Silk River – Project Report

Report by Kinetika, 5 Feb 2018

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Silk River - Project Summary

This ambitious project explored the unique relationship between London and Kolkata through a year’s artistic exchange between communities along the Thames Estuary and Hooghly River.

Artistic director Ali Pretty - worked in collaboration with associate artistic directors Ruchira Das and Korak Ghosh and an international team of contemporary and traditional artists, writers and photographers to capture and interpret the experience of journeying along these mighty rivers.

Working in 20 locations and with partners from Murshidabad to Batanagar (Hooghly) and Kew Gardens to Southend (Thames) to reinterpret a shared heritage, we raised cultural awareness of the Indo-British relationship through engaging diaspora communities and connecting young people with artists along the route.

Closing Ceremony, Victoria Memorial Hall, Dec 16th 2017

“It’s been inspiring what we’ve been seeing, not just the colours but the enthusiasm, the amount of determination and commitment over the years to make this a reality…It’s what I call the living bridge – it is bringing people together in the UK and in in a way that is really relevant to the communities that they exist in.” British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith

“I’m at the final event for one of the most important projects that we’ve had in the Year of Culture. Silk River has connected 20 communities in Kolkata and London and been at the heart of our mission to use the Year of Culture to celebrate the modern-day relationship between our two countries, to connect with people and to inspire them to build a relationship for the next 70 years. It’s been a wonderful event, it’s been an incredible project and we’re so, so grateful to everyone involved. Thank you very much.” British Council India Director, Alan Gemmell OBE

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Where the Thames & Hooghly meet

Silk River has been in development for over 30 years, and while we know now that there will be legacy projects that will continue the journey, we cannot yet know where it might lead in 30 years from now.

It all began in India, in 1985, when Habib Tanvir, director of the Naya Theatre, encouraged Ali to become an artist. She followed him to Calcutta to learn about art and politics, and then began to work in participatory arts in the UK with the help of British community artist Elizabeth Lynch. In the process of exploring diverse art forms Ali followed the Asian diaspora to Trinidad, later becoming a carnival designer. Settling in London she learnt to paint silk, her artistic career took off and Kinetika was founded in 1997.

Recently Ali has devised a different model of participation in response to changing social, economic and environmental circumstances engaging diverse disparate communities in walking, talking and making. Based in Purfleet and working closely with the local community, Kinetika created Thurrock 100 (thurrock100.com), an annual walking festival, making artworks and exchanging stories that connects people to each other and the place that they live.

SILK RIVER transposed this model to an international context for the first time - a tool for re-imagining the relationship between India and the UK as part of the UK/India year of culture. Bringing together Ali’s experience of working between Kolkata and London over many years, she welcomed this opportunity to collaborate with a team of talented artists and producers to deliver this project, creating new artworks on Murshidabad silk and connecting thousands of people through this extraordinary journey.

The challenge now is to reflect and collaborate with our partners and build on the foundation that the Silk River network has created, both along the Thames Estuary and along the banks of the Hooghly.

‘The inimitable bond between London and the Thames and Kolkata with the Hooghly are very special to me. Over the years I’ve observed many similarities and connections between them.

Silk River is to me ‘a tale’ of two cities. Many set aside a particular time every year to remember their mutual interdependence with their river. London, among other festivities has a month-long celebration with Totally Thames.

I want the same for Kolkata, and my involvement with this unique event, Silk River, gives me an opportunity to remember our Hooghly. We are sure that this will go a long way in making people conscious of the river, its importance and its heritage. Hopefully, it will also help us all to reinterpret and understand why we need to preserve this special bond.’ Korak Ghosh Korak Ghosh, Director, Silk River India Walk

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The Inspiration

Patachitra The aesthetic and design of the silk scrolls was inspired by the traditional Bengali art form of Patachitra. This is a unique folk tradition of visual storytelling accompanied by songs performed the Patuas.

The painters are called Patua and bear the surname – Chitrakar. The paintings are mostly based on stories on mythology, social, historical or contemporary issues. The Patuas compose songs on the stories then paint to corroborate with the story which they Swarna & Monaranjan Chitrakar, with Ruchira unfurl and sing. This makes the Patuas lyricists, painters, singers, Das, performing in the UK all blended into one.

