THERE is a creative way for those self-isolating to take part in a community art project, with a chance to have your creation featured in a major festival in autumn.

The Water Replies is a creative journaling project. It is part of Estuary 2020, a major festival of art, music, literature and films along the 60 miles of the Thames Estuary Coastline, taking place from September 18 until October 18.

Organisers Metal in Southend and Cement Fields in Kent, have invited people of “all ages and walks of life to keep a creative journal from January - June 2020, focusing in particular on living alongside the water.”

A spokeswoman for the project said: “As part of the festival programme, we will collect all completed journals and display them in a public exhibition which explores and celebrates the impact of the river on our daily life. 

“As you fill the pages of your journal, we hope to support you in discovering new creative methods and examine your relationship with the river.

“How you complete it is up to you. There is no set format - words, images, drawings, collage, prints, lyrics, scrapbooking, paintings and photographs are all welcome. 

“Whilst we look forward to collecting a wide range of thoughts and experiences in relation to the water, we do not expect you to stare at the Estuary for hours on end!

We welcome words, imagery and artwork in which the river is present in both simple and unexpected ways. 

“The pace at which you fill your journal is up to you. You might want to do a daily entry or fill it as you find inspiration. It may take just one week for you to complete your entire journal, or you might have some days with no entries at all. We will collect all journals in June, to prepare for exhibiting.

“All completed journals will feature in a month-long public exhibition. All artists will be credited, but your journal will remain anonymous unless you’d like to put your name on it somehow. We can return your journal to you after the exhibition if you’d like it back.”

In order to be exhibited, journals need to be completed and returned to Metal, Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Park, Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff, by 30 June.

To receive a journal and a full information pack, contact paige@metalculture.com or call 01702 470 700.

Questions inside to inspire your Estuary journal content include: What has the Estuary witnessed in your life? How has the coastline affected your personal history?

If the Estuary walked into your bedroom, what would you discuss? How often do you see the mudflats?