What’s on

Spode Works creative workshops

Free workshops led by ACAVA artists at Spode Works Studios, Stoke-on-Trent, as part of The Butterfly Bush Effect. Free creative sessions exploring art, ecology, and local heritage, culminating in a public exhibition in June 2025.

Blechynden Street Open Studios 28 June

Join us for Blechynden Street Open Studios on 28 June. Meet local artists, enjoy a poetry reading, and discover art in North Kensington. Free entry.

Studio Visits with Georgia Taylor Aguilar

Part of ACAVA Talks: Join Georgia Taylor Aguilar online on Friday 20 June, 11am–12.30pm for strategies on approaching studio visits with clarity, intention, and confidence.

Critical Feedback with Chloe Cooper

Part of ACAVA Talks: Join Chloe Cooper online on Thursday 3 July, 1–2.30pm to explore generous, practical approaches to peer mentoring and giving/receiving constructive feedback.

Artist teacher collaborations with Dr Darren Chetty

Part of ACAVA Talks: Join Dr Darren Chetty on Friday 25 July, 11am–12.30pm at Barham Park Studios for an in-person session on artist–teacher collaboration in education.

Spode Works creative workshops

Tinkering Sessions Timetable: June

Free weekly Tinkering Sessions at ACAVA's Makerspace in North Kensington. Drop in to work on creative projects, learn new skills, and connect with your community.

Free family gardening in North Kensington

Join us at Cultivate Create twice a month for hands-on gardening, creative activities, and nature-based play.

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Past events

Community event with Issam Kourbaj

Join us on Sunday 1 June for a special community sharing and celebration marking the culmination of Marking Narratives, a collaborative programme between ACAVA and Shubbak Festival, led by Syrian-born artist Issam Kourbaj.

Family workshops in Wembley

A series of free creative workshops for families with primary-aged children this May half-term at our Barham Park Studios. Take part in hands-on activities including leaf cape stitching, flower crown making and decorating handmade musical instruments.

Family workshops in North Kensington

Family workshops in North Kensington Join us this May half-term for free outdoor family workshops at Maxilla Walk Studios' outdoor space. Take part in sun printing on fabric and garden sculpture-making with artist Sadie St. Hilaire.

Street view of an industrial beige brick two-storey building.

Hythe Road Open Studios 17–18 May

Join us for a weekend of open studios at ACAVA Hythe Road Studios on 17–18 May. Meet local artists, see their workspaces, and discover a range of creative practices including painting, sculpture, multimedia, and textiles.

Qian-Hui Yu: animation director in residence at ACAVA Spode Works

Meet Qian-Hui Yu, an animation director and illustrator based in Stoke-on-Trent. Learn about her practice blending 2D frame-by-frame animation with ceramics and hand-painted textures, and her plans for the ACAVA Spode Works residency.

Various carving and other small carpentry tools fixed to a yellow wall in a community makerspace, indoors.

Tinkering Sessions Timetable: May

Free weekly Tinkering Sessions at ACAVA's Makerspace in North Kensington. Drop in to work on creative projects, learn new skills, and connect with your community.

Tinkering Sessions in April 2025

Join our free and weekly Tinkering Sessions at the Shed to work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy socialising and meeting others.

Wembley: Free creative workshops for families this April holiday

Join us at Barham Park Community Studio in Wembley for free workshops for primary-aged children and their carers. Led by artist Nicole Morris, these hands-on sessions will allow families to explore the local area through mapping, discover the art of natural dyes, and experiment with hand embroidery and clay printing.

North Kensington: Free creative workshops for families this April holiday

Join us this April at our spaces in North Kensington and the Diana Memorial Playground for a series of free creative workshops designed for primary-aged children and their carers.

Nick Murray: We All Go Together, an unconference event

Join ACAVA artist-in-residence Nick Murray for We All Go Together, an open-format unconference held as part of their solo exhibition, Return to Dreamphone. This informal gathering invites participants to explore collective action, community-building, and playful approaches to art through discussion, collaboration, and shared experiences. When: Saturday 29 March 2025.

Nick Murray: Return to Dreamphone, a solo exhibition

Return to Dreamphone is a solo exhibition by ACAVA artist-in-residence Nick Murray, from 26–30 March 2025 at Barham Park Studios. Explore collective memory, digital archiving, and storytelling through immersive installations. Free entry.

