Rochester Art Gallery

12/09/2024

Hurray! Culture Team are beyond thrilled to share that together with our colleagues in Housing and Libraries we won the RCE Make a Difference Partnership award for our work with Arts & Homelessness International!

You may remember the incredible exhibition we had at Rochester Art Gallery called “The Unknown Soldier” by artist David Tovey in 2022? Well, from that David introduced us to the team at AHI and together they have helped us form an Arts and Homelessness Forum; a groundbreaking legislative theatre event that has helped create new policies to implement; and most importantly helped inspire and provide a platform for the homeless community to get involved in so many creative events and activities and have their voice heard!

Thank you also to Natasha Boardman-Steer , Sam from Pathways at Social Interest Group Ideas Test, and Icon Theatre for partnering with us too and helping this magic happen!

artshomelessint ideas.test icon.theatre natashasteer

22/08/2024

Got an idea to bring Medway's history to life? Medway is working with The National Lottery Heritage Fund to shape a new vision for heritage in Medway and offer funding for local heritage projects.

Find out more about funding and how to get involved here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/4cfujf7z

Photo Copyright: Arches Local

26/07/2024

🎉 Exciting news, Medway! 🎉

Medway Council is offering new grants to celebrate and preserve our rich heritage! From high streets to green spaces and traditions, we're funding projects that bring Medway's stories to life – all thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 🌟

🚀 Details:

• Who? Individuals, groups, and heritage organisations
• Grants: £250 - £15,000
• Priority: First-time applicants
• Support: Q&A sessions, 1:1 advice, and training

Find out more and apply: https://orlo.uk/oTpVd

26/07/2024

On Saturday 5 October I will be manning an exhibition stall at the Medway History Showcase event at the Royal Engineer’s Museum to promote the Short Brothers history. The showcase involves local museums, universities, archives, and history groups in an action-packed day of engagement inspired by Medway’s history.

I will be sharing the stall with Mapsl (Medway Aircraft Preservation Society) who are currently restoring a Short Scion seaplane and a Hawker Hurricane up at their Rochester Airport building. Please feel free to come and join us for a chat - further details are on the leaflet below.

06/07/2024

There's lots happening in Chatham Town tomorrow!
CHATHAM CARNIVAL - 10am to 4pm
A fun-filled FREE day of activities, performances and more!
MEDWAY OPEN STUDIOS - see MOSAF booklet for studio open times.
A great opportunity to visit local studios showcasing all art forms including crafts, visual and performing arts.
ONE SONG - 11am to 5:30pm (Launch Event 3:30pm to 5:30pm)
An installation in the Halpern Gallery from artist Kadir Karababa about how songs are carried across borders and continents and yet remain firmly rooted in the places they were first sung.
LEGO AND ART CLUB - 2pm to 4pm
For ages 4 and up, a two hour family session with plenty of colouring, painting and, of course, lots of Lego® bricks!
The Halpern Gallery Love Chatham

23/06/2024

Interested in shaping the long-term vision for heritage across Medway? We are inviting local people, groups and organisations to join us on 13 July to help shape the Medway Heritage Place Project in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Find out more here 👉 https://orlo.uk/olxyX

05/05/2024

Sweeps Festival - Sunday, 5 May

Nucleus Arts - Flora Project 💮
Flora started as idea - to bring an immersive exhibition in the Halpern Gallery, Chatham, as part of Medway Fun Palace 2023 celebrations. The Flora Project was inspired by the life and works of Anne Pratt, and featured flowers and plants made from recyclable material by members of the Medway/Kent community. Plant life has been depicted by artists for centuries, and Flora explored how nature continues to influence us today, in both creativity and wellbeing.

Nucleus Arts will be holding an all day drop in workshop for the public to come and create their own Flora paper flowers.

Find the full Sweeps programme here:https://www.visitmedway.org/media/108904/sweeps-programme-2024.pdf

With thanks to Arts Council England for funding!

25/04/2024

Announcing our legendary exhibition - Draco Roffensis: The Rochester Dragon 🐉

This summer a spectacular dragon will be moving into the Nave of Rochester Cathedral. Draco Roffensis will take flight over the Nave from the 1st June until the 21st September.

Inspired by illuminations in Textus Roffensis, the magnificent dragon will be covered in embossed gold, silver and copper scales with quotes from Textus across his underbelly. The dragon has been created by celebrated artist Wendy Daws thanks to support from Arts Council England, Kent Association for the Blind and Mess Room.

Before Draco Roffensis can take flight we need your help creating his scales. From the 4th May visitors to the Cathedral will be able to emboss scales which will form part of his body and wings.

Draco Roffensis is the centrepiece of a programme of events celebrating 900 years of Textus Roffensis. Textus is one of the most important Medieval manuscripts in England. It was written in Rochester in the 1120s by monks at the Priory of St Andrews. Among its contents are the earliest English laws recorded dating all the way back to the 7th century. In 2022 Textus Roffensis was added to the prestigious UNESCO Memory of the World UK Register.

Alongside Draco Roffensis will be a programme of events celebrating Textus Roffensis. Full details of the programme will be announced later in the year but will include family activities and lectures. Textus 900 will culminate in the premiere of a new lightshow by Luxmuralis inspired by manuscripts, illustrations and the culture from dark ages through early Middle Ages.

Draco Roffensis: The Rochester Dragon arrives on the 1st June. Visitors can help make scales from the 4th May.

www.rochestercathedral.org/dragon

19/04/2024

19/04/2024

15/04/2024

Like many other local authorities up and down the UK, Medway Council has had to make some very difficult decisions to address a challenging financial situation.

As a result, sadly the Visitor Information Centre in Rochester will be closing which means Rochester Art Gallery will be closed after Saturday 13 April.

Medway Council’s Culture Team would like to thank all the visitors who have supported the gallery, the many artists who have exhibited there, and the partners we have worked with to put on great exhibitions.

We want to celebrate the exhibitions that have been at Rochester Art Gallery so, over the next few months we will be sharing our memories of them, and we’d love for you to share your stories and reflections on the amazing work that has been exhibited there over the years.

We are very lucky to have a council that truly values culture and creativity and as such, the story is not over for visual arts simply because we are no longer going to be in the VIC building.

We endeavour to keep bringing great art and exhibitions to Medway. We are exploring some exciting options with new partners and we’ll keep you updated via our social media and newsletters on the development of these.

Thank you again to all our visitors, artists, and partners we have worked with and have supported Rochester Art Gallery.

Photo by Rikard Österlund

20/02/2024

Creative Medway are excited to announce Medway Culture Fest 24, a year-long
programme of cultural activity celebrating Medway's community, creativity and history! 🎉🎉

To find out more about the festival, the event and the programme, head to
www.creativemedway.co.uk/medway-culture-fest-24/