PAST EDITIONS
Welcome to the KCAW Archive, where you can find out more about previous editions of the annual celebration of the borough’s artistic legacy and its abundant creative future.
KCAW20
KCAW20 was the biggest edition of Kensington + Chelsea Art Week yet. Postponed to October 2020, KCAW20 was all about celebrating the hard work of our community, fostering collaboration and supporting our local culture. We were able to once again fill our borough with public art installations alongside a rich and diverse programme of cultural highlights, all developed and tailored in response to the momentous events of 2020. Over 130 venues took taking part, with more than 200 activities being held, ranging from online workshops to socially distanced film screenings.
Despite the abundance of cultural offerings on the Internet — virtual tours, exhibitions and much more – we realised how much we need the real-life experience. Although museums and galleries have expanded their digital activities, the pandemic raised a crucial question: “Who has access to art? Who can afford art today?” We observed incredible resilience, collaboration and friendships develop between organisations and people that have inspired us and given us courage.
In 2020 KCAW was extended from three to 11 days, with 10 locations added to our Public Art Trail; brought poetry to every corner of the borough; developed self-guided discovery trails to encourage outdoors activity. We created a collaborative mural in response to the Black Lives Matter Movement and transformed store windows along the iconic King’s Road with unique art installations. We launched a new digital Culture Map and collaborated with Imperial College London, artist Remi Rough and a diverse collection of artists to create digital Fantasies of iconic places on or around Exhibition Road.
Building on this success, KCAW19 involved over 100 events, spanning public art installations, themed activities, talks, specially curated walking tours and an Art Bus linking the North and South of the borough. Thought-provoking Public Art interruptions include an installation in Sloane Square and artworks on construction hoardings by emerging and established artists; events include an Algorave event and workshop, live drawing, architecture tours and much more. These were complemented by each venue’s programmed exhibitions and events – all coordinated and supported by KCAW.
KCAW’s first edition presented street art displays, public art installations, a late-night art trail and a free Art Bus connecting the far corners of the borough – as well as 70 public events and workshops. Over 60 public institutions, private galleries and local businesses took part, including Design Museum, Leighton House Museum, V&A, Electric Cinema, Kensington Central Library and Chelsea Physic Garden, Serena Morton Gallery, the Bhavan, Mosaic Rooms, Chelsea Arts Club, and Goldfinger Factory.