Events, Expos and Entertainment: What’s on in November and December
October 29, 2019
London – a cultural, artistic and scientific hub, buzzing with activity. In this wonderful, busy city, you can find just about anything to suit your interests, whether it’s as broad as design or as niche as organ engineering.
Going to events, talks, workshops and expositions can help us figure out what we enjoy and can broaden our hobbies and interests. We are lucky enough to live here, in this place full of sights to see, places to go, and people to meet, but we often forget or don’t have a chance to look for exciting things happening around us. However, that’s not to mean they’re not happening! So for the first issue of the Marymount Messenger, we’ve compiled a list of amazing events and expos on a range of topics happening in London to make it easier for you. You’ll be sure to find one that you’ll enjoy!
The events are organised by topic in alphabetical order. A note before each event will tell you whether it’s an exhibition, talk or conference, festival or fair, a workshop or something else. Use the chapters menu in the top right corner of the page to look at the list of chapters. Without further ado – let’s get to the list!
Architecture
EXHIBITION
Royal Institute of British Architecture
Beyond Bauhaus – Modernism in Britain 1933 to 1966
Until February 2020
https://www.architecture.com/whats-on/beyond-bauhaus-modernism-in-britain-1933-66
LECTURE AND EVENT SERIES
The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
Constructing Realities: Knitted structures
“…explore the current trends in the making, process and design of our built environment, looking at how new technologies are shaping the future of the spaces around us”
November 21 18:30-20:30
Free
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/constructing-realities-knitted-structures-tickets-75204547827
Art
EXHIBITION
Tate Modern
Nam June Paik
Korean-American artist, recognised to be the founder of video art
Until 9 February 2020
£13, free for members
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/nam-june-paik
EXHIBITION
Tate Modern
William Blake
“An immersive recreation of the room where Blake showed his art; explore some of the most iconic images in British art”
Until 2 February 2020
£18, free for members
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/william-blake-artist
WORKSHOP
The National Archives
Modern Calligraphy with Quill London
“Learn how to write beautifully using ink and nib, unlocking your creativity”
Friday 29 November, 14:00
£68
https://www.visitrichmond.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&feature=1149&venue=3500684
Design
EXHIBITION
House of Illustration
Designed in Cuba: Cold War Graphics
“A fascinating visual snapshot of Cuba’s communist history”… “first major exhibition of graphic design from Cuba’s ‘golden age’”
Until 19 January 2020
Ticket prices vary
TALK
The National Archives
Fear, fashion and design in the cold war
“This talk… will explore how conditions of the Cold War – from nuclear anxiety to technological optimism – infiltrated fashion and design during the period”
17 October, 19:30
Prices vary
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fear-fashion-and-design-in-the-cold-war-tickets-68258889175
EXHIBITION
UCL The Bartlett School of Architecture
Fifteen, a Bartlett Exhibition
“…a rare insight into the work from the final projects of three innovative Master’s programmes, Design for Manufacture MArch, Design for Performance & Interaction MArch and Situated Practice MA. ”
04 December – 14 December 2019, 10:00AM to 08:00PM
Free
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/architecture/events/2019/dec/fifteen-bartlett-exhibition
Fashion
EXHIBITION
V&A
Mary Quant
“Discover how Mary Quant launched a fashion revolution on the British high street”
Until 16 February 2020
£12, free for members
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/mary-quant
EXHIBITION
The National Archives
Fear, fashion and design in the cold war
“This talk… will explore how conditions of the Cold War – from nuclear anxiety to technological optimism – infiltrated fashion and design during the period”
17 October, 19:30
Prices vary
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fear-fashion-and-design-in-the-cold-war-tickets-68258889175
FESTIVAL
Festival of Sustainable Fashion
“…say no to Black Friday madness, get yourself a ticket to a fun packed Sunday and refresh your wardrobe virtually for free”
Clothes swaps, talks, workshops
24 November 2019, 11:00-17:00
Prices vary
https://www.livenation.co.uk/show/1277886/festival-of-sustainable-fashion-the-big-swish/london/2019-11-24/en
Film
FILM SERIES
RIBA London
Fictional Architecture in Film: Ghost in the Shell
“…an autumn series of films on Fictional Architecture, celebrating cinematic constructions which fly in the face of the normal rules of architecture.”
November 21 18:00-21:30
£0-5
FESTIVAL
Short Film Festival
A film festival showcasing untapped talent in contemporary film making
“A host of workshops and seminars from industry professionals”
30 November 11:00-23:30
Prices vary
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/triforce-short-film-festival-2019-tickets-75145579451
Food/Cooking
TALK
Tate Modern
Can you build communities through food?
7 December 2019, 5-6PM
Tickets vary
WORKSHOP
Tate Modern
Bread Ahead Bakery & Bakery School, Borough Market
Sourdough bread making workshop
9 November 2019, 10-13:00
Tickets vary
TALK
Tate Modern
Culinary Cultures: Cooking In A Hackney Estate
25 November 2019, 19:00-20:00
£5
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/olafur-eliasson/culinary-cultures-cooking-hackney-estate
History
TALK
The National Archives
Witness History ‘I was there the night the wall came down’
7 November 19:30
“Join [journalists] as they recount their first-hand experiences of the fall of the Berlin Wall”
£15
TALK
The National Archives
The Women in Richard III’s Life
“Behind every controversial man, there are women whose histories have been obscured or mythologised… [explore] the remarkable experiences and achievements of the women closest to Richard III”
21 November, 19:30
£10
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-women-in-richard-iiis-life-tickets-70256171099?aff=eac2
TOUR
The National Archives
Behind the scenes tours
“Witness the inner workings of one of the largest archives in the world on an exclusive tour of our repositories”
29 November or 20 December, 11:00-12:30
£10
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/behind-the-scenes-tours-tickets-71648321057
Language and Literature / Writing
Richmond Literature Festival
Multiple events, including…
The Secret World of Book Jacket Design
Welcoming Suzanne Dean to talk about the creativity behind her prize-winning book cover designs.