We worked with many Patachitra artists on the silk scrolls in India and Swarna and Monaranjan Chitrakar visited the UK to deliver artist exchange workshops, accompanied by Ruchira Das.

“Very informative. Lots of inspiring stories through the paintings and singing. Fantastic project to be involved in thank you.” Workshop attendee

Murshidabad Silk With the assistance of Crafts Council of West , the high-quality silk for the scrolls was woven in Islampore under the supervision of eminent silk merchant Gadadhar Hore.

“It has turned out to be a great revival project as the weavers were contacted and convinced through a series of negotiations that it would be a wonderful opportunity to recreate the superior quality silk on a pilot basis for an international project.

The weavers rose to the challenge and the silk for the scrolls was woven on looms that had not done so in recent memory.

Here at the Crafts Council of our role as an intermediary ensured that the silk was pure Murshidabad and not mixed with yarn from other parts of India or indeed the world. The success of the scrolls in telling the story of the British connection to India, from the past to the present will restore Murshidabad’s place Silk weaver in the history of Empire – as a centre of trade and a producer of exquisite silk.” Ruby Palchoudhuri, Director, Crafts Council of West Bengal

Silk River shared the beautiful qualities of this silk to a wide variety of audiences, from Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, to an exhibition at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. We estimate that more than 63,000 people saw the scrolls live during Silk River events.

The scrolls are now being booked for exhibitions to continue to share their story, and Kinetika is likely to use this special silk on other projects and possibly a range of products too.

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Silk River Textile Residencies

India - January 2017 The first ten scrolls were designed and painted in a fourteen- day residency hosted by the Murshidabad Heritage Development Society in Azimganj.

Working with the Rural Crafts and Cultural Hubs and the Crafts Council of West Bengal many talented craftspeople were selected to work with the Kinetika artists. Artists’ residency to make India scrolls “The Patachitras could see the connections in terms of graphic design but the batik technique was new for them. Dipika, one of the younger members of the Patachitra family quickly saw an Who created the Indian Scrolls? opportunity. She was excited by what she might learn from the artists of different traditions. 4 Kinetika Artists 12 Patachitra Artists

None of us can predict the longer-term impact of the residencies 4 Batik artists 2 Clay Doll Makers on the artists, how the skills learnt, and the design approaches 2 Stitching Artists explored will manifest in their work… The challenge for the 2 Sara painting artists partners in Kolkata will be to follow up this moment with further 4 Future Hope students 15 Fashion/Art Students opportunities for the artists to develop and flourish.” Elizabeth 17 Students from SRFTI Lynch, Independent Consultant, Azimganj Residency. 63 people in total

Full credits HERE The 10 Murshidabad silk scrolls were first presented at the Murshidabad Heritage Festival that hosted the launch of Silk River in Jan 2017.

“Thank you for your support and good wishes towards

Murshidabad Heritage Festival (MHF) 2017.. From the festival’s roaring success, we managed to carry on Murshidabad Heritage

Development Society’s primary objective of preserving, conserving and protecting the rich culture and heritage of Murshidabad.”

Pradip Chopra MHDS

MHF Festival

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UK – June 2017 The 10 UK scrolls were created at a twelve day residency held at Kinetika’s studios in Purfleet. Over 130 artists and volunteers attended over the two weeks. The residency was led by Ali Pretty and Jacci Todd and hosted by Jane Ford.

At the residency it was clear that people really felt they had learnt new skills. We had up to five different locations come together at one time which was a brilliant way for the partners to exchange their stories, build a shared vision and lay the Making the UK scrolls June 2017 foundations for the Silk River Artists network. Several of the artists will now be employed by Kinetika on future projects.