Tinkering Sessions in March 2025

Join our free and weekly Tinkering Sessions at the Shed to work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy socialising and meeting others.

Cultivate Create taster session: explore free family gardening

Explore our community gardening programme at a taster session on 15 March. Cultivate Create is a free programme for families in North Kensington, offering hands-on gardening, creative activities, and time outdoors. It’s a space to learn about growing food, connect with nature, and spend time together in a welcoming environment.

The abandoned and overgrown greenhouse in Barham Park, overlayed with a colourful mind map of rough notes, interlinked in one web. Words include 'community', 'mapping' and 'invisible systems'

Maps for Unpredicting: A day of play and manifesto-making

Maps for Unpredicting is a day of experimentation and conversation, centred around exploring collective action and community forming.

North Kensington: Free creative workshops for families this February half-term

Is your family based in North Kensington? Join us this winter break at our community studio and forest school for two free creative fun sessions exploring the theme 'Sky', with artists Ali Williams and Nicole Morris.

Wembley: Free creative workshops for families this February half-term

This February half-term, join us at the Barham Park Community Studio in Wembley, Brent, for free workshops designed for primary-aged children and their carers. Led by artist Josh Bilton, these sessions will explore the transition from winter to spring, inspired by the last frost.

Street view close-up of the Shed's entrance, depicting wooden gates adorned by bright graffiti artwork dedicated to the 72 lives lost at Grenfell Tower.

Tinkering Sessions in February 2025

Join our free and weekly Tinkering Sessions at the Shed to work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy socialising and meeting others.

Francesca Telling’s Exhibition Emergency at Metroland Studios

Francesca Telling, former ACAVA artist-in-residence, explores colonialism and education in her exhibition Emergency, supported by ACAVA and Arts Council England.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Create the Ultimate Workwear ‘Waste-Coat’, with Isabel Fletcher

When: 6, 7, 8, 9 January 2025, 10am–5pm Join textile artist Isabel Fletcher for a free, four-day workshop where you'll create your own unique "Workwear Waste-Coat" using upcycled fabrics. Learn simple sewing techniques, appliqué, and quilting as you transform textile scraps into a custom waistcoat with functional pockets and buttons. Perfect for beginners and experienced makers alike, this hands-on course invites you to craft a personalised and practical garment. Register your interest today!

Tinkering Sessions in December 2024

Join our free and weekly Tinkering Sessions at the Shed to work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy socialising and meeting others.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Sculptural wearable art and accessories, with Anu Bankole

When: 25–28 November 2024, 10am–5pm Join artist Anu Bankole for a four-day workshop on creating sculptural wearable art from recycled materials. Each day covers specific techniques, from developing ideas and prototyping to reconstructing materials and completing your final piece.

ACAVA Opens: Spode Works Open Studios 2024

Join us at ACAVA Spode Works Studios on 30 November to meet local artists in Stoke-on-Trent's vibrant creative community. Explore artist workspaces, browse a winter-themed maker's market, and enjoy a unique exhibition—all in one place. Don't miss this chance to support local art and creativity!

Photograph of two children playing outdoors in a park, weaving colourful string around trees and bushes.

North Kensington: free creative workshops for families this half-term

Is your family based in North Kensington? Join us this October half-term at our community studio and forest school for three free creative fun sessions exploring the theme 'Grow', with artist Nicole Morris.

Wembley: free creative workshops for families this half-term

Is your family based in Wembley? Meet us at our community spaces in Barham Park for three free fun creative sessions exploring the theme ‘Grow’, with artist Flora Duley.

Close-up photograph of a person moving a green paper heart to the centre of a mosaic roundel, whilst they work on the piece, on a workshop table.

Grenfell Memorial Community Mosaic: community workshops

Join artists Emily Fuller and Tomomi Yoshida and other local community members to help care for and repair damaged mosaics on 5 and 7 October 2024 at ACAVA Blechynden Street Studios.

Photograph of an artist working on a table in their studio

ACAVA Opens: Cannizaro Park Open Studios 2024

Join our artists at Cannizaro Park Studios on 14 and 15 September for a weekend of open studios coinciding with Wimbledon Arts Trail. Come and see the work of painters, printmakers, ceramicists and sculptors, take a peek at their workspaces, and buy directly from them.

