Silk River – Final Report Feb 2018

Silk River – Project Report
Report by Kinetika, 5 Feb 2018

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Silk River - Project Summary
This ambitious project explored the unique relationship between London and Kolkata through a year’s
artistic exchange between communities along the Thames Estuary and Hooghly River.
Artistic director Ali Pretty - worked in collaboration with associate artistic directors Ruchira Das and
Korak Ghosh and an international team of contemporary and traditional artists, writers and
photographers to capture and interpret the experience of journeying along these mighty rivers.
Working in 20 locations and with partners from Murshidabad to Batanagar (Hooghly) and Kew
Gardens to Southend (Thames) to reinterpret a shared heritage, we raised cultural awareness of the
Indo-British relationship through engaging diaspora communities and connecting young people with
artists along the route.
Closing Ceremony, Victoria Memorial Hall, Dec 16 th 2017
“It’s been inspiring what we’ve been seeing, not just the colours but the enthusiasm, the amount of
determination and commitment over the years to make this a reality…It’s what I call the living
bridge – it is bringing people together in the UK and in India in a way that is really relevant to the
communities that they exist in.”
British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith
“I’m at the final event for one of the most important projects that we’ve had in the Year of
Culture. Silk River has connected 20 communities in Kolkata and London and been at the heart of
our mission to use the Year of Culture to celebrate the modern-day relationship between our two
countries, to connect with people and to inspire them to build a relationship for the next 70
years. It’s been a wonderful event, it’s been an incredible project and we’re so, so grateful to
everyone involved. Thank you very much.”
British Council India Director, Alan Gemmell OBE

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Where the Thames & Hooghly meet
Silk River has been in development for over 30 years, and while we know now that there will be
legacy projects that will continue the journey, we cannot yet know where it might lead in 30 years
from now.
It all began in India, in 1985, when Habib Tanvir, director of the Naya Theatre, encouraged Ali to
become an artist. She followed him to Calcutta to learn about art and politics, and then began to
work in participatory arts in the UK with the help of British community artist Elizabeth Lynch. In the
process of exploring diverse art forms Ali followed the Asian diaspora to Trinidad, later becoming a
carnival designer. Settling in London she learnt to paint silk, her artistic career took off and Kinetika
was founded in 1997.
Recently Ali has devised a different model of participation in response to changing social, economic
and environmental circumstances engaging diverse disparate communities in walking, talking and
making. Based in Purfleet and working closely with the local community, Kinetika created Thurrock
100 (thurrock100.com), an annual walking festival, making artworks and exchanging stories that
connects people to each other and the place that they live.
SILK RIVER transposed this model to an international context for the first time - a
tool for re-imagining the relationship between India and the UK as part of the
UK/India year of culture. Bringing together Ali’s experience of working between
Kolkata and London over many years, she welcomed this opportunity to
collaborate with a team of talented artists and producers to deliver this project,
creating new artworks on Murshidabad silk and connecting thousands of people
through this extraordinary journey.
The challenge now is to reflect and collaborate with our partners and build on the foundation that the
Silk River network has created, both along the Thames Estuary and along the banks of the Hooghly.
‘The inimitable bond between London and the Thames and Kolkata with the Hooghly
are very special to me. Over the years I’ve observed many similarities and connections
between them.
Silk River is to me ‘a tale’ of two cities. Many set aside a particular time every year to
remember their mutual interdependence with their river. London, among other festivities has
a month-long celebration with Totally Thames.
I want the same for Kolkata, and my involvement with this unique event, Silk River, gives me
an opportunity to remember our Hooghly. We are sure that this will go a long way in
making people conscious of the river, its importance and its heritage. Hopefully, it will also
help us all to reinterpret and understand why we need to preserve this special bond.’
Korak Ghosh
Korak Ghosh, Director, Silk River India Walk

