The project began with older residents at the Northfleet Vets Club, who participated in consultation sessions to discuss their life stories and creative interests. Building on this, the project expanded to work with:
- Refugees based at The Granby Hotel, using the same model of storytelling and memory-sharing through visual arts.
- Primary-aged children at Lawn Primary and St Botolph’s Primary Schools, who explored the theme of memory—connecting personal experiences with broader narratives of place and identity.
This was part of our Creative Exchange project, which you can read more about here.
The success of Layers of Life has made clear that there is a strong appetite for regular, accessible arts provision in Northfleet North. What began as a temporary project has now evolved into an ongoing initiative, thanks to Place Partnership funding from Creative Estuary, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, and Gravesham Borough Council.
This summer, we are delivering free community arts workshops throughout the school holidays—a direct continuation of Layers of Life’s ethos. These sessions have already been incredibly popular:
- Some workshops have exceeded expectations, with materials running out and more participants than available tables and chairs!
- The positive response underscores the value of sustained, embedded arts engagement in the area.
© 2025 Blueprint Arts. All rights reserved.
Blueprint Arts, Kent Space, Fleet House, Ebbsfleet, DA11 8HJ