Exhibition by ACAVA prize winner Pamela Storey

Pamela Storey is one of three winners of last year’s ACAVA Hosts: Three Counties Open Residency and is our current artist-in-residence at ACAVA Spode Works Studios. Join us between 29 August - 7 September 2024 for an exhibition where she responds to artists' struggles in today's art world.

ACAVA Opens: Colville Road Open Studios 2024

Join us at Colville Road Studios on 21 and 22 September to meet our artists and visit their studio workspaces. Discover and engage with talented creatives working in the neighbourhood, buy artworks directly from the artists and explore bespoke commissions, our open studios aren’t to be missed!

Street view of an old vicarage on a quiet British road

ACAVA Opens: Hetley Road Open Studios 2024

Come along to meet the artists based at ACAVA Hetley Road Studios on Saturday 28 September. Visit their studio workspaces with various practices including; painting, sculpture, multimedia, textiles and more.

Tinkering Sessions in September 2024

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others.

Barham Park Studios Open Day

Join us for an open day at Barham Park Studios. Celebrate the launch of our new Flourish Zine, meet our new artist-in-residence and get a behind-the-scenes curator tour of the site.

Close up photograph of two children placing dried petals and leaves on fabric during a natural dye workshop, around a table, outdoors.

North Kensington: free creative workshops for families this summer holiday

Is your family based in North Kensington? Join us this summer holiday at our community studio and forest school to explore chain reactions, ripples and weight, using clay, sound, costume-making and storytelling. With artists Camilla Brendon, Flora Duley, Josh Bilton and Nicole Morris.

Wembley: free creative workshops for families this summer holiday

Is your family based in Wembley? Join us this summer holiday at our community studio and outside in the park to explore reverberation, ripples and weight, using clay, sound, costume-making and creative play. With artists Amelia Tan, Camilla Brendon, Flora Duley and Josh Bilton.

Tinkering Sessions in July 2024

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others.

Photograph of five wooden Enzo Mari inspired chairs lined up against a graffiti decorated brick wall, behind a brick building.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: An Introduction to Circular Carpentry, with Sasha Tishkov

When: 27-30 August 2024 Over four days, learn how to create a new chair inspired by Enzo Mari's designs whilst reusing responsibly sourced materials from the local area. Led by Sasha Tishkov.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Leatherworking – Creative Thinking and Design, with Yusuf Osman

When: 22–25 July 2024 Over four days, gain a comprehensive overview of what's entailed when working with leather. The course will combine theory with hands-on knowledge about design, patternmaking and capabilities of the material. Led by Yusuf Osman.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: An Introduction to Contemporary Marquetry with Amber Bailey

When: 2-5 July 2024 A free, four-day workshop led by Amber Bailey where participants will make their own artwork using the historical craft of marquetry. Learn traditional hand-cutting techniques and add your own personal flair to create a piece of contemporary art. This course will teach you about designing and assembling marquetry and how to glue, scrape and polish veneers.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Street Finds (furniture modification) with Andy Healy

When: 17-20 June 2024 A free, four-day workshop led by artist Andy Healy looking at how to restore and modify street-found furniture.

Cultivate Create Open Afternoon on Saturday 15 June 2024

To mark this year's Great Big Green Week, ACAVA will be opening the doors to the kitchen garden at Maxilla Walk Studios and celebrate our creative growing project Cultivate Create with the wider community. Join us on Saturday 15 June for an afternoon of fun creative activities, meet the team leading this year's growing season, and spend time outdoors with other members of our community.

Photograph of an adult and children experimenting with tree stump prints, outdoors in a forest school garden.

Webinar: From recovery post-Grenfell to families and artists creating together

To mark this year's Creativity and Wellbeing Week, ACAVA is hosting a webinar presenting Flourish, a free family art programme in North Kensington that launched days before the Grenfell Tower Fire and has since been defined by that event.

Tinkering Sessions in June 2024

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others.

North Kensington: free life-size collage-making workshops for families over May half-term

Is your family based in North Kensington? Join us this May half-term to explore double doodles, plastic painting, life-size collage-making, and help build a huge ship-like art installation in the garden with artist Camilla Brendon.

Wembley: free creative fun for families over the May half-term

Is your family based in Wembley? Join us over the May half-term for three workshops led by artist Josh Bilton and create your own environmental mythology stories through clay, shadow puppetry, painting, performance and photography.