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The Inspiration
Patachitra
The aesthetic and design of the silk scrolls was inspired by the
traditional Bengali art form of Patachitra. This is a unique folk
tradition of visual storytelling accompanied by songs performed
the Patuas.
The painters are called Patua and bear the surname – Chitrakar.
The paintings are mostly based on stories on mythology, social,
historical or contemporary issues. The Patuas compose songs on
the stories then paint to corroborate with the story which they
unfurl and sing. This makes the Patuas lyricists, painters, singers,
all blended into one.
Swarna & Monaranjan Chitrakar, with Ruchira
Das, performing in the UK
We worked with many Patachitra artists on the silk scrolls in India and Swarna and Monaranjan
Chitrakar visited the UK to deliver artist exchange workshops, accompanied by Ruchira Das.
“Very informative. Lots of inspiring stories through the paintings and singing. Fantastic project
to be involved in thank you.” Workshop attendee
Murshidabad Silk
With the assistance of Crafts Council of West Bengal, the high-quality silk for the scrolls was woven
in Islampore under the supervision of eminent silk merchant Gadadhar Hore.
“It has turned out to be a great revival project as the weavers were
contacted and convinced through a series of negotiations that it
would be a wonderful opportunity to recreate the superior quality
silk on a pilot basis for an international project.
The weavers rose to the challenge and the silk for the scrolls was
woven on looms that had not done so in recent memory.
Here at the Crafts Council of West Bengal our role as an
intermediary ensured that the silk was pure Murshidabad and not
mixed with yarn from other parts of India or indeed the world. The
success of the scrolls in telling the story of the British connection to
India, from the past to the present will restore Murshidabad’s place
in the history of Empire – as a centre of trade and a producer of
exquisite silk.”
Ruby Palchoudhuri, Director, Crafts Council of West Bengal
Silk weaver
Silk River shared the beautiful qualities of this silk to a wide variety of audiences, from Royal Botanic
Gardens Kew, to an exhibition at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. We estimate that more than
63,000 people saw the scrolls live during Silk River events.
The scrolls are now being booked for exhibitions to continue to share their story, and Kinetika is likely
to use this special silk on other projects and possibly a range of products too.

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Silk River Textile Residencies
India - January 2017
The first ten scrolls were designed and painted in a fourteenday
residency hosted by the Murshidabad Heritage
Development Society in Azimganj.
Working with the Rural Crafts and Cultural Hubs and the
Crafts Council of West Bengal many talented craftspeople
were selected to work with the Kinetika artists.
“The Patachitras could see the connections in terms of graphic
design but the batik technique was new for them. Dipika, one of
the younger members of the Patachitra family quickly saw an
opportunity. She was excited by what she might learn from the
artists of different traditions.
None of us can predict the longer-term impact of the residencies
on the artists, how the skills learnt, and the design approaches
explored will manifest in their work… The challenge for the
partners in Kolkata will be to follow up this moment with further
opportunities for the artists to develop and flourish.” Elizabeth
Lynch, Independent Consultant, Azimganj Residency.
The 10 Murshidabad silk scrolls were first presented at the
Murshidabad Heritage Festival that hosted the launch of Silk
River in Jan 2017.
“Thank you for your support and good wishes towards
Murshidabad Heritage Festival (MHF) 2017.. From the festival’s
roaring success, we managed to carry on Murshidabad Heritage
Development Society’s primary objective of preserving, conserving
and protecting the rich culture and heritage of Murshidabad.”
Pradip Chopra MHDS
Artists’ residency to make India scrolls
Who created the Indian Scrolls?
4 Kinetika Artists
12 Patachitra Artists
4 Batik artists
2 Clay Doll Makers
2 Kantha Stitching Artists
2 Sara painting artists
4 Future Hope students
15 Fashion/Art Students
17 Students from SRFTI
63 people in total
Full credits HERE
MHF Festival

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UK – June 2017
The 10 UK scrolls were created at a twelve day residency held at
Kinetika’s studios in Purfleet. Over 130 artists and volunteers
attended over the two weeks. The residency was led by Ali Pretty
and Jacci Todd and hosted by Jane Ford.
At the residency it was clear that people really felt they had
learnt new skills. We had up to five different locations come
together at one time which was a brilliant way for the partners to
exchange their stories, build a shared vision and lay the
foundations for the Silk River Artists network. Several of the artists
will now be employed by Kinetika on future projects.
Making the UK scrolls June 2017
“The Artists Residency was an opportunity to really get the locations
connected in a practical and productive way and this achieved and
went beyond its goal. Artists kept returning and continue to do so in
a future legacy potential that has yet to be evaluated.” Jane Ford
“I learnt many new skills as well as developing existing ones such as
drawing, laying out, managing the handmade silk, hot waxing, how to
mix cold water dyes, how to blend colours and the process of double
waxing. It made me feel more confident about the possibility of
working within the industry. It gave me a sense of pride in the whole
project. I really enjoyed my time at Kinetika. I believe this was the best
work experience opportunity for me as I got to meet lots of
professionals who work within the creative sector.” Emily Moon, work
experience student, Harris Academy, Thurrock.
“I loved the team participation, as art can be a lonely pursuit. The
residency has shown us how we can extend our own community projects
to include other ethnic groups and demonstrates how one event evolves
into another. It gave us the chance to network with many artists along
The Thames Estuary.” Ruth Howard, Artist, What If Gallery,
Dartford
Silk River UK steering committee and artists
Who created the UK Scrolls?
10 Kinetika Artists
5 Kew artists
11 Tower Hamlets artists
14 Barking & Dagenham artists
5 Greenwich & Woolwich artists
8 Dartford artists
17 Gravesend artists
12 Purfleet artists
5 Tilbury artists
3 East Tilbury artists
11Southend artists
28 schools/ youth group people
130 people in total
Full credits HERE

