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Bowfest: Open Studios
Get ready for Bow Arts’ biggest event of the summer! Meet our community of over 100 talented artists working at our flagship site, Bow Road. Join us in the Courtyard for live music, a makers market, family workshops, food stalls and more.
Friday 19th June 2026 – Saturday 20th June 2026 , 6:00pm to 4:00pm
Times
Friday 19th June, 6pm-9pm
Saturday 20th June, 11am-4pm
This year Bow Arts are once again throwing open the doors to Bow Road Studios for an unmissable event. Come and celebrate our thriving community of some of east London’s brightest emerging and established artists, designers and makers.
Friday night we’ll be celebrating with live music from live jazz band ‘Graft’ and a DJ booth at our Nunnery Café, while on Saturday we’re calling all young makers to join artist Nicola McEvoy for a special Bow Families workshop, making different mythological puppet creatures or deities.
Across both days:
- A makers’ market selling unique hand-crafted items
- A pop-up bar run by our very own Nunnery Café, serving cocktails and draft pints
- Freshly made falafels with local pop-up Falafel Time
- Special programming across our 2026 Bow Open Show showcasing 25 Bow Arts artists along the theme of ‘to belong‘, with three tours by the young curators with Mile End Community Project
- Artwork will be for sale using the Own Art scheme, enabling buyers to spread the cost of work over 10 interest-free monthly instalments
Delicious refreshments will also be available throughout at our Nunnery Café and the Nunnery Gallery will be exhibiting the Bow Open, our annual showcase of work by Bow Arts studio holders and artist educators.
Please note, photography will be taking place on the day of the event. Please pick up a sticker, or kindly let our photographer know on the day if you would rather not appear in images of the event, which may be used for future communications.
What’s On at Bowfest? Explore more below.
Meet the Artists
Over 100 artists across 100 studios will have their workspace open to look inside. Browse the artworks on sale or enjoy a conversation inside our historic studio site. See available studios on our website.
Visit the Nunnery Gallery
This year’s Bow Open exhibition at the gallery brings together work from 25 artists centred around the theme of belonging, selected by young curators with Mile End Community Project.
Exhibition Tour | 7pm & 8pm Friday or 12pm Saturday, drop-in
Meet at the Nunnery Gallery for a guided tour of the exhibition with Young Curators Eleanor, Lydia, or Justine.
Live Music
Take it easy, sit back, and listen to our live jazz band ‘Graft’ play in the Bow Arts Courtyard.
Browse Our Local Artist & Makers’ Market
Studio artists from across Bow Arts will be part of a vibrant market on Saturday to show off their creations. Walk away with a unique piece of work!
Get creative with Bow Families
On the day, visitors of all ages are invited to get creative, and join in our free family-friendly art workshop run by a professional artist.
Young makers are invited to join artist Nicola McEvoy for a special Bow Families workshop, making different mythological puppet creatures or deities.
Purchase Original Artwork
All artwork, in the studios, the gallery, and the café will also be available to buy using Own Art, the affordable art scheme that enables buyers to spread the cost of an artwork across 10 interest-free instalments.
Access information
The Bow Arts Trust office has step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. There is a baby change station in the accessible toilet in the Nunnery Cafe. 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.
A breakout space will be provided on the day for those who need access to a quiet room. Please note: photography will be taken during this event.
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 call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3).
Transport Information
Address: Bow Arts Trust, 183 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.
