Bow Open x Mile End Community Project presents ‘to belong’
Friday 5th June 2026 – Sunday 30th August 2026 , 10:00am to 4:00pm
Our annual Bow Open exhibition platforms work from Bow Arts artists, showing new and innovative work selected by a different guest curator each year. This year, the Nunnery Gallery is working with young curators from Mile End Community Project (MCP) to deliver a truly multi-perspective and dynamic show.
Featuring
Rômulo Avi, Joy Baek, Mark Beldan, Victoria Burgher, Eleanor Burkett, Tom Coates, Chloe Cooper, Samuel Donagh, Ioana Elecfi, Roxana Gutila, Lucile Haefflinger, Ruiji Han, Yifan He, Jonny Kemp, Niki Kohandel, John Lord, Maria Stella Lydaki, Nicola McEvoy, Shrub Mostert, Alison P. O’Reilly, Charlotte Parr Burman, Sophie Popper, Anaïs Serres, Tara Versey, Denisa Zajacova
‘to belong’
What does it mean to belong? Is it a place, a person, a feeling? Is it an individual experience, or something we share? What happens when that sense of belonging is lost, and how do we find it again?
This year’s Bow Open brings together work from 25 artists centred around the theme of belonging, selected by young curators Mara Ahmed, Justine Enyan, Eleanor Getting and Lydia Lott with Mile End Community Project. Showcasing artists from across Bow Arts’ community, the exhibition presents many artforms, including painting, print, sculpture and video, all a testament to how belonging is a practice, rooted in place, identity, memory and community.
Visitors can explore the accompanying event programme, including artist workshops and an evening takeover from our young curators and event programmers, below.
Guided tours of the exhibition led by the young curators will take place during Bowfest: Bow Road Open Studios.
Image Credits: Rob Harris, Courtesy of Bow Arts
More about the Bow Open
More about Mile End Community Project
Mile End Community Project is an award-winning youth and community organisation with an established reputation for creative projects.
MCP is an award-winning youth and community organisation with an established reputation for creative and innovative projects. Since 1995 they have delivered a range of social and educational activities for Tower Hamlets residents who may not otherwise engage due to social, cultural, racial or economic challenges.
More about Mile End Community Project.
Access information
The Nunnery Gallery and Cafe have step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system.
Accessible parking is not available on-site but blue badge parking can be found 500m away on Fairfield Road.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event, would like to make us aware of any access requirements that you have in advance of visiting, or would like this information in an alternate format including Easy Read, please email nunnery@bowarts.com or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3)
Access requirements could include things like providing equipment, services or support (e.g. information in Easy Read, speech to text software, additional 1:1 support), adjusting workshop timings (e.g. more break times), adjustments to the event space (e.g. making sure you have a table near the entrance) or anything else you can think of!)
Opening hours: Wed-Sun, 10am to 4pm
Address: Nunnery Gallery, 181 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ
Nearest station(s): Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away.
Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area.
Bike: Bicycle parking is located at Bow Church Station. The nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Bow Church Station.