How did the idea of Beach of Dreams first come about?

The idea for Beach of Dreams originated from Kinetika's 2017 project, Silk River. This ambitious endeavour explored the unique relationship between London and Kolkata through an artistic exchange along the Thames and Hooghly Rivers. Artistic Director Ali Pretty, along with an international team of artists, writers, and photographers, captured and interpreted the experiences of journeying along these two iconic rivers. The team worked in 20 locations along the Hooghly and the Thames, gathering and sharing stories through 20 hand-painted silk designs.

Silk River culminated in performative walks along both rivers. During the Thames walk, traveller, author, and journalist Kevin Rushby joined Ali Pretty. As they walked from Tilbury to East Tilbury, they encountered a glittering foreshore on the Thames Estuary, covered in glass remnants from domestic waste and rubble dating back to the Blitz of 1945. Kevin Rushby’s poignant observation—“What dreams were shattered when the bomb went off, this is the beach of broken dreams”—sparked a profound question: if this is the Beach of Broken Dreams, where is the Beach of Dreams? Could we find it by collecting the glistening remnants along the way?

Inspired by this reflection and building on Kinetika’s "walking, talking, and making" model developed through its T100 festival in Thurrock, Beach of Dreams was born in 2021. The project began with a 500-mile walk undertaken by Ali Pretty, Kevin Rushby, and John Offord over 35 days along the East coast of England, exploring how we care for our environment, coastlines, communities, and ourselves.

In 2025, from 1 May - 1 June, Beach of Dreams aims to engage hundreds of thousands of people across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland through a dynamic and interdisciplinary creative programme. This extensive outdoor and digital initiative will feature new participatory art commissions, creative walks, events, and more, all designed to foster a deeper connection with our communities, coastlines, and planet.

We are excited to collaborate with commissioned artists and regional partners whose works will stem from meaningful engagement with local communities. By translating coastal climate concerns into impactful artworks, these collaborations are central to our programme. They unite local voices with artistic vision to create a lasting impact, enriching our understanding and appreciation of our natural and cultural landscapes.

What are the different ways people can get involved - and where?

There are three exciting ways to get involved beyond attending and enjoying the creative programme in May 2025, featuring ten major artistic commissions across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• Join the Beach of Dreams Network
  Organisations of all sizes are invited to join the Beach of Dreams network. By becoming a Member, you’ll have the opportunity to curate walking, environmental, and arts activities in your local area for May 2025, with your events featured in the national programme. Members will also be part of a vibrant community, gaining access to a dynamic network that fosters skill-building and idea exchange through monthly seminars led by thought leaders. In collaboration with Kinetika, you’ll help create meaningful local opportunities for exploration and creative expression, while also contributing to the creation of a silk pennant for a national artwork project. Your organisation will host events, gather local stories, and develop climate pledges to support future generations.
• Be part of the National Artwork: The Beach of Dreams Silks
  Contribute to the Beach of Dreams national artwork by designing your own silk pennant, adding to our ever-evolving installation of over 620 designs. These vibrant, naturally dyed silk pennants are crafted to be mobile, with each one narrating a unique story connected to a specific part of our coastline. In 2024, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with Kinetika on your design. By May 2025, your completed pennant will be returned to you, ready for display at local creative activities, walks, and events as part of the creative programme.
  
  
• Organise your own event
  Gather your friends, family, or community group and plan your own Beach of Dreams activities along your local stretch of coast in May 2025. You could organise creative nature walks, picnics, writing workshops, outdoor performances, beachcombing sessions, litter picks, mudlarking, or visits to coastal treasures. The possibilities are endless—design an event that both celebrates our coastlines while fostering meaningful dialogue about our shared environmental future.

Why do you think creativity is a powerful way to bring people together to celebrate our natural world - and demonstrate our need to take care of it?

By inviting people to walk along their coastline and engage in creative activations within the landscape, we aim to cultivate a profound connection to nature. This experience will encourage reflection on the challenges of coastal change, highlight the urgency of environmental issues, and foster a deeper awareness of our surroundings.

Art possesses the unique ability to touch our emotions and motivate action. Through inspiring a love for nature and our coastlines, we hope to empower individuals to take meaningful steps to protect and care for the natural world.

What have you learned from the previous Beach of Dreams activity that you will take into this new iteration?

We’ve discovered that engaging with the landscape through artistic interaction fosters a deep connection between participants, communities, and their environment. This bond inspires collaborative efforts and a shared vision for the future.  

The entire journey from now until May 25 is as integral to the project as the festival itself. During this time, we will gather stories, walk the coastline together, and seek inspiration for creativity, new artworks, and meaningful conversations. In May 2025,  we will invite people to reflect and take action together, forging stronger ties to their surroundings and each other.

How can people find out more and be inspired to get involved?

To learn more about Beach of Dreams and explore how you can participate as an individual or organisation, visit our website, contact us at [email protected], or follow us on Instagram.