The Floating Cinema was an initially temporary commission to create a water-borne cinema space which would spend summer 2011 navigating the canals and waterways around the Olympic Park in East London. Somewhere developed the programme of events and screenings for the cinema, thematically relating them to the geography and communities of the waterways.

In 2012 we are delighted to renew the project for the Legacy List, commissioning a new structure from architects Duggan Morris who won the competition we ran with the Architecture Foundation. Programming plans are afoot for launching in May 2013.

For the design of the 2011 Floating Cinema structure we worked with architects Studio Weave to customise an existing barge into a 12-seater cinema with bespoke interior. The cinema hosted intimate onboard screenings and discussions as well as providing a base for larger outdoor events at different locations on the waterways throughout summer 2011. The programme included new films made by local film-makers, historic archive screenings, tours by writers Iain Sinclair, Richard Mabey & Michael Smith and comedy performances by Holly Burn, Susie Donkin & Jemima Burrill.

The 2011 project launched to a 400 strong audience near Springfield Marina in Stoke Newington, London, premiering Somewhere's Barging Through London (Again), a shot-for-shot remake of a historic London canal portrait with a specially commissioned sound track by Tim and Matthew Olden.

Date: June to September 2011, September 2012 -
Collaborators: UP Projects, Studio Weave (2011), Duggan Morris (2012/13)
Commissioner: Olympic Development Authority, through UP Projects, thereafter the Legacy List

The Floating Cinema (2013 onwards) is commissioned by the Legacy List and supported by Bloomberg.

The Floating Cinema (2011) was a continuation of UP Projects' Portavilion programme of temporary pavilions for London's public spaces. It formed part of the Create 2011 summer festival and was commissioned by The Olympic Delivery Authority and funded by Arts Council England.