Future Foundry

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Future Foundry

Based in Biggin Hall, Dover.

Future Foundry offers transformational skills and career development programmes for young people facing barriers to building careers in the arts and creative industries.

04/09/2026

That was incredible!

On Monday, we celebrated 100 years since Gertrude Edelre became the first woman to swim the Channel, breaking records and inspiring a generation. 🏊✨

Dover really came out to support her legacy – hundreds of people marched along the seafront, many waving jellyfish lanterns made by local young people and families in our free public workshops. 🪼

Dover has long been a legendary spot on the world stage for swimming, and the Dover Channel Swimming Festival has become a special event in our annual calendar.

And what could be more fitting than bringing two giants of Channel swimming history to life as, well, giant puppets? In true Future Foundry style, we brought Gertrude Ederle and Captain Webb (the first man to swim the Channel) to join the parade, carried through the crowd by local volunteers. 🫧

It was such a joy to see so many smiling faces and the community coming together like this. Bring on next year's celebration!

Massive thanks to everyone who came down, our volunteers, our staff, and the brilliant artists who brought the puppets to life. A special shoutout to Amelia Johnson Amelia Johnson 🌞 and James Frost James Edward Frost for their sculptural magic. 💜

We couldn't have done it without our partners: Port of Dover , Dover Town Council Destination Dover, Dover Channel Swimming Association Channel Swimming Association, Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, and Dover Life Guard Club Dover Life Guard Club DLGC.

Missed it this year? Follow along for what's next...

📸 Photos by Matt Wilson matt wilson

01/09/2026

What a day! Thank you everyone who came together to make it happen. 💙☀🏊

31/08/2026

Today is the day! 🌊☀🛟

The 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 is here! We can’t wait to see the town come together to celebrate 100 years since Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926.

Today is packed with entertainment and activities on Dover’s seafront. We’ve even got Gertrude Ederle herself, in giant puppet form, leading the parade! She'll be joined by two other giant swimming puppets and a sea of jellyfish lanterns created by the people of Dover in our free public workshops this week. 🪼🎊

It’s a moment to be proud of Dover, to celebrate our unique history, and to see what happens when we create together.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲:
🪼 Free Jellyfish Lantern workshops ⏰ 10am–2pm (drop in)
🏊 Anniversary open swim ⏰ 12pm
🎉 Procession ⏰ 3.45-4.15pm
🎵 Live Music ⏰ 12-5pm
🥇 Prize giving ⏰ 4.15-5pm.

See you on the seafront!

30/08/2026

Free creative activities for all the family on Dover Marina today - part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of Gertrude Ederle’s historic Channel swim. 🫧✨

𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁:
🫧 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: A fun creative session for families and ages 0–10. Make your own jellyfish lanterns, wave whirlers, and bubble wands to carry in the procession.
🐚 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: Have fun with clay and create your own sea creatures and sea-inspired masterpieces! A fun creative session for families and ages 0–10. Make your own jellyfish lanterns, wave whirlers, and bubble wands to carry in the procession on Monday.
⏰ 12–4pm - drop in sessions
📍 Marina Curve
🦀 Everyone welcome!

And don’t forget to join the procession tomorrow on Monday 31st August. Collect your lantern at 3pm on the promenade (by the swimming statues) and parade from 3.45pm. 🪼✨

27/08/2026

Don’t miss our two special guest workshops this weekend! 🌊✨

As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of Gertrude Ederle’s historic Channel swim, we’re thrilled to be joined by Ceramic Art Dover (Saturday) and Little Artlings (Sunday). They’ll be sharing their unique creative expertise with us for these free, drop-in sessions.

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: Have fun with clay and create your own sea creatures and sea-inspired masterpieces! 🐚🦀🐟 12–4pm 📍 Marina Curve. Free, drop in - no booking required.

𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: A fun creative session for families and ages 0–10. Make your own jellyfish lanterns, wave whirlers, and bubble wands to carry in the procession. 12–4pm 📍 Marina Curve. Free, drop in - no booking required.

Don’t forget, the Dover Channel Swimming Festival Procession is on Monday 31st August. Collect your lantern at 3pm on the promenade (by the swimming statues) and parade from 3.45pm. 🪼✨

Port of Dover Waterfront

26/08/2026

We’ve teamed up with sculptors Amelia Johnson and James Frost to craft a 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗲𝘁 for the 𝟭𝟬𝟬-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺 as part of Channel Swimming Festival on 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁.

