Peckham Festival returns for 2023, repurposing railway arches, sprucing up warehouses, and taking over rooftops in a three-day celebration of the hyper-local talent bursting out of SE15.
Established in 2016 by Tim Wilson and Jordana Leighton, the festival aims to support a more cohesive and diverse multi-generational community through the arts.
It attracts around 15-20,000 visitors each year with its programme of free events and the chance to shop the wares of local businesses.
There’s live music to bop to, open studios to explore, talks to listen in on and, well, lots more, including family-friendly activities to keep little visitors engaged.
Aiming to appeal to visitors of all ages, it’s a chance to meet the diverse body of artists keeping this nook of south-east London in a constant state of creative regeneration.
Here are some highlights not to miss at this year’s festival…
The Community Hub
The heartbeat of the festival, the Community Hub is once again transforming Copeland Park into a hive of small businesses and community groups.
Shop the latest ranges from Black-owned brands at the Ourhood Community pop-up store, where the artist Exhibit 69 can also be spotted creating a live painting and taking part in a Q&A.
A further highlight comes by way of Voir X, a fashion platform hosting a live fashion show in support of emerging designers and independent labels.
There’s a bunch of free art workshops to get involved with here too, including a session in ‘natural indigo dyeing’ and another in ceramics, while Southwark Foster Care is encouraging visitors to take a break from their busy thoughts with a class in breathing and meditation.
Got some little tagalongs in your care? There’s a djembe drumming circle they can join, plus skateboarding and street art workshops hosted by Clown Skateboards.
Listen out for storytelling from pan-African organisation The Culture Tree, and also from the Dope Readers Club: a platform raising awareness of Black and POC (person of colour) authors, with a focus on those writing for young adults.
Uniting the LTBTQ+ community, meanwhile, are queer tarot readings, poetry circles and drag acts hosted by local institution John the Unicorn.
Peckham Festival will be platforming local talent
The Festival Stage
In charge of keeping the beats pumping and the good vibes flowing at the the festival’s music hub this year are local music connoisseurs GALA and Balamii Radio, but in keeping with the stage’s strong community angle, audiences can also expect performances from Peckham Chamber Orchestra, Nunhead Community Choir and Theatre Peckham.
Even the bar is being run by local favourites: the teams behind trendy pub the Prince of Peckham and uber cool listening bar Jumbi joining forces to offer cocktails, local brews and DJ sets.
Copeland Gallery
Art fans should pay a visit to Copeland Gallery, where local businesses Palace of the Dogs and Don’t Touch my Heritage have pulled together an engaging lineup of performances, talks, family workshops and art.
A highlight comes from Tony Fairweather, curator of the Black Cultural Archives’ (BCA) current exhibition Home: Remembering the Windrush Generation, who is bringing his nostalgic recreations of a Caribbean front room, kitchen and bedroom to Copeland Gallery. He’ll also be reading from his debut novel Twenty Eight Pounds, Ten Shillings, a reimagining of stories and experiences from passengers on board Empire Windrush.
Made in Peckham
Want to meet and support local businesses?
Made in Peckham is the umbrella term for a collection of artists’ studios opening their doors as part of the festival.
You’ll find them at the Bussey Building, Blenheim Arches, Print Village and the Pexmas makers market at Copeland Park. Over 150 creatives are taking part, so as the saying goes, there’s bound to be something for all tastes.
Peckham Festival is running out of locations across SE15.
September 15 – 17, times vary depending on event.
Admission: FREE.
