Bexley Council and the Bexley Culture Network have secured £100,000 of funding from Arts Council England, through its National Lottery Project Grants.
They will use the money to stage ‘Night Visions’ – a festival which will celebrate local creativity through a series of events centred around the theme of light.
The programme will start in October and run into the winter months.
Councillor Cafer Munur, cabinet member for place shaping, said: “Throughout 2025, we have been working hard to show off what an amazing place Bexley is to live and visit through our fantastic #CelebratingBexley programme.
“This funding success will help us to take our ambition for arts and culture in Bexley to the next level by working with our local arts and culture partners to put on some very special events in Bexley.
“We expect that by working together through this project, our local partners and the Council will be able to cement Bexley’s reputation as a place where creativity flourishes and is woven into the fabric of local life.
“We will also make sure there are some brilliant nights out for local residents and visitors.”
The Bexley Culture Network is made up of local organisations with a shared aim to develop arts and culture in the borough.
The network includes Bird College, Rose Bruford College, The Exchange in Erith, Bow Arts in Thamesmead, and Three Rivers Bexley.
Adriana Marques, assistant director of cultural programme and strategy at Peabody and member of the Bexley Cultural Network, said: “Bringing some much-needed light to the darker winter days, Night Visions will see local audiences and local artists come closer together, and new memories made.
“This fantastic programme is the first expression of Bexley Cultural Network’s recent manifesto, which pledges to make positive change across the borough through arts, creativity, and culture.
“We look forward to sharing these exciting new experiences with local people and encouraging a life-long love of culture which, as we know, can transform places for the better.”
Michelle Walker, London area director at Arts Council England, said: “We’re thrilled to support the London Borough of Bexley and its cultural partners through our National Lottery Project Grants.
“Night Visions is a bold and imaginative celebration of local talent, bringing light, connection, and joy to people across the borough.
“It reflects the exciting and ambitious cultural work already underway in Bexley, and we look forward to seeing it illuminated this winter – and to the lasting impact this programme will have on artists, audiences, and the wider community.”
The Council and its partners will announce the full Night Visions programme in due course.
The immersive lantern light experience ‘Alice and the Queen’s Beasts’ is set to take place at Hall Place in November and will be part of the Night Visions programme.
For more information about Night Visions, ‘Alice and the Queen’s Beasts,’ and other arts, culture, and entertainment events in Bexley, visit the council website.
