Art in the Docks reflects on a successful Mayor of London Community Weekend

Over the weekend of Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September London’s charities and community groups came together to organise local events that brought neighbourhoods together to celebrate our city.

The Mayor’s Community Weekend programme kicked off at Art in the Docks on Friday, the first in a full weekend of activity across the capital. The fact that the Royal Docks was chosen to start the programme is a testament to the area’s growing status as the cultural hub of London.  

Led by community arts organisation, Art in the Docks, the event programme was themed to the lifecycle of bees. It started with a large-scale community drawing in Pumphouse Square,  followed by a community planting project involving over 120 children from nearby Gallions Primary school.

Guests included Joanne McCartney: Deputy Mayor for Children and Families, James Asser: MP for Beckton and West Ham, Phil Chamberlain: Head of National Lottery England, and Helen Bushell: head of National Lottery Funding for London and Southeast.

The ‘Apian Apex’ of the day was a swarm of creative bees from Gallions Primary School!

On Saturday 13th we led further workshops themed to the lifecycle of bees – including making beehives and worker bees from recycled materials.