Featured Arts Projects
IntraFest
15-17 July 2022Funded by Historic England’s 'Round Here' project, IntraFest sought to strengthen connections between the local community. A pop-up music festival in hidden and surprising spaces, including heritage buildings, shops, restaurants, bakeries, bars, brewery, churches, a synagogue, artists’ studios; as well as the lanes, walkways and wharves bordering the riverside; brought the high street alive over two summer days. Offering bookable and free events, the festival was accessible to all.
A total of 660 visitors engaged in activities, and local businesses benefitted from a £1.6k average increase in revenue.
Intra Light Nights
10-11 February 2023
Intra Soundwalk
June 2023
Intra Spring
18-26 March 2023
Medway Superstars
Pride Fringe
Festival of Chatham Reach
17 September 2022 & 20 September 2025
Intra Christmas
Annual
Intra Light Nights
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Medway Council, Intra Light Nights consisted of lit and illuminated artworks, window displays, and installations, all telling the history of the local area. Presented by local artists and businesses, the event also included a pop-up food market.
Intra Soundwalk
Funded directly by HSHAZ, Intra Soundwalk was an interactive digital art, heritage trail, and sensory experience that invited visitors to explore the history of the high street through sound.
Medway Superstars
Funded by Arts Council England, Medway Superstars is a project showcasing the creative talents of artists located across Medway. Specifically, it highlights the role of art in local urban and cultural regeneration.
Pride Fringe
Funded directly by HSHAZ, and delivered annually since 2022, Pride Fringe celebrates the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ community within the high street. Home to one of the UK’s earliest LGBTQIA+ pubs, the Ship Inn, the high street remains a centre for the LGBTQIA+ community today, with organisations such as Medway Gender & Sexual Diversity Centre, and Medway Pride Radio based in the area.
The festival consists of a programme of events including educational talks, history walks, queer cult movie classics; as well as rainbow painting, jewellery making, badge making, tattooing, and balloon art. It is evidence of its success that Medway Pride has seen a steady increase in footfall over the last three years. On the day itself the local area caters to more than 2,500 participants, many of whom go on to enjoy after event parties, concerts, and karaoke in the pubs, clubs and restaurants along the high street.
Festival of Chatham Reach
Funded by Medway Council, the Festival of Chatham Reach takes place along the entire length of the high street between Sun Pier and the bottom of Star Hill. Consisting of both water- and land-based activities, the event celebrates the hidden histories of the area through heritage walks and talks, live music, markets, and local food. As well as historic buildings, up to 1,500 visitors explore Medway river craft including Thames barges and steam tugs on free river trips and static boat tours.
Intra Christmas
This annual celebration of the festive season showcases the artists, businesses and residents who live and work in the area.
Intra Spring
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Intra Spring invited visitors to explore the high street through art, storytelling, comedy, film, open studios, live music, and poetry. In 17 venues - cafes, restaurants, shops, workshop spaces, studios, places of worship, historic buildings, - local artists and businesses offer an eclectic programme of events for all ages.
Intra Light Nights
10-11 February 2023Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Medway Council, Intra Light Nights consisted of lit and illuminated artworks, window displays, and installations, all telling the history of the local area. Presented by local artists and businesses, the event also included a pop-up food market.
Intra Soundwalk
June 2023Funded directly by HSHAZ, Intra Soundwalk was an interactive digital art, heritage trail, and sensory experience that invited visitors to explore the history of the high street through sound.
Medway Superstars
2023 - 2030Funded by Arts Council England, Medway Superstars is a project showcasing the creative talents of artists located across Medway. Specifically, it highlights the role of art in local urban and cultural regeneration.
Pride Fringe
AnnualFunded directly by HSHAZ, and delivered annually since 2022, Pride Fringe celebrates the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ community within the high street. Home to one of the UK’s earliest LGBTQIA+ pubs, the Ship Inn, the high street remains a centre for the LGBTQIA+ community today, with organisations such as Medway Gender & Sexual Diversity Centre, and Medway Pride Radio based in the area.
The festival consists of a programme of events including educational talks, history walks, queer cult movie classics; as well as rainbow painting, jewellery making, badge making, tattooing, and balloon art. It is evidence of its success that Medway Pride has seen a steady increase in footfall over the last three years. On the day itself the local area caters to more than 2,500 participants, many of whom go on to enjoy after event parties, concerts, and karaoke in the pubs, clubs and restaurants along the high street.
Festival of Chatham Reach
17 September 2022 & 20 September 2025Funded by Medway Council, the Festival of Chatham Reach takes place along the entire length of the high street between Sun Pier and the bottom of Star Hill. Consisting of both water- and land-based activities, the event celebrates the hidden histories of the area through heritage walks and talks, live music, markets, and local food. As well as historic buildings, up to 1,500 visitors explore Medway river craft including Thames barges and steam tugs on free river trips and static boat tours.
Intra Christmas
AnnualThis annual celebration of the festive season showcases the artists, businesses and residents who live and work in the area.
Intra Spring
AnnualFunded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Intra Spring invited visitors to explore the high street through art, storytelling, comedy, film, open studios, live music, and poetry. In 17 venues - cafes, restaurants, shops, workshop spaces, studios, places of worship, historic buildings, - local artists and businesses offer an eclectic programme of events for all ages.