Zeba Talkhani: My Past is a Foreign Country
“A powerful journey of self-empowerment, body positivity and mother-daughter relationships… Zeba Talkhani charts her experiences growing up in Saudi Arabia… and her journey to find freedom as a young woman”
Barrie Selwyn & Jess Kidd: Location, Location
“Through crossing the disciplines of philosophy and creative writing, this session will give you an alternative perspective of London”
And many more talks, workshops, and conferences!
From 1-24 November 2019
Venues and prices vary
More information: http://www.richmondliterature.com
EXHIBITION
University of London
Writing in Times of Conflict
“From the end of the Great War in 1919 to Greta Thunberg in 2019, a new exhibition ‘Writing in Times of Conflict’ explores the power of words in striving for peace and reconciliation during conflict”
Until 14 December 2019
Tickets available on-site: free entry
https://archive.senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/exhibitions-and-events/exhibitions/writing-times-conflict/visit
Music
EXHIBITION
Museum of London
The Clash: London Calling
An exhibition bringing together over 100 items from the band’s history
From 15 November – 19 April
https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/news-room/press-releases/museum-london-host-clash-london-calling
FESTIVAL
Festival of Korean Music
“Stretching from traditional and pansori to rock, jazz and more”
Many events; check calendar
Until 18 November
https://kccuk.org.uk/en/archive/k-music-festival/k-music-festival-2019/
Photography
EXHIBITION
V&A
Tim Walker: Wonderful Things
“Experience the extraordinary creative process of one of the world’s most inventive photographers”
Until 8 March 2020
£15, free for members
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/tim-walker
WORKSHOP
Portrait Photography Workshop
“Not just a day for perfecting your technical photography skills, but a day in which to consider the artistry behind truly great portraits, and how they are achieved”
23 November 11:00-17:00
£70
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/portrait-photography-workshop-tickets-72224624797
Politics/Law
CONFERENCE
Tate Modern
Build, break or recreate?
“An unconference challenging notions of power… do we build, break or re-create the power structures around us?”
14, 15, 16 November
Free entry
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/tate-exchange/conference/build-break-or-recreate
TOUR
A Power Trip: guided walk on the theme of power, politics & law in London
“…power-themed guide walk round the Strand, Fleet Street and St Paul’s explores London’s shifting landscape of power”
Dates vary; suitable for grade 12 only
£16 for students
TALK
London School of Economics
This Is Not Propaganda
“We live in a world of media manipulation run amok. To understand the new propaganda… we need to grasp both the cultural and technological dynamics in play, which is what this panel sets out to do.”
05 November 6:30-8:00PM
Prices vary
http://www.lse.ac.uk/Events/2019/11/20191105t1830vOT/this-is-not-propaganda
Science & Tech
EXHIBITION
V&A
Cars: Accelerating the Modern World
An exhibition looking at the role of the car in shaping the world we live in today
Opening 23 November
£18, free for members
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/cars
FESTIVAL
King’s College London
GDG DevFest London
“Learn the latest in web, mobile, cloud, machine learning, emerging tech and more at the UK’s largest community organised conference”
16 November, 09:00-18:00
Prices vary
Sustainability
FESTIVAL
Vevolution Festival 2019
“The UK’s leading plant-based festival”
“The ultimate celebration of the plant-powered movement”
Talks, panels, workshops and food
16 November
https://www.vevolution.co/festival-2019
WORKSHOP
Tate Modern
Picturing Climate
“Explore the impact of climate change on food and livelihood… through the lens of arts and humanities”
“How do alternative approaches like photography, video, participatory theatre and storytelling promote education and generate discussion and action around climate breakdown?”
28 November – 1 December, 12:00-18:00
Free entry
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/tate-exchange/workshop/picturing-climate
EXPOSITION
London Build 2019 Expo
“The leading construction show in the UK”
“Learn about newly developed sustainable products… and network with sustainability professionals”
A range of talks; more than 500 speakers and 350 exhibitors
27-28 November
Free entry
https://www.londonbuildexpo.com/welcome#/
CONFERENCE
Scientists behaving responsibly – should science walk the talk on climate?
Leading speakers, interactive sessions, debates…
“How far has the science community itself… gone to align its activities and behaviour with the climate challenge? Does it matter if there is a gap between their analysis, recognition of the problem and what they actually do in their lives and work? …The SGR Responsible Science Conference 2019 will explore these questions”
16 November 10:30 – 16:30
Prices vary
Theatre
EXHIBITION
V&A
Staging Places: UK Design for Performance
“Discover the creative process behind designing for performance, from costume to set design”
Until 29 March 2020
Free
https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/ka4doBaB/staging-places-uk-design-for-performance-2016-2019
CONFERENCE
V&A
Performance Design in the Digital Age
“Discover the future of scenography, exploring case studies from contemporary designers who are working with digital to create truly experimental and innovative theatrical experiences”
November 29
Prices vary
https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/PzAeqAzm/friday-forum-performance-design-in-the-digital-age-nov-2019