Anchors Aweigh! is a maritime themed art trail celebrating Woodbridge and the 75th anniversary of the landing of HMS Windrush in East Anglia in 1948. 12 anchors decorated by 12 community groups were displayed in 12 shops and places of interest around the commercial and cultural riverside districts of Woodbridge throughout the summer 2023.

The trail was accompanied by an interactive trail map and an invitation to create artwork for projection during our AV light shows. Following the town trail, the anchors were on display in an interactive art installation in Elmhurst Park during Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music on September 2. There was a one-day only art trail to guide visitors around the historic riverside during Harvest Fair on October 7 and the anchors were used as part of the procession and altar display for the Windrush Select Committee’s Windrush 75 memorial event at St. Mary Le Tower, Ipswich on October 28.

Anchors Aweigh! is a Noise of Art project which feeds into Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music, Woodbridge Festival Windrush 75 Celebrations and Fish Friendly Fireworks. The art trail also helped support our Summer Sessions programme of free AV and Art workshops for 11 - 17 year olds, our all ages family-friendly art studio pop-up sessions and sessions connecting emerging AV artists with industry professionals.

We are hugely grateful to our funders, East Suffolk Council, for helping us reach over 1500 people through this art-led action. Anchors Aweigh! Art trail was funded by East Suffolk Council UK SPF High Street, Event and Culture grant scheme.