“The Artists Residency was an opportunity to really get the locations connected in a practical and productive way and this achieved and went beyond its goal. Artists kept returning and continue to do so in a future legacy potential that has yet to be evaluated.” Jane Ford

“I learnt many new skills as well as developing existing ones such as Silk River UK steering committee and artists drawing, laying out, managing the handmade silk, hot waxing, how to mix cold water dyes, how to blend colours and the process of double waxing. It made me feel more confident about the possibility of Who created the UK Scrolls? working within the industry. It gave me a sense of pride in the whole 10 Kinetika Artists project. I really enjoyed my time at Kinetika. I believe this was the best 5 Kew artists work experience opportunity for me as I got to meet lots of 11 Tower Hamlets artists 14 Barking & Dagenham artists professionals who work within the creative sector.” Emily Moon, work 5 Greenwich & Woolwich artists experience student, Harris Academy, Thurrock. 8 Dartford artists 17 Gravesend artists 12 Purfleet artists “I loved the team participation, as art can be a lonely pursuit. The 5 Tilbury artists residency has shown us how we can extend our own community projects 3 East Tilbury artists 11Southend artists to include other ethnic groups and demonstrates how one event evolves 28 schools/ youth group people into another. It gave us the chance to network with many artists along The Thames Estuary.” Ruth Howard, Artist, What If Gallery, 130 people in total

Dartford Full credits HERE

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UK Walking Festival

The UK walk took place 15-24th September from Kew Gardens to Southend. Each day was totally different.

Every day we added two more scrolls until we finally arrived at Southend with all 22 and walked them up the pier and boarded the paddle steamer Waverley back to Tower Bridge.

Itinerary 15th Sept – Plants, People, Art & Artefacts - Kew Gardens 16th Sept – East London’s Silk Trail – Tower Hamlets 17th Sept – AM – At Sea, Ships and Sailors – Greenwich 17th Sept – PM – At Sea, Ships and Sailors – Woolwich 18th Sept – The Hidden River, Barking Creek & Riverside 19th Sept – Artists leave London and move to Purfleet. Why? 20th Sept – What happens on the other side? Dartford 21st Sept – Cement, Bricks & Paper alongside Europe’s finest Gurdwara – Gravesend 22nd Sept – By Thames to all people of the world – Tilbury 23rd Sept – In Other People’s Shoes - East Tilbury 24th Sept – It’s a long way to Southend – Pier Finale! Silk River at the Cutty Sark 17th Sept 2017

One of the best things about the UK walks was the way in which each local partner and their participants planned, scoped and delivered their day – each one was unique and distinctive, reflecting each place. In many instances, there was a good connection to the Asian diaspora and connections have been made to neighbouring communities, and a Silk River network now exists and already there are several plans for continuing to do projects together along Silk River flags board the paddle steamer the Lower Thames Estuary. Waverley at the end of the UK walk 24th Sept

We believe, as reflected in Kevin Rushby’s blog and this recent piece in the Guardian, many people learnt a lot about the history, culture and communities along the Estuary.

“It may seem ridiculous to suggest that the Thames is a discovery of the year but I don’t mean the bucolic splendours of its upper reaches. I mean below Greenwich. Lured in by the Silk River arts project, I walked to Southend, crossing via foot tunnels (at Greenwich and Woolwich) and ferries (last one is Gravesend-Tilbury). There is post-industrial devastation but also luminous beauty. At Rainham Marshes you might see osprey, in Gravesend there is the grave of Pocahontas, at Dartford railway station a plaque to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who first met there. Time things right and you can catch the Waverley paddle steamer back upriver to Tower Bridge.” Kevin Rushby

All Kevin Rushby’s blog posts: UK India

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The planning of the entire route and how all 10 days linked to each other was a remarkable achievement between Gordon Parker – London LDWA and Jo Beal. The collaboration between artists and walk leaders was brilliant and these relationships will be encouraged to develop in future projects.

A few quotes from those that walked:

• I was blown away by the energy, inclusivity and the richness of the whole event. • I think the school engagement was really important as was allowing locals to really be involved in all sections of the project. • I like the stories about Barking, and how it used to be. Tilbury Cruise Terminal 22nd Sept 2017

“We felt that the main success of the project was the way the young people really engaged with the historic and political aspects of the sites within which they performed. The walk on the day went really well and we came away from the experience feeling a real sense of community and achievement.” ‘A’ Team Arts, Tower Hamlets

Total participants in the UK school projects alone were in excess of 330 children, along with staff and teachers.

