Living Rivers: Free Community Art Exhibition

Living Rivers: Free Community Art Exhibition

22 April – 22 May 2026 | The Ebbisham Centre, Epsom

Come celebrate creativity, community, and nature, the Living Rivers Art Exhibition opens 22 April – 22 May 2026. Save the date! 


About The Exhibition

Launching on Earth Day, 22 April 2026, this joyful month-long community art exhibition will be showcasing artwork made by local artist, schools and art clubs.

Visitors will enjoy a vibrant showcase of river-inspired drawings and paintings, along with educational displays, workshops and activities that highlight the importance of our local rivers.

We believe rivers are more than just flowing water, they’re lifelines for countless forms of living things, and their health is deeply connected to our own. We hope this community art exhibition reminds us of how beautiful our rivers truly are, inspiring action for their protection and well-being.

 

Visiting Hours

As the Ebbisham Centre is open 24 hours a day, visitors are welcome to view the exhibition at any time.

How To Take Part

We’re openly inviting artists to contribute to the exhibition, we'd love to showcase your work!

We’re inviting students, schools, art clubs, and local artists to celebrate rivers through art. This year's theme is "Living Rivers", it is entirely up to you how you want to interpret our theme as we don't want to stifle your creativity in anyway. Realism, cartoons, abstract, it is up to you. 

The Living Rivers Exhibition will run alongside several national awareness days, Earth Day (22 April), Save the Frogs Day (28 April), and Thames River Watch Week (25 April–1 May), which may offer additional inspiration. You are very welcome to create artwork influenced by any of these day's too.

Want to Exhibit Your Artwork?

  • Who can submit: Students, schools, local artists, art clubs
  • What to submit: A4 max, drawings or paintings (no sculptures)
  • Mediums: Paper, canvas, or participant form (A5 space optional)
  • Deadline: Friday, 27 March 2026 (before Easter)
  • Collection: We're happy to discuss collection arrangements with schools, groups, and artists individually. 
  • Please email eeClimateActionNetwork@gmail.com to take part.

Workshops And Activities

Kids activities

During the month long exhibition, we will be running kids activities on weekends between the 22nd of April-22nd May, held by local artists for children and schools to take part. Further details coming soon...

Historic River Walk

We will also be hosting a fact filled historic river walk, guided by Tricia, afternoon time,1st of May. Please email eeclimateactionnetwork to book in for the walk and for more info.

The Song We Forgot


Living Rivers Art Exhibition 2026, Poem: The Song We Forgot: She skipped through the meadows,  She sparkled in rain,  Her song drifted sweetly  Through valley and lane. She watered the flowers,  She danced with the trees,  She cooled gentle faces In warm summer breeze. But dark, murky shadows  Crept over her skin;  Her bright, happy music Turned quiet within.  The fields lost their colour, The skies dulled to grey, And people grew weary With each passing day.  An elder came listening And knelt by her side, “The river is hurting,” He quietly cried. The villagers gathered And all came to see: Her waters were choking, Clogged deep with debris.  They rolled up their sleeves And vowed to defend, To care for the river, Their life-giving friend. Her waters grew brighter, Her song filled the skies, With otters and kingfishers Returning nearby.  The people grew stronger, Their laughter renewed, A promise remembered, A lesson they knew: “Care for the river, She’ll care for us too. Her song is our heartbeat, Forever and true.”  By David Ede

Why “Living Rivers”?

Inspired by Robert Macfarlane’s Is a River Alive?, we ask artists to reimagine rivers not just as landscapes, but as living beings. Through art, we hope to spark reflection and action on the importance of rivers to our health, ecosystems, and future generations.

Key Dates

  • Submission Deadline: 27 March 2026
  • Exhibition: 22 April – 22 May 2026

Stay Updated

If this has sparked your curiosity and you’re planning to pop by and enjoy the exhibit, follow us on social media or contact us by email for updates and event details.

Email: eeClimateActionNetwork@gmail.com
Facebook: Epsom and Ewell Climate Action Network
Instagram: eeclimateactionnetwork

TikTok: ee.climate.action





Organised by Epsom & Ewell Climate Action Network eecan.org

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