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UK Walking Festival
The UK walk took place 15-24th September from Kew
Gardens to Southend. Each day was totally different.
Every day we added two more scrolls until we finally arrived
at Southend with all 22 and walked them up the pier and
boarded the paddle steamer Waverley back to Tower
Bridge.
Itinerary
15th Sept – Plants, People, Art & Artefacts - Kew Gardens
16th Sept – East London’s Silk Trail – Tower Hamlets
17th Sept – AM – At Sea, Ships and Sailors – Greenwich
17th Sept – PM – At Sea, Ships and Sailors – Woolwich
18th Sept – The Hidden River, Barking Creek & Riverside
19th Sept – Artists leave London and move to Purfleet. Why?
20th Sept – What happens on the other side? Dartford
21st Sept – Cement, Bricks & Paper alongside Europe’s finest
Gurdwara – Gravesend
22nd Sept – By Thames to all people of the world – Tilbury
23rd Sept – In Other People’s Shoes - East Tilbury
24th Sept – It’s a long way to Southend – Pier Finale!
Silk River at the Cutty Sark 17 th Sept 2017
One of the best things about the UK walks was the way in
which each local partner and their participants planned,
scoped and delivered their day – each one was unique and
distinctive, reflecting each place. In many instances, there
was a good connection to the Asian diaspora and
connections have been made to neighbouring communities,
and a Silk River network now exists and already there are
several plans for continuing to do projects together along
the Lower Thames Estuary.
Silk River flags board the paddle steamer
Waverley at the end of the UK walk 24 th Sept
We believe, as reflected in Kevin Rushby’s blog and this recent piece in the Guardian, many people
learnt a lot about the history, culture and communities along the Estuary.
“It may seem ridiculous to suggest that the Thames is a discovery of the year but I don’t mean
the bucolic splendours of its upper reaches. I mean below Greenwich. Lured in by the Silk River
arts project, I walked to Southend, crossing via foot tunnels (at Greenwich and Woolwich) and
ferries (last one is Gravesend-Tilbury). There is post-industrial devastation but also luminous
beauty. At Rainham Marshes you might see osprey, in Gravesend there is the grave of
Pocahontas, at Dartford railway station a plaque to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who first
met there. Time things right and you can catch the Waverley paddle steamer back upriver to
Tower Bridge.” Kevin Rushby
All Kevin Rushby’s blog posts: UK
India

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The planning of the entire route and how all 10 days linked to each other was a remarkable
achievement between Gordon Parker – London LDWA and Jo Beal. The collaboration between
artists and walk leaders was brilliant and these relationships will be encouraged to develop in
future projects.
A few quotes from those that walked:
• I was blown away by the energy, inclusivity and the
richness of the whole event.
• I think the school engagement was really important as
was allowing locals to really be involved in all sections
of the project.
• I like the stories about Barking, and how it used to be.
Tilbury Cruise Terminal 22 nd Sept 2017
“We felt that the main success of the project was the way the young people really engaged with the
historic and political aspects of the sites within which they performed. The walk on the day went really
well and we came away from the experience feeling a real sense of community and achievement.”
‘A’ Team Arts, Tower Hamlets
Total participants in the UK school projects alone were in
excess of 330 children, along with staff and teachers.
Additional activity
The initial grant and proposal for the project plan grew and led to many additional events and new
artworks including these below. Further enquiries for touring the silks are being explored.
Additional events and new commissions
• Steve Shaw documentary Film
• BFI Film Screening
• A new poem by Shane Solanki
• Diwali Trafalgar Square
• Kew Gardens Exhibition
• Mandakini Menon’s Film
• Southend Exhibition (March 2018)
Diwali, Trafalgar Square
Kew Exhibition
Steve Shaw Film Screening
Mandakini Menon’s film

