Agora now

04/09/2026

31/08/2026

On Friday 4 September we’re in Southwold and Dunwich, both settlements dating back more than 1000 years. Each were important maritime and fishing hubs and one once a medieval port. Community Keel Kitchens take place in Southwold at the Sailor’s Reading Room in the morning, 10-11.30 am and Dunwich Church 1.30-3pm.
Community Keel Kitchen is free to attend, friendly, and designed so anyone - whatever your background or experience - can take part. Join us for food, conversation and share your ideas for what SLOW BOAT - Agora Now's third hub along the East Anglian coast can be.

*****

The Sailor’s Reading Room described as one part stillness, two parts time by Harry Kilworth was built in 1864 as a refuge for fishermen and mariners when not engaged at sea. It is a treasure trove of maritime paraphernalia and the people who made it narrating Southwold’s deep connections with the sea.

The medieval port city of Dunwich is now underwater, depicted by W.B Sebald as both a tangible ruin and a metaphor for lost worlds. Once a medieval port to rival London in size and importance, most of it now lies underwater due to centuries of severe coastal erosion and storms. Dunwich Heath is an area of great natural beauty, with lowland heathland, woodland, wetland, cliffs and shingle beach. Home to many important species in summer there are rich displays of pink heather and yellow gorse, and rare birds like the Dartford warbler, nightjar, and woodlark can be sighted. It was recently ravaged by a wildfire, and over 300 acres of the landscape destroyed. The National Trust has a campaign to restore this extraordinary landscape: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/appeals/dunwich-heath

EastSuffolkCouncil East Suffolk Greens Visit Suffolk | Official Visitor Guide Suffolk Artlink Suffolk Sound Visit Southwold Southwold Arts Centre HighTide Theatre NT Dunwich Heath and Beach RSPB Minsmere 💙 NT Dunwich Heath and Beach The Ship at Dunwich The Fisherman’s Hut Gallery Dunwich Culture Edit Suffolk CONVERGE thesuffolkproject The Suffolk Coast .info John-Paul Stonard

10/03/2026

This April, Agora Now turns five years old as a foundation.

Since we started we have shown how our pioneering model can work in practice. As we enter our sixth year, we’re taking time to document and share what we’ve learnt.

By dedicating time to write up all the learning, we aim to create an inspiring resource for everyone committed to nurturing artistic and creative experiment drawing on what we’ve learnt in 5 years of research and programmes.

We expect to start publishing the fruits of this work in the autumn. In the meantime, over the spring and summer months, we will be in a quieter phase.
We look forward to sharing more later this year.