Lakeside Centre: Open Art Studios
Saturday 19th September 2026 , 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Explore the 38 artist studios located inside the Lakeside Centre and join Bow Arts for a day of exhibitions, and family-friendly workshops.
The Lakeside Centre’s annual Open Studios is coming up this September! Meet the artists working in the studios, and see inside their artistic practices–ranging from painting and costuming, to analogue photography and more. Alongside the Open Studios, there will be a host of activities and entertainments to book on the day. Look out at the Southmere Lake from the roof of the building, or make new memories with loved ones inside.
For the fourth year running, the Open Studios is taking place as part of Open City’s Open House Festival, celebrating our curiosity for what happens inside the buildings that we walk past every day.
The 1960’s iconic brutalist building was nominated for a Pineapple award for its sustainable creative retrofit, and has also featured as the backdrop for films such as Beautiful Thing and the TV series Misfits.
Lakeside Centre Open Studios
Interested? Let us know you’re coming
Explore the event programme
Throughout the day, we’ve organised a series of workshops with artists from Thamesmead to keep the day buzzing. Book your ticket below in advance to make sure you get a spot.
12pm & 3pm | Workshop: Marbling with Chloe Cooper
12-2pm & 3-5pm | Free | Drop-in
Join artist educator Chloe Cooper for a playful marbling workshop inspired by Thamesmead’s stories. You will use coloured paint and a variety of tools to swirl and shape colourful patterns, then print your designs onto different coloured papers, including pages featuring articles from historic editions of the Thamesmead Times. Discover the magic of printmaking, experiment with colour and movement, and create unique artworks inspired by the local community’s past.
Please note, this workshop is suitable for children age 8+.
12pm | Workshop: Making Places – Stories of Thamesmead
12-1:30pm | Free | Drop-in
Everyone has a story to tell. And from street corners to mountaintops, places are the stage on which the stories of our lives unfold. Throughout history, telling stories has been how people maintain a sense of belonging and continuity through times of transition.
Through examples and simple techniques – from TV, poetry, journalism and video games – this workshop is an opportunity to develop a piece of writing inspired by a place that matters to you. No experience required.
1pm | Workshop: Clear Your Mind with Roni Parker
1-3pm | Free | Drop-in
Discover how you can produce beautiful pieces of art from your kitchen table, that not only look good, but give your head some time out.
Join Roni Parker in her studio and learn just how easy it is to build some calming, creative space into your busy life and get your creative juices flowing.
No experience required – just come play! All welcome.
1:30pm | Workshop: Felting Craft Soaps with Edita Juchneviciene
1:30-2:30pm | Free | Drop-in
Get creative with an introduction to felting hosted by artist Edita Juchneviciene. Come away with a new soft creation, meet new people in your community, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon learning a new skill.
2pm | Workshop: Create Handmade Jewellery from Recycled Materials with Siân Dorman
2-4pm | Free | Drop-in
Join artist Siân Dorman, Founder of PLASTIQUE By Siân, for a fun, free workshop transforming single-use plastics into colourful, one-of-a-kind jewellery and accessories.
Visit our Studio Activities
Alongside the workshop programme, explore the artist-led activities inside the studios.
Installation: Can you hear us? by Miyuki Kasahara
Free | Drop-in | Suitable for all ages
Miyuki Kasahara’s installation Can you hear us? leads you on a trail around the Lakeside garden to follow a conversation between plants and insects. Through dialogue on wooden speech bubbles, you will hear about how communication has been disturbed by pollution, how mobile phone traffic has messed up mapping signals, and how pesticide has become so addictive.
Swoop Together with J.D. Swann
Free | Drop-in | Suitable for all ages
On lucky days between April/May and September when the clouds are low, colonies of Common Swifts fly over the Lakeside Centre feeding off the insects by Southmere Lake. However, these most high-flying and far travelling of birds are in trouble due to lack of breeding sites and climatic changes.
Swoop together in the studio to decorate the Common Swift there with messages to or drawings of these threatened birds. All materials provided.
12pm & 2pm | 1-2-1 Chats: Developing and nurturing ideas for artistic and creative endeavours with Jasmine Haskell
Drop into the artist studio between 12-1pm and 2-4pm. On arrival, please sign up on the timesheet to secure your slot!
Join Jasmine Haskell, a local creative small business owner, for a one-on-one chat about developing and nurturing ideas for artistic and creative endeavours. These 20-minute time slots will offer a sounding board for discussing that little thought you’ve had in the back of your mind, and how to bring it into the world with a tangible and scalable approach. This is also an opportunity to pick Jasmine’s mind about practical details like the logistics of ecommerce, picking a business name, planning a logo, and what makes a business idea viable.
Exhibitions
12-6pm | On the Wall
Project Space (second floor) | Free | Drop-in
Encounter landscape from an uncommon perspective – one shaped by touch, movement, and collaboration.
On the Wall explores how physical movement through the landscape shapes artistic process, offering audiences an intimate perspective on Britain’s and Spain’s climbing environments and the communities that inhabit them.
A collaborative exhibition bringing together Thamesmead basedpainter Alexander Heaton and photographer Jonathan Blower. Their work explores climbing as more than a subject – it is a way of seeing.
The exhibition will be open on selected dates until Saturday 3rd October.
Activities from our Neighbours & Partners
We’ve partnered with local friends to bring a taste of what they offer to the Lakeside Centre.
11am – 2pm | Family Fun Paddling Sessions with The Sharks at Southmere Water Sport Centre
Located just beside the Lakeside Centre, The Sharks will be open on the day offering paddling sessions at Southmere Water Sport Centre. Sessions are suitable for all skill levels and are designed as a gentle way to get new people paddling and experienced paddlers more active. Children ages 4 years old to school Year 3 will need to have a parent take them in a double kayak.
Sessions are every 45 minutes, £7 per session.
12pm-3pm | Thamesmead Repair Cafe with Bexley Council
Find out more about how to fix and mend small electrical items at our Thamesmead Repair café stall. Get advice and learn some top tips.
If you want to get involved this is a great opportunity, from free training to meeting like minded people.
Food and Drink
Thamesmead Social cafe are expanding into the Lakeside Centre’s courtyard for the day, offering grab & go food so you can easily wander around the studios & meet the artists. Other delicious snacks, including a special Lakeside Sunset cocktail will also be available.
Come by with one of our orange Lakeside Centre Open Art Studios flyers to get 20% off the Open Studios menu on the day!
Will photography be takeing place on the day of the event?
Yes! Kindly take a sticker and flag to our photographer if needed on the day if you would rather not appear in images of the event, which may be used for future communications.
Is this event family-friendly?
Yes! We have creative activities suitable for all ages, and baby change facilities in the cafe downstairs.
Will food and drinks be available to purchase?
Thamesmead Social cafe have lunch sorted, with drinks available on the day.
How can I get involved with the Lakeside Centre?
Follow us on Instagram @lakeside_centre to see our upcoming activities, workshops, and news. The Lakeside Centre is also home to Thamesmead Social cafe, with an upstairs gallery space and rooftop for hire.
Transport Information
Tube Station: Abbey Wood (National Rail, Elizabeth Line).
Bus: 117, 229, 401, 472, 601, 301, 602, 669, N1
Please note parking is not available. There is a Bike shed on site.
Access Information
The Lakeside Centre has step-free access throughout from street level, with access via the lifts to upper floor studios and the exhibition space. Accessible toilets are available on the ground floor and first floor, with baby change facilities available via Thamesmead Social cafe. This venue does not have a hearing loop system.
For full access information and queries, please email pandp@bowarts.com.