Additional activity The initial grant and proposal for the project plan grew and led to many additional events and new artworks including these below. Further enquiries for touring the silks are being explored.

Additional events and new commissions • Steve Shaw documentary Film • BFI Film Screening • A new poem by Shane Solanki • Trafalgar Square • Kew Gardens Exhibition • Mandakini Menon’s Film • Southend Exhibition (March 2018) Diwali, Trafalgar Square

Kew Exhibition Steve Shaw Film Screening Mandakini Menon’s film

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India Walking Festival

The India walk took place 6-16th Dec 2017 from Azimganj (Murshidabad) to the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata. 18 participants travelled from the UK to take part, most were connected to someone who had been part of the UK leg of the journey, creating a real sense of connection between the two countries.

Itinerary 7 Dec – Azimganj/Murshidabad 8 Dec - Krishnanagar 9 Dec - Chandannagar 10 Dec - Barrackpore/Serampore 11 Dec - Tagore’s House/Kurmatouli 12 Dec - Burrabazaar 13 Dec - Howrah 14 Dec - Kidderpore 15 Dec - Batanagar Visit to Ashis Bagchi’s studio Krishnanagar 16 Dec - Botanical Gardens / Victoria Memorial Finale

Pride and Identity The India walk was a very different experience than that of the UK in many ways, though overall it had the same effect of engaging communities in something they had never experienced before, and in all cases there was a huge sense of pride in taking part in Silk River and the fact that a delegation of foreigners chose to visit and interact these little known places meant a great deal. As in the UK, the opportunity for all participants to come together at the finale, created a sense of a collective identity. It has also led to an intention to follow up this initiative. In West Bengal we feel the journey has just begun.

Heritage: There was a very strong connection made in Azimganj through MHDS and in particular the Dhodoria family. We made a strong link to the Heritage sector, with international ICOMOS delegates from all over the world. This continued as we visited families in their palaces and estates at Cossimbazaar, Balakhana and Krishnanagar. It was great to have such a personal connection, we all learnt a great deal about the history from a different perspective than we would have on a more official tour. It has opened up a dialogue for a potential Silk River Tour for future visitors.

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Artists Along the way we met and interacted with a range of artisans and artists, appreciating the role of crafts in Bengali society, the talent and the potential for harnessing it and future collaboration.

Schools. The presentations from schools were of a very high standard, and it was brilliant that in most cases we were able to offer them gifts that had been created by UK schools and we have been able to make connections now that could be followed up.

Total participants in the India school projects were estimated to be 670 children during and before the December Indian walks, along with their staff and teachers.

It was a new experience for Think Arts to work with students outside Kolkata and they were amazed at the effort that the teachers and students put in, to gather stories and information about the river, their town and their heritage. Ultimately Think Arts are certain that a large number of the students are now looking at their very own towns with more pride than they did before.

Closing Ceremony – Victoria Memorial Thanks to Dr. Jayanta Sengupta of Victoria Memorial Hall, a spectacular closing ceremony on 16 Dec brought the project to a very strong conclusion. It was a beautiful end to the international celebration of culture that is Silk River.

It was attended by: Sir Dominic Asquith, High Commissioner Bruce Bucknell, Dep. High Commissioner Alan Gemmell, Director of British Council India Debanjan Chakraborti, East India Director BC and Amit Mitra, Finance Minister, West Bengal Govt. Closing Ceremony, Victoria Memorial Hall, Dec 16th 2017

The closing ceremony highlighted the significance of Silk River and has led to exciting discussions to develop legacy projects, both in the UK and India.

