River Art Walk (RAW) — London’s newest arts festival you need to explore
This March, London welcomes a fresh, artist-led festival that promises a different kind of cultural weekend. River Art Walk (RAW) transforms Waterloo, South Bank, Southwark, and Lambeth into a two-day walking art trail across 16 locations, blending working studios, galleries, and performance spaces.
At the heart of the festival is Make Space Studios, At the heart of the festival is Make Space Studios, home to more than 60 international artists and creative businesses. Visitors can step inside working studios to watch sculptors shape stone, printmakers press intricate designs, and painters experiment across corridors and kitchens. The curated exhibition “Soft Transitions”, presented by Anzhela Popova, extends beyond the studio walls into hidden corners and the garden, creating immersive encounters with art. Attendees can speak directly with the artists, watch live performances, and join workshops such as stone carving, sculpting, printmaking, a drawing class with Melissa Scott-Miller at the Garden Museum, or Ukrainian pysanky Easter egg painting at Southwark Cathedral. A special highlight is the Topolski Studio tour, rarely open to the public, offering an intimate view of a historic working space.This gives a rare opportunity to experience the creative process up close in central London.
Major institutions, including Jerwood Space, Newport Street Gallery, Bankside Gallery, Corvi-Mora, Garden Museum, County Hall Pottery, and Leake Street Arches, have lent their support, helping the festival bring together an international mix of artists from the USA, China, the Netherlands, Korea, and across the UK. The festival culminates with the Illuminated River walk, connecting participants to the world’s longest public art commission along the Thames.
RAW is a celebration of non-commercial, artist-led creativity. It’s designed for anyone curious about art, whether you’re strolling along the river, pausing to watch a performance, or stepping inside a space you’ve never been to before.
Tickets for specific workshops and tours are available via Eventbrite, while most events are free to attend. Keep up with the latest updates and festival highlights on Instagram: @riverartwalk .
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