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India Walking Festival
The India walk took place 6-16th Dec 2017 from Azimganj (Murshidabad) to the Victoria Memorial,
Kolkata. 18 participants travelled from the UK to take part, most were connected to someone who
had been part of the UK leg of the journey, creating a real sense of connection between the two
countries.
Itinerary
7 Dec – Azimganj/Murshidabad
8 Dec - Krishnanagar
9 Dec - Chandannagar
10 Dec - Barrackpore/Serampore
11 Dec - Tagore’s House/Kurmatouli
12 Dec - Burrabazaar
13 Dec - Howrah
14 Dec - Kidderpore
15 Dec - Batanagar
16 Dec - Botanical Gardens / Victoria Memorial Finale
Visit to Ashis Bagchi’s studio Krishnanagar
Pride and Identity
The India walk was a very different experience than that of the UK in many ways, though overall it
had the same effect of engaging communities in something they had never experienced before, and
in all cases there was a huge sense of pride in taking part in Silk River and the fact that a
delegation of foreigners chose to visit and interact these little known places meant a great deal. As
in the UK, the opportunity for all participants to come together at the finale, created a sense of a
collective identity. It has also led to an intention to follow up this initiative. In West Bengal we feel
the journey has just begun.
Heritage: There was a very strong connection made in Azimganj through MHDS and in particular the
Dhodoria family. We made a strong link to the Heritage sector, with international ICOMOS
delegates from all over the world. This continued as we visited families in their palaces and estates
at Cossimbazaar, Balakhana and Krishnanagar. It was great to have such a personal connection, we
all learnt a great deal about the history from a different perspective than we would have on a
more official tour. It has opened up a dialogue for a potential Silk River Tour for future visitors.

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Artists Along the way we met and interacted with a range of artisans and artists, appreciating the
role of crafts in Bengali society, the talent and the potential for harnessing it and future
collaboration.
Schools. The presentations from schools were of a very high standard, and it was brilliant that in
most cases we were able to offer them gifts that had been created by UK schools and we have
been able to make connections now that could be followed up.
Total participants in the India school projects were
estimated to be 670 children during and before the
December Indian walks, along with their staff and teachers.
It was a new experience for Think Arts to work with students outside Kolkata and they were amazed
at the effort that the teachers and students put in, to gather stories and information about the river,
their town and their heritage. Ultimately Think Arts are certain that a large number of the students
are now looking at their very own towns with more pride than they did before.
Closing Ceremony – Victoria Memorial
Thanks to Dr. Jayanta Sengupta of Victoria Memorial
Hall, a spectacular closing ceremony on 16 Dec
brought the project to a very strong conclusion.
It was a beautiful end to the international celebration
of culture that is Silk River.
It was attended by:
Sir Dominic Asquith, High Commissioner
Bruce Bucknell, Dep. High Commissioner
Alan Gemmell, Director of British Council India
Debanjan Chakraborti, East India Director BC and
Amit Mitra, Finance Minister, West Bengal Govt.
Closing Ceremony, Victoria Memorial Hall, Dec 16 th
2017
The closing ceremony highlighted the significance of Silk River and has led to exciting discussions to
develop legacy projects, both in the UK and India.
“[Silk River] brings together the silk, design, colour, people to make the silk, to come up with the
designs, to work together, and it also brings together what actually happens in the communities that
these banners represent…It’s been thrilling to have all these people over from Britain and to actually
stir up and bring you this idea of making places and bringing intangibles, what makes communities,
what makes a place.” British Deputy High Commissioner Kolkata, Bruce Bucknell

