The Royal Docks will play host to the Ship of Tolerance in August as part of the Totally Thames festival.
The visit by the floating installation is one of a number of highlights that festival organiser Thames Festival Trust has released ahead of its full programme reveal in July.
The Ship of Tolerance, created by artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, uses the artworks of 1,000 primary school children, refugee groups, hospitals and cultural organisations to create the sails of a wooden ship. It will be re-constructed at the University of East London.
First seen in Egypt in 2005, The Ship of Tolerance has been seen in nine locations around the world including Venice, Havana and New York.
River Thames loops around the Isle of Dogs. Picture: Johannes Plenio (Unsplash)
The ship, measuring 18 metres, will be moored in the Royal Docks in August. It will then move to the Millennium Bridge throughout September. The project will also be supporting community workshops encouraging tolerance and diversity.
Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor of Culture and Creative Industries, said, “London is a beacon of inclusiveness and acceptance, so there really is no better place to display The Ship of Tolerance. The project is a wonderful example of the power of art to unite communities and inspire young people.”
Totally Thames 2019, which runs from 1-30 September, encourages people to take part in an amazing programme of arts, culture and heritage.
Other Totally Thames highlights
- Foragers of the Foreshore, an exploration of mudlarking, will offer two exhibitions in the “most expansive exhibition on mudlarking that has ever taken place”.
- The Barking Stink examines East London’s vibrant industrial heritage and its consequent pollution. The event includes two “scented history” pop-up exhibitions examining Barking Creek’s olfactory history.
- Regatta London will see river goers of all kinds – including kayakers and paddle boarders – taking over the river from Central London heading east, offering a rare chance for people to pass through the Thames Barrier under their own steam.
Full details about the programme and all listings will be released next month. Find out more on the website.