Kent and Medway Creative Health Week

We are celebrating Creativity and Wellbeing Week from 19 to 25 May.

Throughout the week, we will be highlighting the Creative Health projects and programmes in Kent and Medway. These events highlight some of the exemplary initiatives happening across the county. We invite you to participate and experience the therapeutic benefits of creative activities.

Monday 19 May

Canterbury Festival Creating Memories - Living Memory Tree project

A celebratory display of recent work created by adults diagnosed with dementia, as part of the Canterbury Festival's Creating Memories public engagement project. Work was produced by local groups the East Kent Forget-Me-Nots, the SUNshiners and the Seasiders. The project offered participants the opportunity to explore their memories to create an individual Living Memory Tree for enhanced individual and community wellbeing. The trees in some cases represent a family tree, in others the record of an individual pilgrimage, memories of a lived experience and in some an opportunity to recollect favoured memories to share with family and friends.

The artwork display is presented in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University Bookshop.

The Missing Project exhibition

In Victorian Hidden Mother Photography, mothers often remained concealed while supporting their children, symbolising the hidden struggles of caregivers today. This sentiment resonates deeply with those caring for loved ones with mental health issues, particularly addiction and schizophrenia, who often feel invisible in their efforts. The Missing Project aims to shed light on the collective grief, strength, and love of these caregivers, providing a space for connection, raising awareness, and advocating for better mental health support.

Groovin' Well at Southborough with West Kent Mind

Groovin’ Well workshops are led by and for people aged 50+. Sessions will build from simple getting-to-know-you activities through to making a short choreography from participants’ own stories and movements. The sessions are about having fun, loosening up and letting go, celebrating the good stuff of life.

In order to attend this programme, participants must register with West Kent Mind in advance.

Wear loose clothing that you feel comfortable in, trainers or bare feet, and bring a bottle of water.

The Glitter Project

Join us for some informal networking, fun and games, plus first-hand advice from experts who’ve all ‘been there, done that’ in some capacity. We all know how challenging it can be to embark on a new interest and potential career, so these events are designed to take out the overwhelm and connect you with other likeminded female and non-binary comedy performers, writers, and creators. The second part is a showcase event offering female and non-binary performers vital stage time, whether it’s their first time on stage or they are a more established act looking for a 'safe place’ to try out new material.

Momentum

An unforgettable evening of movement, creativity, and innovation as our talented BA Dance Education students take the stage.

Tuesday 20 May

The ART of Age

We run a free community group for the elderly, including those living with dementia, with the aim to help reduce loneliness and social isolation. The group meets every Tuesday.

Each session is different - one week we may be painting and the next reading poetry with local primary school children. The focus of this group is to encourage community cohesion, so people feel part of it and not socially isolated.

No booking is required, just come along and enjoy a cuppa!

Creativity and Wellbeing at the Museum: Drop in Session at the Beaney

The Beaney will be hosting a special drop in event in the Explorers and Collectors Gallery. No need to book, simply arrive at the museum between 10:30am and 3pm.

The drop in event will encourage you to spend mindful time in the galleries, handle real museum objects and take part in a creative activity to improve your mood and wellbeing.

Spring in Full Colour

A stunning exhibition of creative, colourful artwork from creatives working or living within Gravesham, celebrating the beauty of spring.

Shake off the winter grey and join us at the St George's Arts Centre as we celebrate spring in full colour.

No entry fee and no need to book, just turn up.

The exhibition runs until 29 May.

Momentum

An unforgettable evening performance of movement, creativity, and innovation as our talented BA Dance Education students take the stage.

Thursday 22 May

Dover Smart Cancer Support Group workshop

Have you, a family member or friend been impacted by cancer in any way? If so, why not drop into our weekly social held in our community art gallery every Thursday?

Enjoy a cuppa and a piece of cake and, if you fancy, join in with our latest creative projects.

Whoever you are, whatever your age, we are here to support you.

Young People’s Creative Dance Classes

Creative Dance Classes are a fun and exciting introduction to creative dancing. These classes are designed to encourage expression and creativity alongside building confidence and working together.

No previous dance experience is required.

For ages 12 to 18, every Thursday, 4:30pm to 6pm (term time only).

We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone wishing to participate, so bursaries are available for children who are eligible for free school meals as well as parents and carers who receive benefits.

Adult Creative Contemporary Dance Classes

Join Jasmin Vardimon Company for Adult Creative Contemporary Classes. Open to all levels of experience, this dance class will be based on contemporary dance technique through creative exploration. Following a warm up, participants can learn movement sequences alongside creative movement tasks and improvisation.

No previous dance experience is required.

We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone wishing to participate, so bursaries are available.

Friday 23 May

2025 BA exhibition launch

Join us in celebrating our creative students' successes, as they take over the Daphne Oram Creative Arts building. With work from creative and professional writing, digital media, film, radio, TV and film production, games design, graphic design, media, communications and PR, photography and creative music production and technology.

The exhibition will continue from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 May, open daily from 10am to 3pm.

Saturday 24 May

Discovery Days

Join us for our latest exciting Discovery Days, featuring free family drop-in arts and craft activities for everyone.

Get Creative - Felted Seascapes

Monthly creative workshops for adults to learn new skills, enhance existing ones or rekindle the love of an old hobby. The workshops are designed to bring people together, learn skills, have fun, and connect with each other. We aim for the sessions to be relaxed, friendly and offer a space where people’s creativity can flow. Everyone over the age of 18 is welcome, with no specific level of skill required.

Make a wet felted seascape. Work with local textile artist Grace Akehurst in this relaxed workshop. You will learn the wet felting technique which involves laying out loose wool fibres to create a seascape. By adding soapy water and friction you can turn the fibres into a solid piece of felt.

Sunday 25 May

Smooth Sunday Sessions

Great art, tasty food and amazing music from talented Kent-based acts.

Join us at the St George's Arts Centre Café for a performance from Tony Dobson. Tony received his first guitar in 1959 aged twelve, and has been playing in bands on and off as a semi-professional for 60 years. In 2007 Tony started to perform at local open mic nights and since then has had the most successful period of his musical journey as a solo performer, as well as leading his own Holly's Buddies tribute band since 2015 and it has all snowballed from there, a little late in life but better late than never.

No need to book, just turn up and relax!

Smooth Sunday Sessions take place twice a month, with a different performer each session.