Dover at Night

Explore Dover’s Past, Present and Ecological Future

The Maison Dieu clock's been struck by lightning turning it into a time machine, spiralling Dover at Night venues into different historical periods!

Visit up to 14 venues to explore Dover’s past, present and ecological future. At each, you'll find fun activities, from hands-on history to art and craft, as well as a secret symbol to collect.

There are art projections by over 1,000 local children, live music and dance, historical characters, video and giant board games, illuminated lanterns, a futuristic Kent Downs caravan and even a posse of mischievous horses!

Collect at least three secret symbols from participating venues, then bring them to the Maison Dieu, to help our victorian scientists restore the time machine bringing you, and Dover safely back to the present and win a small prize! Prizes can also be collected from Dover museum until 8.45.

The Dover Time Machine has been created by students from EKC Dover College working with artist James Frost.

Venues taking part: 

1.    Dover Big Local - Unit 3 Charlton Shopping Centre, 41 High Street, CT16 1TT
Enjoy stories for all ages with Kevin Groves and Dover Tales. Design a postcard of your favourite blue space in its past present and in the future with Kent Wildlife Trust. Print and decorate a pocket watch or compass with Dover Big Local. Secret Symbol Zone

2.    Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall), CT16 1DL
Connaught Hall: The Maison Dieu stage is glitching and spinning through the decades. Enjoy live music and dance workshops and performances from the 1940s to today! Including rock n’ roll, calypso, disco and techno!
Stone Hall: Step into the future with artist Hannah Bryan to create your own language! Make seed balls with White Cliffs Countryside Partnership for a flourishing future. Create futuristic gems with artist Eirinn Hayhow. Marvel at giant lanterns inspired by Aylesham’s rich mining heritage including the Joey the Canary and the Snowdown pithead winding gear and view The People of Dover a social portrait photography series by local artist Alex.Probably. www.axprobs.com/people-of-dover. 
Council Chamber: Visit the Dover Time Machine and help the scientists to fix it with the symbols you’ve collected on your sheet. Claim your small prize! Secret Symbol Zone

3.    Maison Dieu House (Dover Town Council), CT16 1DW
Maison Dieu House has been sent back to the 1800s. Join Little Artlings for a hands-on mountaineering journey of turning dreams into reality. As Albert Mummery did in this very house. Secret Symbol Zone

4.    Biggin Hall, Biggin Street, CT16 1BD
Meet students from the Royal College of Art to play giant, fun interactive games inspired by the White Cliffs and Kent Downs! Secret Symbol Zone

5.    St Edmund’s Chapel, Priory Road, CT16 1BB
Enter a moment of tranquility as you view the beautiful Ladywell Guardian and Chalkstream Guardian by artist Jenni Creswell. Share your thoughts and hopes for Dover's future by adding to our collaborative board.
Secret Symbol Zone

6.    Kent Downs National Landscape caravan, Biggin Street, CT16 1QD
Step inside the silver Airstream caravan and travel through millions of years to explore how our amazing planet has changed and how to shape its future!
Meanwhile the high street has been plunged into the past and been taken over by creatures of folklore and the night. Marvel at the beautiful owl lantern and watch out for the naughty Hooden Horses as they get up to mischief. In partnership with Kent Downs, Future Foundry, Trudgepig Folk Theatre and Dover Town Council.
Secret Symbol Zone

7.    Gamebase, 11-16 Biggin Street, CT16 1BD
Gamebase has been sent into the world of Minecraft, come along to help build Dover landmarks and see Dover grow in pixels. Secret Symbol Zone

8.    St Mary’s Church, Cannon Street, CT16 1BY
Time-travel through Dover history from medieval pilgrims, shopkeepers and sailors, to Dover Marine Station, including a cut-out train colouring activity and train set, replica maps and documents. With St Mary's Church, Canterbury Cathedral, the Dover Society and Canterbury Christ Church University's Kent-Maps-Online.
Secret Symbol Zone and refreshments.

9.    Roman Painted House, 25 New Street, CT17 9AJ
The Roman Painted House has been jumbled up thanks to the Dover Time Machine. Help them sort out what’s modern and what’s ancient from a mobile phone to a sponge on a stick. Join tattoo and graffiti artist Tim Smithen to create your own graffiti, inspired by examples from Dubris (Roman Dover) and Pompeii.
Secret Symbol Zone

10.    The Art Club, 27 Market Square, CT16 1NG
Step into the future at the Art Club. Use your body to control the lights and listen to futuristic sounds! Secret Symbol Zone

11.    Market Square Stage, CT16 1NU 
Join in a vibrant celebration of dance and music from Dover and around the World! including South Coast Samba, Chinese dancing (with fans and ribbons), Calypso steelpans, Nepalese, Indian and Bollywood dancing, the Fuddlers and African drumming. Organised by Shiva Nova. 

Collect your market square symbol by popping into Toddlerville, while you are there draw your vision of Dover’s ecological future with artist Jess Hindle. Secret Symbol Zone. (Please note the play area will not be open).

12.    Dover Museum, Market Square, CT16 1PH
The Dover Time Machine’s shaken up Dover Museum, and it’s come alive! Chat to historical characters around 3 floors of galleries, from a Roman soldier to Queen Elizabeth I. Meet a World War I gun crew and weave bracelets with members of the Dover Castle team. Secret symbol zone.

13.    Dover Library (Dover Discovery Centre), 27 Market Square, CT16 1NG
Open 5pm to 6pm only.
Dover Library’s been sent back nearly 2,000 years. Make Roman helmets next to the real Roman ruins. For infants and primary age children. Secret Symbol Zone.

14.     Dover SmART, Bench St, CT16 1JH
Dover SmART has gone whizzing into the future. Join them to plan, paint and plant for Dover's ecological future. Bring your leftover seeds to join a seed swap for a flowering future. Secret Symbol Zone

Food and drink
Several local cafes/venues are opening especially for Dover at Night, so do support them and enjoy a well-earned break between activities! They are:

Toddlerville, 21 Market Square, Dover, CT16 1NH
The Nook, 9 High Street, CT16 1DP
St Mary’s Church, Cannon Street, CT16 1BY
The Art Club, Market Square, CT16 1NG
La Salle Verte, 14-15 Cannon Street, CT16 1BZ
Castle St Coffee, 53 Castle Street, CT16 1PT
The Bean and Barrel, 50 Biggin Street, CT16 1DB

Free drop-in event. No need to book. Suitable for all ages. All buildings except historic St Edmund’s Chapel are buggy and wheelchair accessible. Organised by Artswork Dover and the Maison Dieu with a host of fantastic partners, please see trail sheet for all partners. Made possible with generous funding from Arts Council England,  the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Port of Dover Community Fund and Kent Community foundation.