Hackney WickED: the highlights

Forget Venice or Cannes, the epicentre of this summer’s
essential art festival is the Lee Navigation canal at Forman’s Fish Island. Here you’ll find a music stage showcasing local bands, and the artist stalls and installations of ‘Fate for the WickED’. If you want to arrive in style, book yourself a place on one of the guided kayak trips running from Limehouse (booking essential via www.secretadventures.org).

Forman’s Fish Island, E3 2NT

The festival takes over this beautiful turn-of the-twentieth-century warehouse to show stridently diverse work including Dani Tagen’s insulation tape wall
drawings and Fran Ortega’s TV installation. Look out for roaming performances by Rosie Ridgeway (Friday and Saturday) and Eloise Fornieles (Saturday and Sunday). You shouldn’t have much trouble tracking down Francesco Zuccarello’s ‘Hackney Wick Symphony’. The artist posted a series of blank music scores around Hackney Wick inviting locals to write their own symphony by filling them in. Fed into a computer programme, the resulting soundwork will waft through the space all weekend.

Swan Wharf, Dace Rd, E3 2NQ.

A trio of public art commissions: Photographer Stephen Gill’s billboard is made up of hundreds of images of the area shot between 2004 and 2006 on a 1960s box camera he bought for 50p in Hackney Wick market; 'Psychogeographer' Laura Oldfield Ford is creating a politically-motivated, photorealist work; Daryl Brown is making a sculptural accumulation made of urban detritus.

According to urban legend, in east London you’re never more than six feet away from an artist. And without them flinging open their doors, there would be no Hackney WickED. More than 20 buildings are taking part this year (click here for a map).

A nosh-up with a conscience, Saturday’s banquet (booking
essential) treats you to five courses (plus live music and performances) in the knowledge that proceeds from your £25 ticket go to local social enterprises the People’s
kitchen, Rejuce and United Diversity that put London’s food waste to ethical good use. Dig in!