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Questions
These are the things we are asking as the Silk River 2017 project ends:
• Can we create a Silk River network from which we can build a legacy for the communities
along both rivers?
• How do we harness the potential of creating a refreshed demand for Murshidabad silk, and
create new products made by local crafts people that can sell in global markets
empowering local communities?
• Can this model have an impact on the way communities feel about their place? Do they
perceive themselves to be part of a wider landscape? Will the city take note of their
contribution and their assets?
• Is this a replicable international model? Can it be applied as a tool for artists to connect with
communities in the process of transition and regeneration?
• How can we encourage the partnerships to grow?
Project Legacy
Following the successful completion of the project, there have been a number of strategic meetings
with key partners examining potential and appetite for legacy activity. This has led to a proposed
series of follow up projects that would fit within the wider context of a Memorandum of
Understanding between WB Govt and British Council East India (which includes arts showcasing,
exchange of artists and personnel, cultural skills, heritage and conservation). The Silk River legacy
programme would be an important pillar of this and goes some way to addressing the questions
above.
Legacy Projects India
• Silk River Festival for October 2108, in development, to coincide with Durga Puja, which
could make Silk River an Experience Bengal offer for international tourists and academic
visitors and researchers.
• Silk River Scrolls to feature in a Durga Puja Pandal designed by Abin Chaudhuri in 2018.
• Silk River Book and Exhibition Jan 2019, in discussion with Emami Arts.
• Artistic exchange opportunities to the UK. Opportunities have been identified to link
Chandannagar lighting artists with the Barking and Dagenham Glow Festival. Other
opportunities include sending Bengali artists to be part of the Totally Thames festival
programme or to be present at the Southend Exhibition.
Legacy Projects UK
• Proposed exhibition – River Sutra – a preview of the Durga Puja Pandal, a showcase for
Murshidabad silk and a range of West Bengal crafts. Currently in development.
• Artists Opportunities Kinetika will train 10 Silk River artists on upcoming projects, with the
aim to identify 2 additional lead artists and provide further work.
• Processions – 15 ‘Silk River Women’ have been invited by Kinetika to contribute to this
project, which is a nationwide initiative by Artichoke about celebrating women and female
suffrage. 5 banners will be created, celebrating women from along the Thames Estuary.
• Silk River exhibition in Southend March 2018.
• Chelsea Flower Show in May 2018, Silk River scrolls could be part of the Indian Garden
commissioned by British Council India.

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Audience
Live: 63.7K
Estimated number of live audience at all events: 63771
Online, print and broadcast: 149.9m
The online, print and broadcast audience, inc press coverage, breaks down as follows:
Source
Audience (not live)
Online news, other websites & blogs, not social media 129,620,949
Print (newspaper coverage) 13,315,068
Exposure through other people's Social Media 6,308,032
Silk River Twitter 'Impressions' 325,722
Silk River Facebook 'Reach' 158,534
Other exposure eg Radio interviews 120,000
Silk River website visitors 60,192
Instagram 'Impressions' 13,501
Youtube views 3,991
Soundcloud 'listens' 416
Total 149,926,405
Website Audience
The Silk River website proved popular, with over 60k visitors and an average 2.8 page impressions
per session. Most of the audience appeared to be in the UK (41.5%), with a surprising 16.5% from
the USA and 9.5% from India. The most popular pages were the home page, the UK and India
walk pages and, rather wonderfully, the page that contains Les Morgan’s video interview.
Social Media Audience
Our social media audience had a higher percentage of women than men, with the exception of
Youtube where the split is 54% male/46% female. There were differences in platform use between
UK and Indian audiences, reflected in the figures in the infographic below. Twitter and Instagram
had a much lower percentage of Indian viewers, but it roughly evens out on Facebook and Youtube.

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Key Dates
Date Activity UK Activity India
Oct 6 th 2016 Launch day, UK.
Nov 9 th 2016
Launch Day, India. The Indian Museum.
Nov 10-24 th 2016
Workshops in 10 locations along the
Hooghly.
Jan 7-21 st 2017
Textile residency making 10 India Scrolls
hosted by MHDS.
Jan 28/29 th 2017
Indian scrolls presented at Murshidabad
Resurgence Festival
Feb 6-10th 2017 Patachitra Workshops UK
March/April/May
2017
Recce walking routes.
Design workshops UK
June 5-18 th 2017 Textile Residency making 10 UK scrolls.
June 22-26 th 2017
Aug 30 th 2017
Sept 15-24 th 2017
Oct 15 th 2017
Oct 22-27 th 2017
Dec 6-16th 2017
Dec 19-31 st 2017
March 2-31 st 2018
Scroll workshops with 7 Thurrock
Schools
Launch Event London with Totally
Thames
Walking Festival – UK
15 Sept Kew Gardens
16 Sept Tower Hamlets
17 Sept Greenwich
18 Sept Barking
19 Sept Purfleet
20 Sept Dartford
21 Sept Gravesend
22 Sept Tilbury
23 Sept East Tilbury
24 Sept Southend
Diwali Celebrations Trafalgar Square
Exhibition of all silk scrolls at Kew
Gardens
Exhibition of all silk scrolls at Beecroft
Gallery, Southend.
Walking Festival – India
7 Dec Murshidabad
8 Dec Krishnanagar
9 Dec Chandannagar
10 Dec Barrackpore/Serampore
11 Dec Tagore’s House/Kurmatouli
12 Dec Bowbazaar
13 Dec Howrah
14 Dec Kidderpore
15 Dec Batanagar
16 Dec Botanical Gardens / Victoria
Memorial Finale
Exhibition of all silk scrolls at Victoria
Memorial Hall

