Thu. Dec 19th, 2024

Book in advance:

Bollywood dance workshop

31 Oct 2024 | 30min sessions available from 11am-2.30pm | Free | Over 5s

Get ready to dance your heart out to celebrate Diwali at the museum. The Bollywood Co aim to inspire all ages to get excited about music, Bollywood dance and Indian culture.

Clay creations

1 Nov 2024 | 45 min sessions available from 11am-3.45pm | Free | Over 5s

Get really hands-on in this workshop and make a magnificent clay pot with Subrang Arts using paints, stickers and other crafts to make it your own. You can even add a tea light to lighten up your creation and create a diya lamp for Diwali.

Woven wonders

2 Nov 2024 | 45 min sessions available from 11am-3.45pm | Free | Over 7s

Take inspiration from fashion pieces in our collection to weave your own artwork using raffia and add decorations to truly make it your own – so get your creativity at the ready. This crafty session will be led by artist-educator Anne Ogazi.

Drop in events:

Meet the lamplighter

28 – 30 Oct 2024| Various times 11.15am-3.30pm | Free | Over 5s

Join Albert, the gas lamplighter, as he takes you on a storytelling adventure back to Victorian London?and tells you about his life in a brave new world of technology and light. The world is a changing place as the Victorian era comes to an end – but how did this affect Londoners like you?

There’s no need to book for this session, but please try to arrive on time. We may need to limit entry if the space becomes busy.

Session timings: Session one: 11.15–11.45am; Session two: 12.45–1.15pm; Session three: 2–2.30pm; Session four: 3–3.30pm

London in lights

28 and 29 Oct 2024| 10.45am – 12.45pm, and 1.45 – 3.45pm | Free | Over 5s

Create an artwork using silhouettes and the sights of London. Use images, paper and other crafts to make your creation and bring it to life with the power of light.

Dance party

30 Oct 2024| 11.15 – 11.45am, and 1pm – 1.30pm | Free | Under 5s

Join entertainer extraordinaire Amber Ogunsanya to shake a tail feather and bust a move in our London lights party. There’s no need to book, just drop in to this 30-minute session and join the fun.

Bollywood dance performance

31 Oct 2024| 11.45 – 11.50am, 12.45 – 12.50pm, and 1.45 – 1.50pm | Free | All ages

Celebrate Diwali with some Bollywood music and dance for all ages from The Bollywood Co London. Get ready to enjoy some music, dance and atmosphere in this Diwali-inspired spectacle.

Tales of light

31 Oct – 1 Nov 2024 | 11.30am – 12pm, 1–1.30pm, and 2.15–2.45pm | Free | Over 5s

Hear tales of light with storyteller Debbie Guneratne and learn a hand dance. Settle in for stories including the Dhanteras legend, representing the first day of Diwali and the story of the oil lamp maker and the king.

Tots at the docks

30 Oct 2024 | 10.30am – 2pm | Free | Under 5s

Dive deep in the river, stack cargo, put on a puppet show or build the tallest tower! Tots at the docks is an unticketed, drop-in play session that usually takes place on the last Wednesday of the month between 10.30am – 2pm.

 

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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