Beach of Dreams: Weaving Hope into the UK Coastline
This May, the UK’s coastline becomes a living canvas for creativity, community, and climate reflection as Beach of Dreams launches with a powerful programme of participatory art. Running from 1 May to 1 June 2025, this UK-wide coastal arts festival invites people across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales to explore the beauty, heritage, and future of our shores, all through the lens of shared storytelling and creative climate action.
Beach of Dreams, Kinetika. Photo Credit: Mike Johnston.
At the heart of the festival is a national commission by silk specialist and community artist Ali Pretty, founder of Kinetika. The Beach of Dreams Silks is a dynamic and travelling installation of over 600 naturally dyed pennants, each one carrying a personal story connected to the sea. Together, they form a vibrant, evolving tapestry of coastal life in an artwork that unites communities and invites us to imagine a more sustainable future.
Presented at locations across the UK, the installation celebrates colour, memory, and the unique ecosystems that shape our coastline. Visitors are encouraged to walk alongside the flags, sharing in stories that reflect the deep emotional and ecological ties we hold with these environments.
Beach of Dreams, The Beach of Dreams Silks. Courtesy of MSL Projects
Launching officially on 3 May at the Tilbury Cruise Terminal in Essex, Beach of Dreams also features Threads for Tomorrow and The Estuary Exchange - two new commissions that, like Pretty’s silks, amplify local voices and centre the climate conversation through accessible, hands-on creativity. The festival also includes artist residencies, community walks, and educational initiatives exploring natural dyes and sustainable textile practices, such as the recent collaboration with the Royal Opera House and Glyndebourne on "Where Does Colour Come From?"
Ali Pretty, whose practice weaves silk-making with walking, dialogue, and co-creation, has spent nearly three decades creating art that transforms how people relate to the places they call home. In today's 5 Minutes with a Friend, she shares what inspires her enduring commitment to colour, storytelling - and the coast:
5 Minutes with Ali Pretty
Ali Pretty, founder of Kinetika, on route along the coastline with Beach of Dreams Silks
Ali, what is your first memory of a textile?
My earliest memory of textiles is watching my mother make my clothes. I remember choosing patterns with her, then visiting fabric shops, discovering a world of endless textures, colours and prints. It was my first realisation that textiles could be so varied and full of possibilities.
Can you put into words what you love about textiles?
I love the way that every fragment of a textile tells a story. The ability of textiles to tell stories has enabled us to learn so much about the different cultures and communities across the world. They are a means of cultural exchange – vessels of history, memory, and connection. They transcend borders, carrying traditions through generations, adapting into garments, and form layers of meaning through pattern and design. They preserve the past, bring us closer to those we’ve lost, and accompany us on life’s journeys, holding secrets and experiences within their fibres.
Neasden Temple Silk Banners, Displayed for International Women's Day. Courtesy of Kinetika.
Where is your most inspiring space or place to create?
In our studios at Kinetika in Purfleet-on-Thames – surrounded by space, light, and the peaceful presence of the river.
What has inspired you recently?
I've been deeply inspired by Silk by Aarathi Prasad. This remarkable book unravels the many stories of silk – its history, science, and mythology. Silk is not just a material; it is a marvel of nature, prized for its strength, beauty, and versatility.
Prasad explores silk’s origins, its role in different cultures, and its evolving future. From ancient trade routes to modern scientific advancements – where silk is being used for sutures, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable alternatives to plastic – the book weaves together a fascinating narrative. It reminds us that silk has always been more than just a fabric; it is a material of innovation, resilience, and cultural significance.
What is your most cherished textile, and why?
Silk River - a Kinetika project for the British Council’s UK/India Year of Culture - explored the deep connections between London and Kolkata through a year-long artistic exchange between communities along the Thames Estuary and the Hooghly River, culminating in 20 exquisite silk scrolls.
Silk River community flags. Photo Credit: Mark Johnston.
My lifelong bond with Calcutta and my work with the weavers of Bengal fill me with immense pride. Witnessing the revival of Murshidabad’s silk tradition – seeing weavers return to their looms as demand for their craftsmanship grows – is profoundly meaningful to me.
Where did you learn your craft?
I learned batik from Noel Dyrenforth during evening classes in Islington, London. Later, I honed my skills in scaling up batik and silk painting for carnival and outdoor arts while working alongside renowned carnival designer Peter Minshall in Trinidad.
Art in the Park Festival Flags. Courtesy of Kinetika.
I went on to establish Kinetika in 1997 to unite communities through extraordinary silk-based designs and public spectacles that inspire social action and enrich local environments.
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Further Information:
Beach of Dreams
Beach of Dreams opens along selected UK coastlines from the May 1 to June 1 2025
Kinetika
Image Credits:
Lead Image: Beach of Dreams, Kinetika - The Beach of Dreams Silks. Credit: Mark Massey.
All other images as credited in photo captions.