Creative Barking & Dagenham

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Creative Barking & Dagenham Creative Barking and Dagenham (C*D) is about local people choosing, creating and taking part in brilliant art experiences in the borough.

We are part of Arts Council Englandโ€™s Creative People and Places programme (CPP). At the heart of our programme is an open and growing network of local residents. The network plays an active role in all our activities and events.

Did you come to the Pollenarium or join the Pollinator Parade at Emerge East? We want to hear from you ๐ŸŒปYou're invited t...
19/09/2026

Did you come to the Pollenarium or join the Pollinator Parade at Emerge East? We want to hear from you ๐ŸŒป

You're invited to a relaxed Reflection Session with Creative Barking and Dagenham. It will be a chance share your thoughts and feelings on the day, and connect with the rest of the community who were there with you!

๐Ÿ“… Thursday 24th September, 5:30pm
๐Ÿ“ Rivergate Centre, Barking

As a thank you, every household or family who attends gets a ยฃ30 Love2Shop voucher (one per household), plus light refreshments.

Open to anyone who came to the Pollenarium and/or took part in the Pollinator Parade at Emerge East on 12th September. Children are welcome, just book them a ticket too.

Spaces are limited, grab your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pollenarium-and-pollinator-parade-reflection-session-tickets-1997693053700?aff=oddtdtcreator

We look forward to seeing you!

12/09/2026

Happening now!

Weโ€™re at Emerge East for a day full of fun, creativity and exploring!

Come down to see Pollenarium, Poppet and more!

Youโ€™ll also have the chance to participate in all the wonderful activities set up for everyone to join!

See you soon!

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Today, until 9pm
๐Ÿ“ Emerge East, Barking Riverside
โค๏ธ Free. Everyone is welcome.

Pollenarium has been created by UK artist Luke Jerram and Pneuhaus, commissioned by Creative Barking and Dagenham in partnership with Barking Riverside Limited, with co-commissioning support from the Royal Horticultural Society and the University of Bristol.

12/09/2026

๐Ÿ It's here. And it's here today only.

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Today, 11am until 9pm
๐Ÿ“ Emerge East, Barking Riverside
โค๏ธ Free. Everyone is welcome.

Pollenarium is a giant pollen grain you can walk inside. More than 100 glass lenses cover its surface, each one catching the light from outside and projecting it onto the dome around you. Standing in the middle of it is the closest you will get to seeing the world the way an insect does.

You have seen the photos by now, but seeing it up close is the way it was intended to be experienced!

After today it leaves Barking Riverside, so if you were thinking about it, today is the day.
Also happening:

๐ŸŽจ Making activities for all ages
๐Ÿ The Pollinator Parade, celebrating the pollinators of the borough
๐Ÿ‘‹ Poppet, a giant curious creature here for one day only

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Today, 11am until 9pm
๐Ÿ“ Emerge East, Barking Riverside
โค๏ธ Free. Everyone is welcome

Come and find us โค๏ธ

Pollenarium has been created by UK artist Luke Jerram Studio and Pneuhaus, commissioned by Creative Barking and Dagenham in partnership with Barking Riverside with co-commissioning support from the Royal Horticultural Society and the University of Bristol.

11/09/2026

โ˜€๏ธ One day to go!

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Saturday 12 September, 11am to 9pm๏ฟฝ๐Ÿ“ Emerge East, Barking Riverside๏ฟฝโค๏ธ Free. Everyone is welcome.

Tomorrow, Pollenarium arrives in Barking and Dagenham. It is the end of a summer our community has spent creating together.

First there was a day trip to Greenwich Park, with families exploring the Royal Observatory and Luke Jerram's Mirror Moon, a 2 metre wide steel sculpture of the Moon you can physically touch. ๐ŸŒ—๐ŸŒ’๐ŸŒ–

Then came a trip to the Saatchi Gallery, a day of seeing the amazing works in The Sun and Moon exhibition, with art inspired by the sun, moon and stars, a close up look at Luke Jerram's Helios, and a brilliant tie-dye workshop run by the Saatchi Gallery team. โ˜€๏ธ

Next came the workshops, where the local community made wearable and hand-held pollinator inspired crafts, celebrating the many pollinators that call Barking and Dagenham home. ๐Ÿฆ‹๐Ÿž๐Ÿ

And now, tomorrow, a brand new artwork by Luke Jerram Studio

Pollenarium is a giant pollen grain you can walk inside. Its surface is covered with more than 100 glass lenses. Each lens focuses light from the surrounding landscape and projects it onto the dome's inner surface, creating a mosaic of images that surrounds the viewer. The effect mimics the way many insects perceive the world through the multiple lenses of their compound eyes.

There is more on the day:
๐ŸŽจ More chances to make something๏ฟฝ
๐Ÿ The Pollinator Parade, celebrating the pollinators of the borough๏ฟฝ
๐Ÿ‘‹ Poppet, a giant curious creature travelling all the way from the Ashdown Forest to Barking Riverside for one day only Trigger

And lots more. See you there โค๏ธ

Pollenarium has been created by UK artist Luke Jerram and Pneuhaus, commissioned by Creative Barking and Dagenham in partnership with Barking Riverside Limited, with co-commissioning support from the Royal Horticultural Society and the University of Bristol.

