Riverswell

RiverSwell is an ambitious 5-month partnership project, led by LV21 working in collaboration with Tiller & Wheel

RIVERSWELL connects local communities and creative sector partners with the river Medway. The main aim is to help develop a collaborative, longer-term maritime heritage offer that increases community and visitor access and understanding of the rich river assets, while establishing new connections and enhancing the Medway riverfront.

RIVERSWELL started as an ambitious new partnership project, led by LV21 working in collaboration with Tiller & Wheel, funded by the Medway’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund under the Pride of Place Fund.

Running from November 2024 to May 2025, the project supported LV21’s physical relocation back to Medway and enabled creative exploration of past stories and future opportunities along the river Medway during the initial settling in period through partnership building and a variety of arts, culture and heritage themed community participatory activities.

A series of free family-friendly workshops accompanied the project, inviting people of all ages, abilities and interests to “Look Through The Porthole”, share their dream views of the river Medway and imagine what the future horizon holds. The project culminated in a touring RIVERSWELL exhibition and final community celebration event onshore at Slough Fort in Allhallows at the WHOOP Heritage Festival with sailing trips aboard historic Thames barge Edith May along the river from Chatham.

Phase 2 of the project is currently in development and we hope to launch soon with an open invitation to Medway communities to ‘Take The Helm’!

Learn more about Medway's UK Shared Prosperity Fund: www.medway.gov.uk/sharedprosperityfund