“[Silk River] brings together the silk, design, colour, people to make the silk, to come up with the designs, to work together, and it also brings together what actually happens in the communities that

these banners represent…It’s been thrilling to have all these people over from Britain and to actually

stir up and bring you this idea of making places and bringing intangibles, what makes communities, what makes a place.” British Deputy High Commissioner Kolkata, Bruce Bucknell

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Questions These are the things we are asking as the Silk River 2017 project ends:

• Can we create a Silk River network from which we can build a legacy for the communities along both rivers? • How do we harness the potential of creating a refreshed demand for Murshidabad silk, and create new products made by local crafts people that can sell in global markets empowering local communities? • Can this model have an impact on the way communities feel about their place? Do they perceive themselves to be part of a wider landscape? Will the city take note of their contribution and their assets? • Is this a replicable international model? Can it be applied as a tool for artists to connect with communities in the process of transition and regeneration? • How can we encourage the partnerships to grow?

Project Legacy Following the successful completion of the project, there have been a number of strategic meetings with key partners examining potential and appetite for legacy activity. This has led to a proposed series of follow up projects that would fit within the wider context of a Memorandum of Understanding between WB Govt and British Council East India (which includes arts showcasing, exchange of artists and personnel, cultural skills, heritage and conservation). The Silk River legacy programme would be an important pillar of this and goes some way to addressing the questions above.

Legacy Projects India • Silk River Festival for October 2108, in development, to coincide with , which could make Silk River an Experience Bengal offer for international tourists and academic visitors and researchers. • Silk River Scrolls to feature in a Durga Puja Pandal designed by Abin Chaudhuri in 2018. • Silk River Book and Exhibition Jan 2019, in discussion with Emami Arts. • Artistic exchange opportunities to the UK. Opportunities have been identified to link Chandannagar lighting artists with the Barking and Dagenham Glow Festival. Other opportunities include sending Bengali artists to be part of the Totally Thames festival programme or to be present at the Southend Exhibition.

Legacy Projects UK • Proposed exhibition – River Sutra – a preview of the Durga Puja Pandal, a showcase for Murshidabad silk and a range of West Bengal crafts. Currently in development. • Artists Opportunities Kinetika will train 10 Silk River artists on upcoming projects, with the aim to identify 2 additional lead artists and provide further work. • Processions – 15 ‘Silk River Women’ have been invited by Kinetika to contribute to this project, which is a nationwide initiative by Artichoke about celebrating women and female suffrage. 5 banners will be created, celebrating women from along the Thames Estuary. • Silk River exhibition in Southend March 2018. • Chelsea Flower Show in May 2018, Silk River scrolls could be part of the Indian Garden commissioned by British Council India.

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Audience

Live: 63.7K Estimated number of live audience at all events: 63771

Online, print and broadcast: 149.9m The online, print and broadcast audience, inc press coverage, breaks down as follows:

Source Audience (not live) Online news, other websites & blogs, not social media 129,620,949 Print (newspaper coverage) 13,315,068 Exposure through other people's Social Media 6,308,032 Silk River Twitter 'Impressions' 325,722 Silk River Facebook 'Reach' 158,534 Other exposure eg Radio interviews 120,000 Silk River website visitors 60,192 Instagram 'Impressions' 13,501 Youtube views 3,991 Soundcloud 'listens' 416 Total 149,926,405

Website Audience The Silk River website proved popular, with over 60k visitors and an average 2.8 page impressions per session. Most of the audience appeared to be in the UK (41.5%), with a surprising 16.5% from the USA and 9.5% from India. The most popular pages were the home page, the UK and India walk pages and, rather wonderfully, the page that contains Les Morgan’s video interview.

Social Media Audience Our social media audience had a higher percentage of women than men, with the exception of Youtube where the split is 54% male/46% female. There were differences in platform use between UK and Indian audiences, reflected in the figures in the infographic below. Twitter and Instagram had a much lower percentage of Indian viewers, but it roughly evens out on Facebook and Youtube.