There’s a full day of entertainment and activities planned for the celebration – including a People’s Procession with this incredible creation (plus two more giant swimming puppets!) leading the way.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
In the run up to the celebration, come and make your own jellyfish lanterns and decorative twirlers to bring to the parade!
📅 Wed 26th 🕛 12–4pm 📍 Dover Promenade (by the Swimmer Statues)
📅 Sat 29th 🕛 12–4pm 📍 Dover Marina
📅 Sun 30th 🕛 12–4pm 📍 Dover Marina (with Little Artlings making sea wave whirlers and bubble wands for our youngest procession fans )
📅 Mon 31st 🕛 10am–2pm 📍 Dover Promenade (by the Swimmer Statues)

🎟️ Workshops are free, drop in - no booking required.
👩‍🎨 Run by Future Foundry, Ceramic Art Dover & Little Artlings.

💡 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦?
100 years ago today, at just 20 years old, Gertrude Ederle defied the odds to become the first woman to swim the English Channel, beating the men’s record by nearly two hours. 🏊🏆

25/08/2026

Don’t miss your chance to create your very own jellyfish lantern this week! 🪼✨

Join us at Dover Marina to make something special for the People’s Procession during the Channel Swimming Festival. It’s the perfect way to join in the 100th anniversary celebrations of Gertrude Ederle’s record-breaking swim and get ready to strut your stuff alongside not one, not two, but 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 giant swimming puppets!

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀:
📅 Wed 26th: 12–4pm 📍 Dover Promenade (by the Swimmer Statues)
📅 Sat 29th: 12–4pm 📍 Dover Marina
📅 Sun 30th: 12–4pm 📍 Dover Marina (with Little Artlings making sea wave whirlers and bubble wands for our youngest procession fans 🫧)
📅 Mon 31st: 10am–2pm 📍Dover Promenade (by the Swimmer Statues)
No booking needed – just show up. Everyone is welcome!

Don’t forget, the Procession is on Monday 31st August. Collect your lantern at 3pm on the promenade (by the swimming statues) and parade from 3.45pm.

21/08/2026

Planning is underway for 𝗗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – our annual celebration of youth creativity and culture during the autumn half-term holiday. This year, it’s going to be extra special because we’re calling on young people aged 10–19 across Dover to help us plan and create it! 🎭✨

We’re kicking things off at our weekly 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 thanks to generous funding from Dover Town Council. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be meeting at Biggin Hall to design the festival together. We're working with young people to build the skills they need to call the shots for their own event.
All 10–19 year olds are welcome to join in!

Come on down this August and September:
➡️ Saturday 22nd August: Hosting and performance workshop for the Dover Youth Festival Cabaret.
➡️ Saturday 29th August: Giant sculpture making + poster and programme design.
➡️ Saturday 5th September: Giant sculpture making + signage design workshop.
➡️ Saturday 12th September: Giant sculpture making + making moths for Biggin Hall Garden.
➡️ Saturday 19th September: Festival Dressing: think spray-paint and set design.

📍𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 – FREE Saturday Art Club for 10–19 year olds 🗓 Every Saturday, all year round, including school holidays 🍎 Snacks included. Everyone welcome. No experience needed.
🕒 Ages 10–13: 9:30am – 11:30am
🕒 Ages 14–19: 12:30pm – 3:30pm
📍 Biggin Hall, Dover, CT16 1BD

This years festival is supported by Arts Council England Port of Dover Community Fund, Kent Community Foundation, Dover Town Council and the Dover Community ssociation.

20/08/2026

Don’t just watch the parade – be the parade! 🪼✨

Next week, join us at Dover Marina to create your very own jellyfish lantern to twirl in the Channel Swimming Festival procession on August Bank Holiday Monday. It’s all part of celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gertrude Ederle’s history-making swim, and it's your chance to strut your stuff alongside not one, not two, but 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 giant swimming puppets!

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀:📍 Dover Marina 📅 Wed 26th: 12–4pm 📅 Sat 29th: 12–4pm 📅 Sun 30th: 12–4pm 12–4pm 📅 Mon 31st: 10am–2pm (at Swimmers Statues)
On Sunday Little Artlings still also be making sea wave whirlers and bubble wands for our youngest procession fans 🫧
No booking needed - just show up. Everyone is welcome!

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 📅 Monday 31st August 🕒 Collect your lantern from 3pm on the promenade (by the swimming statues) 🕒 Parade starts 3.45pm 🕒 Music & swimming event running 12–5pm

Join us to celebrate a unique moment in Dover’s history!

Port of Dover Port of Dover Waterfront

Address

Biggin Hall
Dover
CT161BD

Website

https://linktr.ee/futurefoundry

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