LONDON.- Beach of Dreams today unveils the full programme for its ambitious month-long festival exploring the unique heritage, cultures, and futures of our coastlines in the face of the climate emergency. Running from Thursday 1st May through to Sunday 1st June 2025, the festival will animate coastlines across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland with a programme of artist commissions, creative walks and journeys, community-led events, activations, and a national touring artwork.

As climate change accelerates and coastal landscapes face unprecedented threats, Beach of Dreams harnesses the power of art and community to reimagine our relationship with the coast – celebrating its beauty, confronting its fragility, and inspiring action for a more sustainable future. This festival will serve as a dynamic platform, gathering insights from organisations, communities, and participants, uniting their voices to help shape the future of our coastlines.

At the heart of the Beach of Dreams creative programme are eight bold new artist commissions developed in partnership with communities across the UK. From the villages of the Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland to the oyster reefs in South Tyneside, these commissions will illuminate our coasts with sculpture, soundscapes, textiles, storytelling, performance and more. Among the acclaimed artists leading these projects that will bring together cultural narratives, ecological concerns, and community perspectives are Julie Brook, Jason Singh, and Rahemur Rahman.

Presented by Kinetika, with support from Arts Council England and Historic England, Beach of Dreams is an open invitation for the public to engage – whether by walking, creating, or experiencing the unfolding story of our coastlines. Audiences can also make a tangible impact by sharing a Climate Commitment, reinforcing the festival’s call for collective action.

The festival launches on Saturday 3rd May 2025 at Tilbury Cruise Terminal, Thurrock, the gateway to a month of creative exploration as the Thames Estuary commission Threads for Tomorrow is unveiled.

From there, Beach of Dreams will activate coastal communities nationwide – both in physical spaces and online – creating new connections between people, place, and the natural world.

"Through Beach of Dreams, we are journeying from the Beach of Broken Dreams in Thurrock to shine a spotlight on the coastal gems, organisations, people, and projects across the UK that are creating positive change and inspiring hope. In these uncertain times, Beach of Dreams emphasises the power of local communities to shape their own futures. By connecting through the Beach of Dreams network, we gather strength and solidarity, proving that together, we can make a difference." – Ali Pretty, Artistic Director, Beach of Dreams and Kinetika

A nationwide invitation to take part

A dynamic and varied programme of events – shaped by individuals, groups, and organisations – will transform coastal spaces through art, activism, and exploration. Anyone with an idea connected to our coasts, whether celebrating their beauty or reimagining their future, is invited to take part by submitting an event to the programme or making a Climate Commitment. Submissions to the programme remain open and the festival continues to grow.

An interactive festival map makes it easy to discover and join in – whether through hands-on making, deep discussion, or ambitious journeys. From art forages on West Worthing beach to seaweed papermaking workshops, Refugee Tales’ walking journeys, an art residency pop-up crossing the North Sea, and The Big Hoof’s journeys on horseback, the programme is forging new powerful connections across land and sea.

A digital storytelling platform

Beach of Dreams brings national and international audiences together through a digital Stories platform that amplifies local initiatives, highlights the urgent climate challenges facing our coastlines, and invites people into the creative process behind new work across all four nations.

Offering behind-the-scenes insights and community-driven storytelling, the platform serves as a living archive of voices, ideas, and actions. These shared narratives create opportunities for exploration, connection, and active participation in this evolving conversation.

Eight artist commissions and one touring national artwork

Each commission is driven by a thought-provoking question, inviting artists and communities to explore the complexities of heritage, culture, and climate change along our coastlines.