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Key Dates Date Activity UK Activity India Oct 6th 2016 Launch day, UK. Nov 9th 2016 Launch Day, India. The Indian Museum. Nov 10-24th 2016 Workshops in 10 locations along the Hooghly. Jan 7-21st 2017 Textile residency making 10 India Scrolls hosted by MHDS. Jan 28/29th 2017 Indian scrolls presented at Murshidabad Resurgence Festival Feb 6-10th 2017 Patachitra Workshops UK March/April/May Recce walking routes. 2017 Design workshops UK June 5-18th 2017 Textile Residency making 10 UK scrolls. June 22-26th 2017 Scroll workshops with 7 Thurrock Schools Aug 30th 2017 Launch Event London with Totally Thames Sept 15-24th 2017 Walking Festival – UK 15 Sept Kew Gardens 16 Sept Tower Hamlets 17 Sept Greenwich 18 Sept Barking 19 Sept Purfleet 20 Sept Dartford 21 Sept Gravesend 22 Sept Tilbury 23 Sept East Tilbury 24 Sept Southend Oct 15th 2017 Diwali Celebrations Trafalgar Square Oct 22-27th 2017 Exhibition of all silk scrolls at Kew Gardens Dec 6-16th 2017 Walking Festival – India 7 Dec Murshidabad 8 Dec Krishnanagar 9 Dec Chandannagar 10 Dec Barrackpore/Serampore 11 Dec Tagore’s House/Kurmatouli 12 Dec Bowbazaar 13 Dec Howrah 14 Dec Kidderpore 15 Dec Batanagar 16 Dec Botanical Gardens / Victoria Memorial Finale Dec 19-31st 2017 Exhibition of all silk scrolls at Victoria Memorial Hall March 2-31st 2018 Exhibition of all silk scrolls at Beecroft Gallery, Southend.

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People & Partners

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to make this project a success; all the funders, artists, partners, schools, volunteers, walk leaders, link walkers and walkers as well as the boat companies and venues. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Project Team UK, Kinetika

Ali Pretty, Artistic Director Scott Sullivan, Fundraiser Key Partners UK Jacci Todd, Associate Designer Mike Johnston, photography & film Thames Festival Trust Gordon Parker,walk designer, interviewer Kevin Rushby, Travel Journalist Bath Spa University Elizabeth Lynch, Researcher & Interviewer Steve Shaw, Dir Silk River documentary London Long Distance Walkers Association Mark Forrest, Graphic Design Lee Scott, Web Developer Metal Jo Beal, Project Manager Edwina Rigby, Marketing Director Jane Ford, Project Co-ordinator Outreach

Location Partners UK Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Sue Bramley Centre Rethink Mental Illness (Kent Sahayak Steve Crosby working with: Purfleet – Kinetika Services) Creative People and Places, Hounslow Ali Pretty and Mike Ostler Gravesham Arts Watermans Arts Centre. Working with: No Walls Garden Acme Artists’ Studios St Botolphs Church Tower Hamlets – A’Team Arts Royal Opera House Construction workshop The Rock Choir Geraldine Bone (Creative Director) Royal Opera House Costume Department Cohesion Plus Dr Canan Salih (Dramaturg) Royal Opera House Trailblazers Northfleet Big Local Sarbjit Natt (Textiles Design) South Essex College Jessica Green (Production) RSPB Rainham Marshes Tilbury Riverside Project Working with: The Back Stage Centre Annie O’Brien and Mike Ostler 19 Princelet Street – Museum of St Stephens Community Trust Working with: Immigration High House Community Group Port of London Authority St Anne’s, Limehouse Purfleet Community Hub London International Cruise Terminal St Matthias Community Centre Heritage and Military Centre Tilbury Fort – English Heritage Museum of London Docklands Tilbury Hub UAL Central Saint Martins Dartford Borough Council Coalhouse Fort Lewis Kirnon working with: Royal Borough of Greenwich and Dartford Town Centre Partnership East Tilbury – Bata Heritage Centre Woolwich Cohesion Plus Mike Tarbard working with: Sam Lahai-Taylor working with: Same Sky The Complete Commedia Company The Woolwich Singers The What if Gallery Greenwich Coalition for Equality and The Dartford Arts Network Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Human Rights (GCEHR) Sidney Patrick, Michaela Freeman The Cutty Sark, Royal Museums Gravesham Borough Council, Kent Working with: Greenwich County Council The Hindu Association of Southend & Anita Tysoe working with: District Creative Barking and Dagenham Port of London Authority The Mudlarks Choir Sophie Merriman working with: Woodville Theatre The Old Leigh Studios Studio 3 Arts Gravesham Art Salon Leigh Fishing Community Friends of Greatfields Park The Gr@nd Metal St Margarets Church LV21 – Light Vessel 21 Rivergate Centre Shane Solanki – artist and poet Barking Riverside Limited Guru Nanak Darbar Gudwara Nigel Sagar, London Borough Barking and Kent Equality Cohesion Council Dagenham Ebbsfleet United Football Club Barking Enterprise Centres St Andrews Arts Centre

