Southwark Park Galleries
London Learn more about what's on at Southwark Park Galleries and the artists shaping its programme.Southwark Park Galleries is an artist-led, interdisciplinary contemporary art organisation set across two contrasting gallery spaces—the Lake Gallery and Dilston Gallery—in Southwark Park, Bermondsey, London, UK. Established in 1984 (formerly known as CGP London), the organisation is rooted in the local community while maintaining an international outlook, commissioning and presenting free exhibitions by emerging, overlooked, and established British and international artists.
The organisation evolved from a derelict café in Southwark Park that was transformed into a gallery by Ron Henocq and the Bermondsey Artists’ Group, creating a cultural platform for artists to engage meaningfully with local residents and to provide free access to high quality art, creativity, and learning as part of daily life. Over four decades, it has developed a reputation as a test site for experimental practice, commissioning artists at critical stages of their careers to develop ambitious projects.
The Lake Gallery, beside Southwark Park’s lake and Pavilion café, serves as the organisation’s original white-cube style space, redeveloped in the late 1990s to improve accessibility and exhibition quality. Dilston Gallery, a Grade II listed deconsecrated church in the southwest corner of the park, offers a large, atmospheric venue for site-responsive projects and large-scale exhibitions. Together, the galleries anchor Southwark Park Galleries as a key contemporary art hub in Southwark and London’s riverside Bermondsey/Rotherhithe area.
Art and Exhibitions at Southwark Park Galleries
Southwark Park Galleries presents contemporary art exhibitions and commissions across a wide range of media, including installation, sculpture, moving image, painting, performance, and socially engaged practice. The organisation focuses on experimental, interdisciplinary projects, often working with artists at pivotal stages in their careers, and has produced more than 450 free exhibitions by British and international artists.
Programmes span solo presentations, thematic and research-led group shows, site-specific commissions, and projects that respond to the unique architecture and landscape of the Lake Gallery and the Grade II listed Dilston Gallery. A major strand is the long-running Annual Open, one of the UK’s last remaining fully open-submission exhibitions, which invites anyone to participate on equal terms.
Southwark Park Galleries FAQs
What is Southwark Park Galleries known for?
Southwark Park Galleries is known for its artist-led, interdisciplinary contemporary art programme presented across two contrasting venues in Southwark Park—the Lake Gallery and the Grade II listed Dilston Gallery. The organisation is recognised for commissioning experimental projects at key moments in artists’ careers, its democratic Annual Open exhibition, and its deep, long-term engagement with local communities.
What kind of art can I see at Southwark Park Galleries?
Southwark Park Galleries presents contemporary art in diverse media, including installation, sculpture, painting, moving image, performance, and socially engaged practice. Visitors encounter solo and group exhibitions, site-specific commissions that respond to the park and historic Dilston Gallery, and projects that foreground experimental approaches and critical, research-based themes. Many exhibitions address social, environmental, and community-focused issues through collaborative artistic processes.
Where is Southwark Park Galleries located?
Southwark Park Galleries is located inside Southwark Park in Bermondsey, London SE16, near the River Thames in the borough of Southwark. The Lake Gallery is at 1 Park Approach, Southwark Park, London SE16 2UA, close to the lake and Pavilion café, while Dilston Gallery is in the park’s southwest corner, London SE16 2DD, both accessible on foot from nearby stations and bus routes.
What are Southwark Park Galleries’ opening hours?
Southwark Park Galleries is usually open Wednesday to Sunday from 12–5pm for exhibitions at both the Lake Gallery and Dilston Gallery. Office hours typically run Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and the organisation sometimes adjusts its timetable for special events, residencies, and installations, so visitors should always check the latest opening hours on the official website before planning their visit.
How do I buy tickets for Southwark Park Galleries?
Southwark Park Galleries generally offers free admission to its exhibitions at the Lake Gallery and Dilston Gallery, reflecting its mission as a non-profit contemporary art gallery and community charity. For any special ticketed events, performances, or fundraising activities, visitors should consult the organisation’s official website or contact the gallery directly to confirm booking details and any applicable charges.
Does Southwark Park Galleries offer tours, learning activities, or public programmes?
Southwark Park Galleries offers a robust learning and public programme, including artist-led workshops, school visits, family activities, and community projects rooted in the Rotherhithe and Bermondsey areas. The gallery collaborates with schools, community groups, and partners on long-term projects, provides tailored tours and workshops, and runs activities such as Arts Award sessions and youth awards, with details available on its Learning pages.
How does Southwark Park Galleries work with local communities?
Southwark Park Galleries works closely with local communities by inviting artists to collaborate with schools, community organisations, families, and adults with learning disabilities on long-term, co-created projects. Its learning activities are deeply rooted in Southwark, focusing on issues that matter to local participants and using creative practice to support informal learning, wellbeing, and access to contemporary art as part of everyday life.
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