Gravesham Arts and Culture

Gravesham is a place buzzing with creativity and home to a growing community of creatives and artists, events and activities, workshops and wonderful things to enjoy throughout the year.

The Pleasure Gardens at Rosherville back in Victorian times and the music scene of the 1980’s and 90’s (Pete Tong – just saying) put the borough on the map as a place for cultural pleasure.

Today, it remains one of the South East’s most dynamic centres for the arts with the area’s riverside heritage, urban renewal and a diverse cultural landscape providing plenty of inspiration.
Gravesham’s cultural scene grows ever more diverse in partnership with a growing number of organisations who are making work locally, including: the LV21 Lightship, GTown Talents,The Gr@nd Healthy Living Centre, Fourth Portal, Art is for All and Gravesham Arts Salon – a network of artists and creative organisations living or working in Gravesham.

Read on to find out more about arts and culture in Gravesham - from festivals and theatre shows to our ongoing programme of art exhibitions, music, comedy and performance taking place throughout the year hosted by the borough’s arts spaces and venues.

For creative scenes like this, a place where it’s all happening, come and experience Gravesham.

The Gravesham Light Festival

The Gravesham Light Festival has become an unmissable calendar event and a mesmerising way for residents and visitors to explore the area and brighten up the dark evenings of January. There’s no better way to start the year.
From street performance to site specific installations that light up historic buildings and landmarks, Gravesend town centre looks positively dazzling with displays that leave a lasting impression. With a different theme for each year, the installations are exciting, provocative and most of all fun! In 2024, the refracted lights, sounds and colours of Funki Porcini’s Laserium, club night cement mixers and the glowing performances of the LED Drummers were among this year’s highlights. Bring on 2025!

Gravesham Fringe Festival

Each summer the Gravesham Fringe Festival brings new work from artists both local and international to venues across Gravesend town centre.
Inspired by the success of the fringe festival in Scotland’s capital city, this vibrant community event provides a showcase for artists and performers from across Kent. The festival programme offers a celebration of the arts, from art, comedy, music and dance to theatre and workshops, digital, photography, and the spoken word.

The Woodville Theatre, Gravesend

Regular events at The Woodville, the council’s flagship venue, range from comedy to music, panto to cinema, choir and contemporary drama. The Woodville also houses the Blake Gallery, named after the artist Peter Blake who studied at Gravesend School of Art. In 2024 we will be enjoying performances from comedians such as Milton Jones and Nish Kumar, as well as our regular comedy club. Not forgetting the live screenings from the National Theatre and a host of top quality entertainment and drama. Jack and Beanstalk completes our GIANT year with fun for all the family. The Woodville will also be showcasing some of the UK’s finest tribute acts featuring artists from Bob Marley and Dolly Parton to George Michael and Taylor Swift.

St George’s Arts Centre, Gravesend

St George’s Arts Centre is a new exhibition and arts space located in the centre of Gravesend. It hosts exhibitions throughout the year from open calls to national touring exhibitions. Come along and enjoy our programme of workshops for adults and children and a thriving café. The centre also host Smooth Sunday Sessions featuring music from local musicians on the last Sunday of the month.

Highlights for 2024 include an exhibition of screen prints by Pop Art pioneer Eduardo Paolozzi. These will be supported by a number of Pop Art themed workshops to reveal your inner Warhol, from tins of soup to your favourite musical icon.

St Andrew’s Arts Centre, Gravesend

St Andrew’s Arts Centre has been bringing culture vultures to the riverside area of Gravesend since 1871. It has some amazing tales to tell – Charles Dickens was one of the main benefactors for a start! Arts organisation Fourth Portal are currently in residence providing an exciting programme of events and activities. It’s a wonderfully creative place to socialise, work (if you must), and enjoy memorable performance. Look out for the stunning stained glass windows too.