Artists and participants that created the UK scrolls: Kinetika Artists Maria Cuji Mr Thapa Chris Mack Rebecca White Ali Pretty Bushra Hussain Ms Thapa (daughter) Amerdeep Hunjan Rebekah Wallace Jacci Todd Sindy Nguyen Dartford Elizabeth Tilbury Pioneer Jane Ford Emily Juteau Ruth Howard Straupmanis Allison Axten Margaret Hall Barking and Kate Withstanley Emil Straupmanis 8 x Tilbury Pioneer Jo Beal Dagenham Tanya Outen Purfleet Pupils Donna Plakhtienko Susanna Wallis Kemi Adeyemi- Lisa Meehan East Tilbury Leslie Robinson Saira Awan Wilson Doreen Scarlett Jackie Creasey Mike Johnston Kerry Griffith Nicola Vaughan Gary Scarlett Emily Moon Gordon Parker Johnny Paterson Anne Graves Jamie Scarlett Lizzie Challis Sarah Moorcroft Susannah Christine Collins 1 x child Scarlett 11 pupils from Kew Jim Albert Yvonne Clarkson Uzezi Odjohu Harris Academy Aysha Khan Sophie Merriman Gravesend 7 x Brownies Chafford Hundred Saif Osmani Wumi Oyewole Kirsty Gaunt Christine Rowles Southend Lucy Thurley Jimmy Lee Catherine Mayors Purfleet RoH Bridge Damien Robinson Halima Khanom Khushnood Ahmed Liz Howe Sophie Lee Moon Marie Nassir Shanzay Ahmed Sonnia Margarita Molly Boughtwood Sidney Patrick Tower Hamlets Aariz Ahmed Pam Childs Victoria Gooding Walter Reid Geraldine Bone Stuart Hitchcock Bouchira Photay Rachel Nash Tina Holmes Sarbjit Natt Lexie Hitchcock Wafa Obeid Kirsty Jilly Reid Canan Salih Greenwich and Paivi Seppala Susanna Wildon Nina Chavda Piero d’Angelo Woolwich Carol Gosal Tilbury Manji Solanki Lucrezia Levanti Fabiola Retamozo Sukhbir Bassan Sara Hayes Anju Lund Nowshin Prenon Jessica Poon Parmjit Rossan Steven Lawes Seemanci Berni Yates Sonia Thapa Kidir Sand Anne White Violette Dooley

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Project Team India, Think Arts Ruchira Das - Project Director, India Tamali Bhattacharya - Admin support Swarna Chitrakar, Associate Designer Korak Ghosh - Artistic Director, India Priyanka Chatterjee, Storyteller, school Monu Chitrakar, Songwriter Isha Daga - Marketing Director, India workshops

India Production Team Ashish Adhikary Tushar Bhattachary Asim Mondal Singh Rex Anthony Ananya Sen Payel Ghoshal Riju Mahali Basudev Namata Prateek Bagi Bablu Bagdi Megha Roy Chatterjee Shaunak Sur Tuin Dey

