Totally Thames is an annual season of unique, diverse and accessible arts and culture throughout the month of September with activity taking place on, beneath, and along the River Thames. This year, stop by the river at Battersea and Nine Elms to view artwork inspired by the Thames.
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Scroll down to see what’s on during Totally Thames 2022 in Battersea and Nine Elms – all events listed here are free to all.
Visual art: Works by Ian Wornast
When: From 9 September
Where:
Full series of five artworks displayed outdoors at the ROSE Community Clubroom on Ascalon Street, SW8
As a poster in the Nine Elms Tube station
On Nine Elms noticeboards located at the Nine Elms Pavilion on the riverwalk; on Condell Road opposite the shops; and Battersea Park Road opposite Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Along Merchants Way, New Covent Garden Market.
Original drawings by Ian Wornast, as part of his ‘My Neighbourhood in Nine Elms’ series, commissioned by Wandsworth Council.
Local artist Ian notices and researches changes to structures around the city and creates graphic yet personal geographic mappings in response. He incorporates design and colour from Transport for London into complex patterns in which he shows the connections and links throughout London through his own lens.
This work is one of six displayed across Wandsworth throughout the festival. Ian Wornast’s project was chosen by the Battersea and Nine Elms community in March 2022 as part of Make Art in Nine Elms, an open call with a community selection process through which seven local artists were chosen to develop new work for the Nine Elms arts programme.
Where: Lambeth Bridge, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Bridge and riverbank (Battersea Park)
A spectacular boat race up the River Thames, London’s river marathon attracts over 330 crews from all over the globe. The Great River Race appeals to every level of competitor – from dedicated athletes who like winning, to those who enjoy laughter, fancy dress and charity stunts, it’s a great fun day out for both competitors and spectators.
Head down to a bridge or riverbank in Battersea and Nine Elms to cheer on the boats!
CANCELLED Performances: Tales From the Shed’s London Bridges
When: Saturday 17 September from 11am – 4pm
Where: Nine Elms Pavilion, Riverside Walk, London, SW8 5DF
Please note this event has been cancelled – we apologise for any disappointment
Tales From the Shed revise their show devised for the London Museum on the history and mythology of the Thames and the bridges that cross it. Bringing characters old and new with puppetry and colourful theatre. In their performances there is no edge of the stage, and the audience and performers share the space to create a unique story inspired by history, myth and magic.
Kelp Forest art installation by the river at Nine Elms
When: 23 September to 2 October
Where: Nine Elms Pavilion, Riverside Walk, London, SW8 5DF
Kelp Forest, an installation by artist Camilla Brendon, explores the wonders of kelp, a brown algae that form forests in shallow waters. They provide coastal protection, breeding grounds for countless species, produce oxygen, store carbon and are used to make food and medicine.
The Kelp Forest artwork is made up of materials that are destined for landfill, juxtaposing the harsh reality of threats to rivers and waterways and the beauty of biodiversity, showing the need to preserve these habitats to combat Climate Change.
Through the Kelp Forest installation and accompanying events, artist Camilla Brendan will creatively highlight Kelp, its ecological, scientific, artistic and anthropological importance.
The Kelp Forest art installation at the Nine Elms Pavilion is supported by Wandsworth Council.
River Critters art workshop
When: Saturday 24 September from 1pm to 4pm
Where: Nine Elms Pavilion, Riverside Walk, London, SW8 5DF
River Critters at Totally Thames is a drop-in art workshop alongside Kelp Forest at Nine Elms Pavilion, Battersea.
Join the workshop to learn about animals living in the tidal Thames that use kelp for shelter and as a breeding ground. You will have the chance to make an artwork inspired by these animals out of recycled materials.
The Kelp Forest art installation at the Nine Elms Pavilion is supported by Wandsworth Council.
Reflections river flotilla
When: Saturday 24 September, 7pm-9pm
Where: Lambeth Bridge, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Bridge and riverbank (Battersea Park)
The River Thames celebrates Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with an illuminated flotilla of over 150 boats after dusk – don’t miss it from the riverfront at Battersea and Nine Elms.
Ebb and Flow is a music project from World Heart Beat Music Academy funded by The Tideway 2021/22 Community Grant Fund for Wandsworth.
Activities included recording river soundscapes, music activities on the Thames, interviews with workers and residents, songwriting, engagement workshops and performances for local audiences. Find out more and watch the videos on the Totally Thames website.
World Heart Beat Music Academy, a music education charity based in Wandsworth, has produced a series of music videos showcasing young musicians and the local area.
‘The Settlers’ music video, part of ‘The Nine Elms Sessions’, highlights the importance of the River Thames and this section of London’s south bank as a popular destination over the centuries for Irish settlers. Supported by Wandsworth Council and Embassy Gardens.