We are delighted to announce a new addition to our Emerge East programme! On 12 September, you can come and meet Poppet ...
10/09/2026

We are delighted to announce a new addition to our Emerge East programme!

On 12 September, you can come and meet Poppet in Barking Riverside. Poppet is a giant curious creature who is travelling all the way from the Ashdown Forest to Barking Riverside for one day only. Poppet will be delighting and inspiring us to see the magic in nature. Letโ€™s explore, play and discover how we can care for the world around us.

Poppet was created by Trigger's Creative Director Angie Bual in collaboration with renowned costume designer Jack Irving and Olivier Award Winning Theatre Maker Laura Cubitt.

Poppet is at the heart of a project called The Big One Hundred. The project was created and produced by Trigger to celebrate the centenary of the Hundred Acre Wood and inspire children to connect with nature. The Big One Hundred was supported by Wealden District Council, Arts Council England and The Ashdown Forest Foundation.

For more info see the link in bio.

๐Ÿ“ธ Photo by David Levene

08/09/2026

๐Ÿฆ‹There's a butterfly hiding in your recycling.

Watch artist Patrick Bullock turn a milk carton into a butterfly puppet, then make your own at home. You need an empty poly carton, scissors and something to colour with.

The tutorial can also be found on our YouTube channel and the butterfly template can be found via
the link in bio.

Once youโ€™ve made your butterfly, you can bring it along to our Pollinator Parade at Emerge East on
Saturday 12 September. The parade will feature bees, butterflies and other pollinator inspired creations made by the community and young people from local schools.

Donโ€™t have time to make something before Saturday? Donโ€™t worry, you can also make something on the day at Emerge East. The fun starts at 11am and there will be lots of activities for people of all ages to enjoy.

The Pollinator Parade starts at 4pm. Meet 3.30pm at Station Gardens next to Barking Riverside Station to join in. We are excited to share that the parade will feature some very special guests including , and .

Plus, subject to availability, everyone who takes part in the parade will receive a free pollinator pack from our friends .

Weโ€™re excited to welcome you!



๐Ÿ“Barking Riverside, Barking & Dagenham

07/09/2026

๐Ÿ Free Pollinator Parade workshops in Barking and Dagenham, and this is what they look like.

This weekend, families at our free workshops made colourful pollinator art to wear or carry in the parade. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

You have one last chance to join a workshop before the event:

๐Ÿ Tuesday 8 September, 3pm
๐Ÿ“ Thames Community Hub, Bastable Avenue, Barking IG11 0LH
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Free. Book via the link in bio.

Everything is provided. All ages welcome, no experience needed. Under 16s need to bring an adult. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

What is the Pollinator Parade?

A walk through Emerge East in Barking Riverside on Saturday 12 September, where our community wears and carries the bees and butterflies they or young people from local schools have made. It will celebrate the pollinators that live here and most of us never notice. Whatever you make goes in the parade.

How to take part:

๐Ÿ Make something. At Tuesday's workshop, at home, or at our drop-in workshop on the day at Emerge East, 11am to 3pm.
๐Ÿ Come to Emerge East at Barking Riverside on Saturday 12 September.
๐Ÿ To join the parade, meet us at Station Gardens at 3.30pm and walk with us.

No booking is needed for the parade. Just come along.

What is Emerge East?

A free one-day festival at Barking Riverside on Saturday 12 September, 11am to 9pm, with music, food, art and activities for people of all ages. This year it is also where Pollenarium, a new artwork by Luke Jerram Studio will be seen for the first time, and the parade is how our community will welcome it.

Save this post for Saturday ๐Ÿ“Œ

๐Ÿ“ธ Photos: Jimmy Lee

Barking Riverside

๐Ÿ“ Barking Riverside, Barking & Dagenham

28/08/2026

๐Ÿ Fancy being part of a Pollinator Parade at Emerge East?

Pollenarium, a new artwork by Luke Jerram Studio lands in Barking Riverside on 12 September, and weโ€™re inviting you to take part in a special parade that celebrates our local pollinators. Join one of our free workshops to make pollinator-inspired costumes and hand-held art for our community to wear or carry in a Pollinator Parade at Emerge East.

Barking Riverside is home to pollinators like bees, beetles, butterflies, and moths that most of us never notice. These sessions are about giving them a bit of the spotlight: come along, learn about the insects living on your doorstep, and create something full of colour and movement for the parade.

There are five free sessions to choose from:

๐Ÿ Saturday 5 September, 2:30pm or 4.30pm, Rivergate Centre
๐Ÿ Sunday 6 September, 2:30pm or 4.30pm, Rivergate Centre
๐Ÿ Tuesday 8 September, 3pm, Thames Community Hub

All ages, no experience needed, everything provided. Youโ€™ll meet friendly local artists and explore a wide range of colourful designs and materials. Under 16s need to bring an adult with them. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.

Places are free but limited so book now via our website ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ

Address

The Boathouse Studios, The Malthouse, 62-76 Abbey Road
Barking
IG117BT

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