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People & Partners
A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to make this project a success; all the funders, artists, partners, schools, volunteers,
walk leaders, link walkers and walkers as well as the boat companies and venues. We couldn’t have done it without you! Full Credits
are here: http://www.silkriver.co.uk/project-credits/
Project Team UK, Kinetika
Ali Pretty, Artistic Director
Jacci Todd, Associate Designer
Gordon Parker,walk designer, interviewer
Elizabeth Lynch, Researcher & Interviewer
Mark Forrest, Graphic Design
Jo Beal, Project Manager
Jane Ford, Project Co-ordinator Outreach
Location Partners UK
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Visitor Learning Team – Kew working with:
Creative People and Places, Hounslow
Watermans Arts Centre.
Tower Hamlets – A’Team Arts
Geraldine Bone (Creative Director)
Dr Canan Salih (Dramaturg)
Sarbjit Natt (Textiles Design)
Jessica Green (Production)
Working with:
19 Princelet Street – Museum of Immigration
St Anne’s, Limehouse
St Matthias Community Centre
Museum of London Docklands
UAL Central Saint Martins
Royal Borough of Greenwich and Woolwich
Sam Lahai-Taylor working with:
The Woolwich Singers
Greenwich Coalition for Equality and Human
Rights (GCEHR)
The Cutty Sark, Royal Museums Greenwich
Creative Barking and Dagenham
Sophie Merriman working with:
Studio 3 Arts
Friends of Greatfields Park
St Margarets Church
Rivergate Centre
Barking Riverside Limited
Nigel Sagar, London Borough Barking and
Dagenham
Barking Enterprise Centres
Sue Bramley Centre
Scott Sullivan, Fundraiser
Mike Johnston, photography & film
Kevin Rushby, Travel Journalist
Steve Shaw, Dir Silk River documentary
Lee Scott, Web Developer
Edwina Rigby, Marketing Director
Purfleet – Kinetika
Ali Pretty and Mike Ostler
Working with:
Acme Artists’ Studios
Royal Opera House Construction workshop
Royal Opera House Costume Department
Royal Opera House Trailblazers
South Essex College
RSPB Rainham Marshes
The Back Stage Centre
St Stephens Community Trust
High House Community Group
Purfleet Community Hub
Heritage and Military Centre
Dartford Borough Council
Lewis Kirnon working with:
Dartford Town Centre Partnership
Cohesion Plus
Same Sky
The What if Gallery
The Dartford Arts Network
Gravesham Borough Council, Kent County
Council
Anita Tysoe working with:
Port of London Authority
Woodville Theatre
Gravesham Art Salon
The Gr@nd
LV21 – Light Vessel 21
Shane Solanki – artist and poet
Guru Nanak Darbar Gudwara
Kent Equality Cohesion Council
Ebbsfleet United Football Club
Key Partners UK
Thames Festival Trust
Bath Spa University
London Long Distance Walkers Association