Tinkering Sessions in April 2024

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others.

North Kensington: free large-scale creative play for families over the spring break

Is your family based in North Kensington? Join us over the spring break to create large-scale sculptures exploring our past, present and future dreams, with artist Emily Motto. Meet us at Maxilla Walk Studios on 8, 9 and 10 April to explore a broad range of art materials and processes, think creatively about your dreams, and get messy in our welcoming community studio and gardens. Create with large-scale paper marbling, build a gigantic web of dreams outdoors, and make your own hand-crafted sketchbook to take home.

Webinar: Demystifying artist residencies

Join us for a panel discussion to hear residency-experienced artists and art residency providers discuss their personal experiences of taking part, organising, and selecting artists for residencies. Find out more about different types of residencies, how to make your application stand out, and how make the best out of your residency once you’ve been selected.

ACAVA artists at Hi! Stoke Presents

ACAVA artists Charne Visser, Katie Brennan, Nicky Griffiths and Tasha McHugh will be running free workshops for the local community this weekend, as part of Hi! Stoke Presents, a mini festival celebrating Stoke-upon-Trent's unique heritage. Join them alongside other local organisations to create your own mono-print, handmade paper, and upholstered buttons, and learn sewing and quilting techniques.

Wembley: creative fun for families over the February half-term

Is your family based in Wembley? Join us this February half-term for a week packed with creative fun for children and their carers.

Tinkering Sessions in March 2024

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others

Tinkering Sessions in February 2024

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others

Tinkering Sessions in January 2024

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others

North Kensington: creative activities for families over the winter break

Join us this winter break at Blechynden Street Studios for three free creative sessions for children and their carers.

Wembley: creative activities for families over the winter break

Join us this winter break at Barham Park Studios for two creative sessions for children and their carers.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Introduction to Leathercraft

Two separate four-day courses on leathercraft, led by professional craft facilitators Candice Lau and Yusuf Osman.

Close up of hands working together on a wooden DIY project, in a makerspace, indoors.

Tinkering Sessions in November 2023

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Leathercraft

When: 6–9 November 2023 Over four days, learn how to cut from a pattern, saddle stitch, cut, glue, attach hardware and various kinds of edge finishings to small and large leather goods like cardholders, keychain lanyards, small and large bags. Led by Candice Lau.

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Leatherworking, Creative Thinking & Design

When: 20–23 November 2023 Over four days, gain a comprehensive overview of what's entailed when working with leather. The course will combine theory with hands-on knowledge about design, patternmaking and capabilities of the material. Led by Yusuf Osman.

ACAVA at the National Theatre’s North Kensington Takeover Day

Join ACAVA’s creative team and artist Camilla Brendon on Sunday 8 October to build a fun collaborative installation using re-purposed materials from the National Theatre’s production department.

Flourish: free creative half-term workshops in North Kensington

Tue 24, Wed 25, Fri 27 Oct, 10.30am–12.30pm Work with artist Josh Bilton to create large-scale sculptures, learn new skills and have fun!

Make and Reuse Creative Workshops: Introduction to Contemporary Marquetry

When: 9-12 October 2023 Over four days, make your own artwork using the historical craft of marquetry. Learn traditional hand-cutting techniques and add your own personal flair to create a piece of contemporary art. This course will teach you about designing and assembling marquetry and how to glue, scrape and polish veneers. Led by Amber Bailey.

Tinkering Sessions in October 2023

Work on practical projects, follow hobbies, explore existing or newly learnt skills, share skills, and enjoy the benefits of socialising and meeting others

Free school holiday art workshops in North Kensington

Join us this October half-term for a week packed with free creative activities for families. Work with artists Flora Duley, Josh Bilton and our Cultivate Create team to create large-scale sculptures outdoors, explore art through gardening, and help us create new tiles for the Natural History Museum’s new Nature Activity Centre.

Free art activities this autumn for Brent families

Is your family based in Brent? Our new community space at Barham Park Studios is launching this autumn with fun art activities for families. We are hosting a community open morning on Saturday 30 September, with free creative workshops for families, and the chance to meet our team and artists. And join us this October half-term for three days of free workshops inspired by Barham Park with artist Nicole Morris.

What’s on

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