Due to open in late 2026, Docking Station will harness the transformative power of creative technology to open up new possibilities and futures for young people and the communities of Kent and Medway.
Docking Station is an exciting new facility for Medway and for creative industries in the South East.
It will restore a historic building at the Historic Dockyard Chatham into a unique hub providing industry-standard production technologies including virtual production and motion capture enabling local businesses, students and communities to develop new skills in immersive technologies and supporting the digital creative industries in Medway and the region.
iCCi and University of Kent are developing Docking
Station, in partnership with Medway Council and the Chatham Historic Dockyard
Trust.
We’re inviting YOU to help support our Docking Station project. Through our naming campaign, you can leave your legacy by naming a brick, staircase step, or window in the Docking Station.
“Naming a brick is more than just a gesture—it’s a connection to our community, our neighbours, and a piece of history in the making. Being right next door, we’ve watched this incredible transformation unfold, and it’s been amazing to invest our time and energy into something so special. We can’t wait to see the finished space and be a part of its legacy. Most importantly, involving our children and families in this journey makes it even more meaningful teaching them the value of heritage, progress, and community.”
Toni, Centre Director at Busy Bees in Chatham
Whether you’re an alumnus, a community member, or a business seeking to make an impact, this is your chance to create a meaningful connection to Medway’s new centre for creative innovation. For more information about how to support Docking Station through Making Your Mark, Naming a Room or Studio, sponsorship, or making a gift, contact Samantha Scott -s.scott@kent.ac.uk.
Thank you to all our supporters so far...
NAME A STAIR
Baxall Construction
Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura
HR Pratt Boorman Family Foundation
NAME A BRICK
Linda Ali
Busy Bees Day Nursery
David Gray
Five10Twelve Ltd
Mathieu Freville
Samara Jones Hall
Daniel Tucker
Docking Station will offer state-of-the-art digital production studios including LED volume, motion capture, volumetric capture and photogrammetry for students, businesses, and local people. There will be flexible teaching spaces, co-working areas, performance and exhibition spaces all woven into a programme of public events and community engagement. It will be a new bridge between academia, industry and the community.
Docking Station aims to put Medway at the forefront of research and innovation into digital immersive experiences.
Located between the University’s Pembroke campus and its Historic Dockyard premises, this development will place cultural and creative industries at the heart of the regeneration plans for the last remaining undeveloped part of the former Dockyard site.
Docking Station will address the income, productivity and skills levelling-up challenges faced in Medway, make a visible impact on Medway’s cultural regeneration and provide the facilities and skills development opportunities to support digital innovation within the creative industries sector.
Creative Estuary and Medway Council funding has kick-started project development by enabling the completion of feasibility studies which has paved the way for further investment.
Medway Council secured funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (MHCLG), and the iCCi were awarded grants from the Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund (DCMS), National Lottery Heritage Fund and Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust for engagement activities in the community.
Director of Digital and Future Technology
Will is a technologist working with industry, academics and students to drive new technologies and make the present and future of the creative industries inclusive, equitable and accessible to all.
Project Director
Caroline heads up the project. She brings a wealth of experience in the public sector, managing a wide range of projects bringing about positive change for communities.
Heritage and Engagement Officer
Esther's role is to discover and share the story of our heritage building The Police Section House, working collaboratively with local communities to preserve these narratives for future generations in Medway.
Project Officer
George supports the project by working closely with the Project Director, and dealing with day to day administrative tasks.
Finance Officer
Tracey is responsible for the financial administration and associated processes and procedures for the project. She prepares the financial reports for budget management, monitoring and analysis plus compiles the claims from each of the funders.
Marketing and Communication Officer
Virginie looks after all Marketing aspects of Docking Station from social media, PR to event promotion.
Associate Artists
AΦE (AE) is a Dance Company that explores and creates new immersive experiences merging dance, storytelling, immersive technologies, live performance and AI.
Resident Artist
Hannah is a performance maker, creating interactive installations, one on one encounters and digital performances. Her focus is always on creating an experience for an audience member.
Resident Artists
Philly and Lexi are storytellers, dreamers, and advocates for change with a profound belief: that theatre and Extended Reality (XR) technology should be accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance.
Creative Technologist
Maggie looks after our technical facilities at our Smitheries Studios.
Director of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries
David is responsible for the delivery of our ambitious programme of creative activities, including events at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre on campus and the annual bOing! International Family Festival each August.
Director of Operations and Engagement
David is responsible for the operational delivery of all iCCi activities. He is also responsible for our work with children, young people and students.