Metal
St Andrews Arts Centre
Rethink Mental Illness (Kent Sahayak Services)
Gravesham Arts
No Walls Garden
St Botolphs Church
The Rock Choir
Cohesion Plus
Northfleet Big Local
Tilbury Riverside Project
Annie O’Brien and Mike Ostler
Working with:
Port of London Authority
London International Cruise Terminal
Tilbury Fort – English Heritage
Tilbury Hub
Coalhouse Fort
East Tilbury – Bata Heritage Centre
Mike Tarbard working with:
The Complete Commedia Company
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Sidney Patrick, Michaela Freeman
Working with:
The Hindu Association of Southend & District
The Mudlarks Choir
The Old Leigh Studios
Leigh Fishing Community
Metal
UK Walk Leaders
Gordon Parker
Peter Aylmer
Peter Woodard
Mike Ostler
Mike Tarbard
Joan Bullivant
Ollie Golding
Link Walkers
Aysen Bekir
Melissa Butcher
Artists and participants that created the UK scrolls:
Kinetika Artists
Ali Pretty
Jacci Todd
Jane Ford
Margaret Hall
Jo Beal
Donna Plakhtienko
Leslie Robinson
Mike Johnston
Gordon Parker
Sarah Moorcroft
Kew
Aysha Khan
Saif Osmani
Lucy Thurley
Halima Khanom
Marie Nassir
Tower Hamlets
Geraldine Bone
Sarbjit Natt
Canan Salih
Piero d’Angelo
Lucrezia Levanti
Nowshin Prenon
Berni Yates
Maria Cuji
Bushra Hussain
Sindy Nguyen
Emily Juteau
Barking and
Dagenham
Susanna Wallis
Saira Awan
Kerry Griffith
Johnny Paterson
Susannah
Jim Albert
Sophie Merriman
Wumi Oyewole
Jimmy Lee
Khushnood Ahmed
Shanzay Ahmed
Aariz Ahmed
Stuart Hitchcock
Lexie Hitchcock
Greenwich and
Woolwich
Fabiola Retamozo
Jessica Poon
Sonia Thapa
Pete Colley
Neil Cook
Jeff Golland
Joelle Guérin
Paul Lawrence
Cathy Phillips
Mr Thapa
Ms Thapa (daughter)
Dartford
Ruth Howard
Kate Withstanley
Tanya Outen
Kemi Adeyemi-Wilson
Nicola Vaughan
Anne Graves
Christine Collins
Yvonne Clarkson
Gravesend
Kirsty Gaunt
Catherine Mayors
Liz Howe
Sonnia Margarita
Pam Childs
Bouchira Photay
Wafa Obeid
Paivi Seppala
Carol Gosal
Sukhbir Bassan
Parmjit Rossan
Kidir Sand
Chris Mack
Colin Saunders
Lonica Vanclay
Dave Williams
Amerdeep Hunjan
Elizabeth Straupmanis
Emil Straupmanis
Purfleet
Lisa Meehan
Doreen Scarlett
Gary Scarlett
Jamie Scarlett
1 x child Scarlett
Uzezi Odjohu
7 x Brownies
Christine Rowles
Purfleet RoH Bridge
Sophie
Molly Boughtwood
Victoria Gooding
Rachel Nash
Kirsty
Susanna Wildon
Tilbury
Sara Hayes
Steven Lawes
Anne White
Rebecca White
Rebekah Wallace
Tilbury Pioneer
Allison Axten
8 x Tilbury Pioneer
Pupils
East Tilbury
Jackie Creasey
Emily Moon
Lizzie Challis
11 pupils from Harris
Academy Chafford
Hundred
Southend
Damien Robinson
Lee Moon
Sidney Patrick
Walter Reid
Tina Holmes
Jilly Reid
Nina Chavda
Manji Solanki
Anju Lund
Seemanci
Violette Dooley

