoDMA) to activate the water. This involved introducing a giant floating fish sculpture affixed to a pontoon. These two temporary additions to the waterscape drew large numbers of positive comments.
This event was co-funded by a combination of the Royal Docks Trust, Bow Arts and private philanthropy.
All images © David Swainsbury
