Purfleet communities invited to design flags

 

Purfleet Childrens Centre Flag

Painting the Purfleet Children’s Centre flag

 

In July 2020, Kinetika reached out to communities across Purfleet-on-Thames to design and make silk flags that would celebrate a new future for the town. The flags were then showcased at the finale of the T100 festival in September.

Kinetika is renowned for its colourful flags that are designed and made by communities illustrating the stories, characters and places that are significant to them.  It is a model that has been replicated in many places nationally and internationally at different scales. So while the world was in lockdown, there was no better or more perfect place to deliver this latest place making project than in Kinetika’s home town.

Purfleet is on the cusp of extensive redevelopment so it seemed a fitting time to celebrate and connect the many different groups and organisations who live and work there, working with developer, Purfleet Centre Regeneration, to create a series of hand painted silk flags.

Kinetika artist Jacci Todd began by designing a flag with the Purfleet Community Forum, using its logo to create a bold design representing this group who work tirelessly to promote the town and its people.  Earlier in the year Purfleet was officially renamed Purfleet-on-Thames and the new flag celebrated this and was unveiled on 4th July.

Purfleet flag by Jacci Todd

‘The wonderful flag for Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum was designed by Kinetika with input from the forum. The rope background, lifebelt and centre design show the link between Purfleet and the River Thames which is one of the main reasons Purfleet was renamed Purfleet-on-Thames … The centre design with sun, boat and river are from the forum’s logo. The bright coloured ring shows the bright future of an area that is on the rise.’

Trevor Batchelor
Vice Chair of the Community Forum

Kinetika invited Purfleet groups to take part in creating hand-painted silk flags that collectively celebrate the Purfleet community and tell the story of the area. Lockdown restrictions imposed by Covid-19 made it slightly more challenging than usual, but a new way of delivery was devised where a design pack was distributed and then small groups came to make their designs at the studio.

The beauty of the batik process is that great results can be achieved with little or no previous artistic experience.

You can see the final flag designs on the Purfleet Flags page.

 

Purfleet scroll

‘Kinetika has always put the community of Purfleet-on-Thames at the centre of its activity and, as we at Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL) always strive to do the same, we are delighted to be supporting their work.
We are determined to bring the Purfleet-on-Thames regeneration scheme together in partnership with the community to create a thriving environment, which creates not only new homes but also brings wider creative, healthy living, employment and educational opportunities for Purfleet-on-Thames.’

Ken Dytor
PCRL founder

Kinetika made the move to Purfleet in 2014 and its annual T100 Walking Festival has featured Purfleet in many walks over the years. In 2020, the festival ended with a procession and finale event in Purfleet to celebrate the diversity and creativity of the town as it looks towards the future and the regeneration of the area.

The £1bn regeneration of Purfleet-on-Thames is being delivered by Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited in partnership with Thurrock Council. PCRL is a joint venture between Urban Catalyst and Swan Housing Association.  Read about how PCRL got involved in their newsletter.

 

Purfleet flag unveiling

 

Ali Pretty, Artistic Director of Kinetika said: “It’s very exciting for us to have the chance to work closely with the communities in Purfleet and together play an active role in the town’s development as it evolves into an innovative creative hub on the banks of the Thames.”

More info about T100 Calling

T100 Website
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