Open Studios: The Old Rum Factory Festival

For the first time since the studios re-opened, join the talented artists at The Rum Factory to explore an open studios at this historic docklands warehouse.

For the first time since Bow Arts re-opened the doors to the Grade II listed warehouse on Pennington Street in 2023, the artist studios in Wapping will be open for the community to visit.

Guests are invited to see inside 80 studios, hosting artists from a diverse range of practices, from textiles to paint.

Workshops

Create a community-crafted looping animation of London!

Ran by Rum Factory studio holder Jess Mountfield, who will guide you on creating images inspired by the London Docklands and how to bring them to life using a variety of materials including felting, paints, paper, & more! Use these images to ponder the emotional connection in art that there is with colour and texture.

These images will be photographed and assembled by Jess, and will form a looping, cohesive, animation where each ‘frame’ is an image created by a different person.

Take your images home with you, and receive a link with the final animated piece.

This workshop is free and drop-in only, first-come first serve and suitable for all ages and experience levels. The workshop will last for 30-45 minutes and will run between 1pm-3pm. All materials will be provided.

Collage Making Workshop

2pm-4pm

Come along and experiment with 2D collage techniques. Spark your creativity in this 2 hour workshop ran by Bow Arts artist, Duncan Poulton.

Delve into collage techniques and explore the possibilities of collage using software, eclectic books, scanners, & more.

No experience needed! Suitable for those aged 12+.

All materials are included, and you will get to bring your collages home with you!

Reserve your free space here

Mud Stories

This workshop will run at 2pm and at 4pm.

Come down to the River Thames at Low tide and join the mudlarkers hunt for some very valuable objects that will tell us something unique about London history. But there is so much here, how do we know where to look? All we can see are mud, shells, stones, and rubbish! Maybe we can ask someone for help? Who’s this?!

Join the East Storytellers from Daedalus Theatre Company who will bring objects found in mud to life! Suitable for all ages, but recommended ages 8+.

Join visual artist & designer ‘iella’ in a collaborative storyboarding workshop!

3pm-4pm & 4pm-5pm

Storyboards are useful tools for exploring concepts and planning stories before progressing to the next stage. In this one hour workshop, learn how to use visualization and simple drawing to take a story to the next level. Create a series of drawings that can be inspired by a story and arrange them into a storyboard. This is a transferrable skill that can be used in other workshops and projects.

Catch our film about The Rum Factory

Screening in the Project Space, 6 artists inside The Rum Factory studios talk about their journeys, their creative practices, the community they have built, as well as the new artistic projects they are working on. From artists coming back to studios at The Rum Factory, to artists who are forging a new relationship with the space, see the impact that a creative workspace can have on an individual, and how those effects ripple out.

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Live Music

Live music will be provided by Social Season, an entertainment agency providing creatives for every occasion.

Access information  

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).

Please note, this building does not have step-free access.

Transport Information  

The Rum Factory Studios, 49 Pennington Street, Wapping

Nearest station(s): Shadwell (DLR)
Bus: 36, 185, 436, 196
Parking: No parking available.
Bike: Limited bicycle parking.