These events took place in 2025
Each year, Dulwich Festival facilitates a range of projects to celebrate creative practice across the community. Please support us with a donation when purchasing event tickets to build on these initiatives for local schools, community groups and young people.
Children’s Art Competition
In partnership with Dulwich Picture Gallery
Aged 4–14 years? Draw, paint, collage, embroider, print or craft a 2D entry on the theme of ‘Play’. Win an artist led workshop for your whole class and a chance to have your work displayed at Dulwich Picture Gallery!
Entry Conditions:
NEW DEADLINE: 11:59pm Sunday 18 May 2025
Artwork size and format: Max A3, 2 dimensional artwork of any kind only (no sculpture).
Theme: Play
Categories: Three entry categories based on age groups of school age children. Key Stage 1 (Reception to Year 2), Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6) and Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9).
To qualify: Children must fit one of the categories on the 18 May 2025. They must attend a school (or homeschool group) which is based in an SE postcode in order to claim the first prize.
Submissions: Parents / Guardians must submit artwork on their children’s behalf, using an adult’s email address as the key contact. Please email a clear photo or scan of your artwork before the end of the deadline to friends70@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk with “Dulwich Festival Art Competition” and your child’s Key Stage in the subject line. In the body of the email please include your full name, your child’s full name and their age as of 18 May 2025.
Prizes: The judging panel will select a winner and a commended candidate in each age category. Winners will each receive a workshop for their whole class at Dulwich Picture Gallery in September, and they and the commended entries will also receive free tickets to special events at the Gallery appropriate for each age group. Judges will select a series of works to be shown at Dulwich Picture Gallery after the festival.
With thanks to R. Woodfall for their longstanding generous support of Dulwich Festival’s Children’s Art Competition.
Write Club
SUNDAY 18 MAY / 7–10PM
Clock House Tavern, 196A Peckham Rye, SE22 9QA
Calling all south east London writers of fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction and poetry/spoken word: it’s time to celebrate your work. Come to our first open mic night to share your words in an intimate upstairs setting (max 5 mins). 18+ years. Performers to arrive at 6.30pm to register.
JAGS & Link Age Southwark Botany Garden Tea
WEDNESDAY 14 May / 2–4PM
JAGS is delighted to welcome guests from Link Age Southwark for a wonderful afternoon of tea and cake along with a tour of their unique Botany Gardens. This event is by invitation only. Link Age Southwark provides befriending, groups and information for people over 60. Please go to www.linkagesouthwark.org to find out more about their services or to apply to be a volunteer. You can also contact them at info@linkagesouthwark.org or by calling 020 8299 2623.
Schools Street Art Workshops
Primary school groups explore the incredible street art of East Dulwich with Amanda Greatorex and create their own artworks back at school. See their work at
R Woodfall East Dulwich during the Festival. Please contact schools@dulwichfestival.co.uk to join in future schools projects.
Bloom Room
A creative floristry course by Wildside London and friends. 18 to 25-year-old aspiring florists undertake an intensive 4 days of learning to kick-start their careers in the industry, with unique access to mentors and experts. See their display as part of Artists’ Open House both Festival weekends at West 16th, 137 Half Moon Lane, SE24 9JY.