Horniman Museum and Gardens
Indian Summer
Sunday 9 July to Sunday 3 September The Horniman brings the sounds and spirit of South Asia to south east London with its vibrant Indian Summer season of events, performances and displays. http://www.horniman.ac.uk/IndianSummer
Tamasha: Indian Summer Garden Party
Sunday 9 July, 12-5.30pm Bring all the family and your dancing shoes for a day of music, performances, demonstrations, workshops and activities, plus an arts and craft market in partnership with Pexmas, as we begin our Indian Summer. In partnership with Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Free
Indian Summer Late featuring PunjabTronix
Thursday 13 July, 6.30-9.30pm Enjoy the Museum and Gardens by night as PunjabTronix takes over the Horniman for an electronic audio-visual extravaganza. PunjabTronix is a new live collaboration between British-Indian electronic music producer DJ Swami and traditional Punjabi folk musicians, synchronised with unique live-mixed digital video projections. There will also be talks, tours, South Asian street food, a late bar and activities galore for culture vultures and party animals alike. PunjabTronix is a new commission and UK tour produced and managed by Asian Arts Agency. Tickets £5. Over-18s only
Indian Summer Baaja
Music, Stories & Sance curated by Soumik Datta Sunday 23 July, 12-9pm A festival of music, stories and dance from across South Asia curated by the British Indian virtuoso Sarod player, Soumik Datta. Enjoy outdoor performances across the Horniman Gardens with rhythm battles, bluesy choruses, folk dances and bands including World Music bestselling artist Shammi Pithia. Free
Hear it Live!
Tuesday 25 July, 3.30-4pm Baluji Shrivastav OBE presents music on the dilruba, a bowed stringed instrument of North India and Pakistan. Everyone welcome but most suitable for children 5+. Free
Film screenings
Slumdog Millionaire (15) Tuesday 1 August. Doors open 7.15pm. Film starts 8.45pm An orphan from the slums of Mumbai is one question away from winning India’s ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ Accused of cheating, he reveals how his incredible past and search for love are the answer for his success in Danny Boyle’s acclaimed film. Directed by Danny Boyle, 120 minutes
Tickets: Adult £15. Book online at www.horniman.ac.uk
The Jungle Book (U) Sunday 6 August. Doors open 7.15pm. Film starts 8.45pm Mowgli’s journey to the man-village to escape the Bengal tiger Shere Khan becomes an unforgettable adventure in the company of Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear. 2017 is the 50th anniversary of this classic, song-filled Disney animation. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, 78 minutes Tickets: Adult £15, Child £10. Book online at www.horniman.ac.uk
Bandstand Music Sundays 6, 13, 20 August, 3-6pm Enjoy music on the Bandstand with local favourites, and sounds from across South Asia. Free
Big Wednesdays – Indian Summer Wednesday 9, 16, 23, 30 August, 10.30am-3.30pm Explore and celebrate India with us every Wednesday in August. Join in activities ranging from storytelling to art and craft and experience dance, films and music performances inspired by traditions from all over India. Suitable for children aged 3+ and for larger groups including Play Schemes. Free
Hear it Live! Tuesday 29 Aug, 3.30-4pm Mehboob Nadeem will introduce and perform on the sitar, North India’s best known stringed instrument. Everyone welcome – but most suitable for children 5+. Free
Horniman Mela Sunday 3 September, 12–6pm Our amazing Indian Summer draws to an end with a fun day of performances and activities inspired by popular South Asian festivals and celebratory traditions, and an arts and crafts market in partnership with Pexmas. The day will culminate with a spectacular gathering to recreate a Holi festival colour throw (it will be messy so please don’t wear or bring anything valuable or that stains easily. Plastic ponchos will be available). Free
Exhibitions and Displays
Pani Until Sunday 26 November Pani is the word for water across large parts of South Asia. In this thought-provoking display, artist Daksha Patel explores the complex relationships between people and water in this region. Using symbols drawn on terracotta water containers and a vibrant hybrid map, Daksha draws attention to the environmental threats facing rivers and water courses, and the challenges encountered by the people and wildlife that depend upon this most precious resource. Supported by Roseberys Auctioneers Free
India Unplugged Until 24 September This photography exhibition showcases traditional music making in Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Odisha and Kerala. The featured musicians were photographed during a project to document disappearing music and instruments in India, at a time of rapid change, between 2000 and 2007. The ‘Traditional Music in India’ project was run by the British Library Sound Archive and the Horniman. It aimed to reflect aspects of the cultural and musical diversity of India. Free
Bengal Tiger A stunning taxidermy Bengal Tiger, on loan from the Natural History Museum, is on display in our Natural History Gallery throughout our Indian Summer. Free
Regular Events
Horniman Farmers’ Market Every Saturday, 9am-1.30pm Visit the Horniman Farmers’ Market every Saturday to pick-up your weekly essentials direct from independent and local producers. Located in our glorious Gardens you will find stalls selling seasonal fruit and veg, artisan bread, organic meat and delicious hot food. We also have regular guest traders specialising in treats such as luxury chocolates, homemade jams and irresistible cakes. Free entry
First Sunday of each month, 10.30am–5.30pm Browse our library collections and see some of the library treasures. Free, drop in
Hear it Live! Tuesday 26 September, 3.30-4pm Join us in the Music Gallery for a live performance by Rosie Manford using our 1772 Jacob Kirckman harpsichord. Free
Regular Family Events