15
15
Project Team India, Think Arts
Ruchira Das - Project Director, India
Korak Ghosh - Artistic Director, India
Isha Daga - Marketing Director, India
India Production Team
Ashish Adhikary
Babu Singh
Payel Ghoshal
Prateek Bagi
Shaunak Sur
Key Partners India
British Council
Dr. Debanjan Chakrabarti
Shonali Ganguli
Jennifer Crook
Dominic Hastings
Crafts Council of West Bengal
Ruby Palchoudhuri
Shikha Mukherjee
Location Partners & individuals India
Murshidabad
MHDS
Sandip Nowlakha
Darshan Dudhoria
Sidharth Dudhoria
Sangeeta Dudhoria
Don Bosco school, Azimganj
Krishnanagar
Ashis Bagchi
Krishnanagar Academy
Burrabazar
Anthony Khatchaturian
Participating Artists in Silk River Walk
Arranged by Banglanatak:
Bangla Qawwali -Akkas Fakir, Arman
Fakir, Babu Fakir, Gopen Debnath, Tushar
Mondal and Irak Khan
Raibenshe artists – Kajal Biswas, Sujan
Bagdi, Sumanta Bhalla, Akash Bagdi
Songs of the river – Pranesh Som,
Nilatpal Bhattacharjee, Sandip Gangully
Baul/Fakir – Subhadra Sharma, Babu
Fakir
Puppetry – Ranjan Roy
Clay Doll Artists – Satyajit Paul, Biswa
Biswas
Tamali Bhattacharya - Admin support
Priyanka Chatterjee, Storyteller, school
workshops
Tushar Bhattachary
Rex Anthony
Riju Mahali
Bablu Bagdi
Tuin Dey
Rural Crafts & Cultural Hubs of
W.Bengal
Amitava Bhattacharya
Ananya Bhattacharya
Sayantani Roychowdhury
Sreya Sarker
Soham Mukherjee
Chandannagar
Neline Mondal
Ganges Gurukul school
Barrackpore
Future Hope,
Barrackpore Technical Skills Centre
Jorosanko
Sourendro Mallick &
Soumoyojit Mallick, Marble Palace
Patachitra Artists – Manimala Chitrakar,
Mohiuddin Chitrakar (Mohim)
Wooden Doll Artists – Nitai Sutradhar,
Rakhi Sutradhar
Sabai Artists – Bharati Dutta, Suchand
Basra
Madur Artist – Gurupada Mana and
Usha Shau
Ashish Bagchi – daaker shaaj’ and shola
artist
Ashish Choudhury- Painter
Sanjay Sarkar & Gurni Artists Association
Swarna Chitrakar, Associate Designer
Monu Chitrakar, Songwriter
Asim Mondal
Ananya Sen
Basudev Namata
Megha Roy Chatterjee
Department of Tourism, Govt. of West
Bengal
Victoria Memorial Hall &
The Ministry of Culture, India
Special Thanks to:
Sujata Sen
Nandita Palchoudhuri
Dr. Jayanta Sengupta &
Sayan Bhattacharya – Indian Museum
Howrah
DPS Howrah
Kidderpore
Rangan Datta
Bidya Bharati Mominpur
Batanagar
Papia Sarkar
Batanagar High School
Botanic Gardens
Dr. M.U. Sharief
Babu Pal – Lighting Artist Chandannagar
‘Mrityunjoy’ – play by Shilpi Mon
Written by Sulogna Chakraborty ,
Directed by Gopal Bhattacharya Music
Sourav Saha. Organised by Tushar
Bhattacharya
Indian Classical Music by Archie
Bhattacharjee, Anupam Pramanik, Krisna
Ghosh
Hattie Crane – Future Hope Volunteer
Artist
Artists and participants that created the Indian scrolls:
Kinetika Artists
Nurjahan Chitrakar
Ali Pretty
Swarna Chitrakar
Jacqueline Todd
Jane Ford
Margaret Hall
Patachitra Artists
Ananda Chitrakar
Baki Chitrakar
Bithika Chitrakar
Haru Chitrakar
Jaba Chitrakar
Jamela Chitrakar
Manoranjan
Chitrakar
Mohiuddin Chitrakar
Monimala Chitrakar
Mousumi Chitrakar
Batik artists
Pallab Das
Kaushik Singh
Rakhahari Bagdi
Susanta Banerjee
Clay Doll Makers
Panchu Bag
Jyotsna Bag
Kantha Stitching
Artists
Tajkira Begum
Papia Begum
Sara painting artists
Sunil Kumar Pal
Malati Pal
Future Hope
Basudev Namata
Mongal Hembrom
Suraj Das
Surjit Mayera
Fashion/Art
Students
Abhishek
Asim Mondal
Asish Chowdhury
Banasree
Chakraborty
Debanjana
Bhattacharya
Devdutta Banerjee
Kamal Das
Manali Das
Priyanka Das
Rakhsha Chauhan
Sumpi Sarkar
Susanta Banerjee
Suvam Das
Uttara Joardar
Vikramjeet
Chatterjee
Students from SRFTI
Abhijit Sarthi
Abhilash KG
Abhishikta Kaila
Akash Sethi
Enosh Olivera
Joydeep Bhowmick
Jyoti Ranjan Rath
Kalesh Laxman
Krishnakanth Bohra
Neethu Mohandas
Pallav Mitra
Princy Pal
Shubarun Sengupta
Siddarth Raj
Sourav Saha
Subhajit Ghosh
Swahilian Samanta
Heritage
Conservationist
Neline Mondal

16
For further information on Silk River, to discuss
legacy opportunities or to find out more about
Kinetika’s work contact:
Email: ali@kinetika.co.uk
Website: kinetika.co.uk
Project Website: silkriver.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1708 202 846
Address: 119 Artists’ Studios,
High House Production Park,
Artisan Way, Purfleet,
RM19 1AS, UK