Key Partners India British Council Rural Crafts & Cultural Hubs of Department of Tourism, Govt. of West Dr. Debanjan Chakrabarti W.Bengal Bengal Shonali Ganguli Amitava Bhattacharya Victoria Memorial Hall & Jennifer Crook Ananya Bhattacharya The Ministry of Culture, India Dominic Hastings Sayantani Roychowdhury Sreya Sarker Special Thanks to: Crafts Council of West Bengal Soham Mukherjee Sujata Sen Ruby Palchoudhuri Nandita Palchoudhuri Shikha Mukherjee Dr. Jayanta Sengupta & Sayan Bhattacharya – Indian Museum Location Partners & individuals India Murshidabad MHDS Chandannagar Howrah Sandip Nowlakha Neline Mondal DPS Howrah Darshan Dudhoria Ganges Gurukul school Sidharth Dudhoria Kidderpore Sangeeta Dudhoria Barrackpore Rangan Datta Don Bosco school, Azimganj Future Hope, Bidya Bharati Mominpur Barrackpore Technical Skills Centre Krishnanagar Batanagar Ashis Bagchi Jorosanko Papia Sarkar Krishnanagar Academy Sourendro Mallick & Batanagar High School Soumoyojit Mallick, Marble Palace Burrabazar Botanic Gardens Anthony Khatchaturian Dr. M.U. Sharief

Participating Artists in Silk River Walk Arranged by Banglanatak: Bangla Qawwali -Akkas Fakir, Arman Patachitra Artists – Manimala Chitrakar, Babu Pal – Lighting Artist Chandannagar Fakir, Babu Fakir, Gopen Debnath, Tushar Mohiuddin Chitrakar (Mohim) ‘Mrityunjoy’ – play by Shilpi Mon Mondal and Irak Khan Wooden Doll Artists – Nitai Sutradhar, Written by Sulogna Chakraborty , Raibenshe artists – Kajal Biswas, Sujan Rakhi Sutradhar Directed by Gopal Bhattacharya Music Bagdi, Sumanta Bhalla, Akash Bagdi Sabai Artists – Bharati Dutta, Suchand Sourav Saha. Organised by Tushar Songs of the river – Pranesh Som, Basra Bhattacharya Nilatpal Bhattacharjee, Sandip Gangully Madur Artist – Gurupada Mana and Indian Classical Music by Archie /Fakir – Subhadra Sharma, Babu Usha Shau Bhattacharjee, Anupam Pramanik, Krisna Fakir Ashish Bagchi – daaker shaaj’ and shola Ghosh Puppetry – Ranjan Roy artist Hattie Crane – Future Hope Volunteer Clay Doll Artists – Satyajit Paul, Biswa Ashish Choudhury- Painter Artist Biswas Sanjay Sarkar & Gurni Artists Association

Artists and participants that created the Indian scrolls: Kinetika Artists Nurjahan Chitrakar Sara painting artists Bhattacharya Enosh Olivera Ali Pretty Swarna Chitrakar Sunil Kumar Pal Devdutta Banerjee Joydeep Bhowmick Jacqueline Todd Malati Pal Kamal Das Jyoti Ranjan Rath Jane Ford Batik artists Manali Das Kalesh Laxman Margaret Hall Pallab Das Future Hope Priyanka Das Krishnakanth Bohra Kaushik Singh Basudev Namata Rakhsha Chauhan Neethu Mohandas Patachitra Artists Rakhahari Bagdi Mongal Hembrom Sumpi Sarkar Pallav Mitra Ananda Chitrakar Susanta Banerjee Suraj Das Susanta Banerjee Princy Pal Baki Chitrakar Surjit Mayera Suvam Das Shubarun Sengupta Bithika Chitrakar Clay Doll Makers Uttara Joardar Siddarth Raj Haru Chitrakar Panchu Bag Fashion/Art Vikramjeet Sourav Saha Jaba Chitrakar Jyotsna Bag Students Chatterjee Subhajit Ghosh Jamela Chitrakar Abhishek Swahilian Samanta Manoranjan Kantha Stitching Asim Mondal Students from SRFTI Chitrakar Artists Asish Chowdhury Abhijit Sarthi Heritage Mohiuddin Chitrakar Tajkira Begum Banasree Abhilash KG Conservationist Monimala Chitrakar Papia Begum Chakraborty Abhishikta Kaila Neline Mondal Mousumi Chitrakar Debanjana Akash Sethi

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For further information on Silk River, to discuss legacy opportunities or to find out more about Kinetika’s work contact:

Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1708 202 846 Website: kinetika.co.uk Address: 119 Artists’ Studios, Project Website: silkriver.co.uk High House Production Park, Artisan Way, Purfleet, RM19 1AS, UK