A World of Stories Every Sunday (except 9 and 23 July and 3 September), 2-2.45pm and 3.15-4pm Enjoy stories from some of the best storytellers in London. Their stories bring the Museum’s varied collections to life and will whisk you away to faraway places and different times. Suitable for families with children aged 5+. Free
Art Makers Every Saturday (except 17 and 24 June), 1.30-2.15pm and 2.45-3.30pm Have fun with different art techniques to create something fabulous to take home inspired by the Horniman’s collections or seasonal celebrations. Different themes each week. Suitable for families with children aged 3+. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets: £3 Child
Busy Bees Every Tuesday and Wednesday 6 June to 12 July and from 12 September 10-10.30am, 10.45-11.15am, 11.30am-12pm Lively sessions for under-5s and their parents/carers during term-time. Activities include storytelling, art and craft and outdoor play (Muddy Bees on 26 September). These sessions are not suitable for nursery school groups. Free, tickets available on the day
Hands on Base: Family Activities Every Saturday (except 17 and 24 June), 11am, 11.45am and 12.30pm Discover the collections that make the Horniman special in our Hands on Base. Each week these fun family sessions will explore a different theme using objects from our Handling Collection, from African masks to sharks jaws. Suitable for families with children aged 3+. Free
Hands on Base: Open for All Every Sunday (except 9 and 23 July and 3 September), 11am–12.30pm Touch and explore real Museum objects ranging from taxidermy to thumb pianos in our Hands on Base gallery. Everyone welcome. Free, drop-in
Special Family Events
Family Bat Walk Friday 11 August, 7-9pm Learn about South East London’s bats and discover which bats might be living in and around the Horniman Gardens using special detectors. Suitable for children aged 8+. Tickets: Adult £5, Child £3
Adult Bat Walk Friday 18 August, 7-9pm Learn about South East London’s bats and discover which bats might be living in and around the Horniman Gardens using special detectors. Suitable for adults. Tickets: Adult £5
Summer Holiday Activities
Big Wednesday – The Big Butterfly Count Wednesday 26 July, 10.30am-3.30pm Join us for a day celebrating beautiful butterflies. Take part in the Big Butterfly Count on the Nature Trail with bug expert Richard Jones and make some butterfly art and crafts as well as other activities. Suitable for larger groups including Play Schemes. Free
Big Wednesday – Horniman Favourites Wednesday 2 August, 10.30am-3.30pm Take part in the Horniman’s favourite summer activities and events. See a Punch and Judy show, meet the owls from JAMBS Owls and listen to stories inspired by our collections and gardens. Suitable for children aged 3+ and for larger groups including Play Schemes. Free
Big Wednesdays – Indian Summer Wednesday 9, 16, 23, 30 August, 10.30am-3.30pm Explore and celebrate India with us every Wednesday in August. Join in activities ranging from storytelling to art and craft and experience dance, films and music performances inspired by traditions from all over India. Suitable for children aged 3+ and for larger groups including Play Schemes. Free
Family Art Fun Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 24 July – 31 August, 11am-2.30pm, Join free and fabulous Horniman craft activities this summer holiday inspired by our Indian Summer events season, The Robot Zoo family exhibition as well as our beautiful Gardens. Suitable for children aged 3+. Sessions last 45 minutes. Free
Horniman Explorers Every Monday and Friday, 24 July to 1 September, 11am-12.30pm, 2-3.30pm Drop-in to our Hands On Base for fun ways to explore the Horniman as a family. Touch, see, smell and hear real objects and take part in short challenges and activities such as playing musical instruments or drawing an imaginary animal. Suitable for children aged 3+. Free
Minibeast Safari Every Friday, 28 July to 1 September, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm Hunt for mini-beasts on our Nature Trail and discover the variety of insect life to be found in London. Suitable for children aged 3+ who must be supervised by an adult at all times. The Nature Trail is not suitable for prams or pushchairs. Tickets: Child £3, accompanying adults free
Pond Dipping
Every Tuesday, 25 July to 29 August, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm Try your hand at pond dipping in our Nature Trail Pond and discover an underwater world bursting with life. Suitable for children aged 5+ who must be supervised by an adult at all times. The Nature Trail is not suitable for prams or pushchairs. Tickets: Child £3, accompanying adults free
Exhibition
The Robot Zoo Until Sunday 29 October How do chameleons change colour? What makes grasshoppers leap so high? Is a giant squid jet-propelled? Answer these questions and more at The Robot Zoo, where amazing animals are recreated in robot form to reveal their inner workings.
These larger-than-life robots and hands-on interactives – including a platypus, a giraffe and a 10-foot-wide house fly – show the animals’ anatomy as a host of familiar machine parts and gadgets such as shock absorbers, springs and pumps, which demonstrate how animal bodies work.
Enter this amazing world of robotic creatures, see inside them and even control some of them – and discover mind-boggling facts about animals that share our world.
Ticket prices: Child £4.40; Adult £7.70: Family (2 adults, 2 children) £18.70. Prices include voluntary 10% Gift Aid donation. See www.horniman.ac.uk for more information. Horniman Members enjoy free, unlimited visits to the exhibition.
Online
Tea Trail London – www.teatrail.london – is a web app launched by the Horniman exploring the heritage of tea in London through three unique trails: Tea Through Time, World Tea Tastes and Taking Afternoon Tea. Aimed at encouraging international and UK visitors to London, as well as curious Londoners, to discover and explore new sites in the capital, Tea Trail London brings out the historic stories of tea in a variety of fascinating London venues including museums, shops and tea houses.
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