About this Event
About the Event:
Do you know why, as the British canal system declined in the 19th century, working narrowboats began to bloom with Roses & Castles?
A moving home, painted with pride.
Step aboard the Floating Garden barge and journey back to the 1850s. Explore the origins of Roses & Castles, a colourful canal folk art rooted in the lives of boat people, and discover how this visual language expressed pride, individuality, and a sense of home on the water.
Guided by an artist, you will learn how to paint traditional rose motifs and design your own Roses & Castles canal panel. Each participant will create a hand-painted wooden panel, finished as a decorative object inspired by canal heritage, suitable for hanging or display in your home.
You are warmly encouraged to reflect on your own “rose” and “castle”, symbols of what you cherish, remember, or call home, and bring these unique elements into your design.
No prior experience is needed. All materials are provided.
Open to all, capacity: 12
About the Canal Creative Calendar (CCC)
The Canal Creative Calendar (CCC) is a monthly programme of art and nature events hosted on the Floating Garden Barge, produced by the non-profit arts organisation Canal Dream CIC in partnership with the environmental charity Global Generation. It connects people with the waterways through diverse, sustainable creative activities inspired by the canal’s communities, environment, art and cultural heritage. As an emerging initiative without core funding, all ticket income supports essential costs and the continued development of community-based programmes.
About Global Generation:
Global Generation is an environmental education charity with garden sites located throughout London. We offer activities such as urban food growing, supporting bees, carpentry, cooking, storytelling, creative writing, performance and more. We aim to create the conditions for people to come together, connect with themselves, others and their local area and to practically and creatively contribute to ecological and social change. Tickets are priced on a sliding scale, and we encourage those who can, to pay it forward. We have a donation option where you can put money towards supporting the work we do including offering free spaces for community members. Follow our instagram for regular updates on our activity.
About Canal Dream CIC:
Canal Dream is a non-profit arts and cultural organisation connecting emerging creatives with London’s historic canals. We position creativity as a catalyst for canal regeneration and social innovation. We use waterways and boats as platforms to curate site-specific arts and culture programmes that support underrepresented young artists, underserved canal communities, and the more-than-human environment. Beyond the arts, we collaborate with cross-sector partners to co-create a waterway-based social innovation network. Our vision is to transform London’s historic canals into a living cultural corridor, a shared space for regeneration, creative practice, and community connection.
Additional Information:
Contact: If you are unable to pay or you have any questions regarding accessibility, please get in touch at [email protected], [email protected]About the Space and Accessibility: The Floating Garden is a barge moored along the Regents Canal near Coal Drops Yard with views of the surrounding area. There is an indoor classroom space on the barge so the session will go ahead rain or shine. The barge is not yet completely wheelchair accessible - there is a set of stairs that lead directly to the mooring or lifts that give access to the towpath, however there is one step required to get from the towpath to the barge and steps from the main deck area to the toilet. Please speak to the team if you have specific accessibility questions.</ul>Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Floating Garden by Global Generation, off Goods Way, London, United Kingdom
GBP 15.87 to GBP 41.88
