London

Get creative using poetry, creative writing and visual arts with SPINE Festival Artists in Residence poet Emma McGordon and visual artist Cherilyn Yeates. Express yourself creatively and have fun at the same time. When: Friday 8 March, 4 – 7pm Saturday 9 March, 11am – 1pm & 2 – 5pm Monday 11 March, 4 –…

The planet is spinning off its axis. Humankind is at a tipping point. We are heading towards disaster. Divided, we will fall. A medley of compelling spoken word performances, Rallying Cry offers the stage to some of the country’s most outspoken artists to address the state of the nation and imagine a better tomorrow. Joelle Taylor, Chiedu Oraka, Zena Edwards and Francesca Beard…

Hidden amongst the Teen collection, discover Bookart, pieces created by our Teen book groups and inspired by books that have made them happy or resonated in some way – drop in during library opening hours! This event is part of SPINE Festival 2019. Produced by Apples and Snakes, SPINE is a multi-disciplinary arts festival giving…

Artwork produced by pupils at Anstee Bridge from the project ‘The Science of Happiness’ will be displayed throughout both Hook and Kingston libraries during SPINE Festival – come and have a look! The exhibition will be on display at Kingston Library and Hook & Chessington Library throughout the festival, just drop in during opening hours….

Join us at Surbiton library for mindfulness colouring and let your creativity run free! This event is part of SPINE Festival 2019. Produced by Apples and Snakes, SPINE is a multi-disciplinary arts festival giving young people the chance to engage with workshops and live performances for free at their local library. Taking place across 17…

Is the thought of sitting exams overwhelming you? Are you feeling the pressure to perform academically? Too much exam stress can reduce performance and fog your brain! Come and learn how to combat your stress so you can focus to the best of your ability. This event is part of SPINE Festival 2019. Produced by…

KOOTH will be running a session offering advice on how to deal with exam stress. KOOTH, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use. This event is part of SPINE Festival 2019. Produced by Apples…

Anstee Bridge, Bounce Theatre and David Lewis have collaborated on a week-long series of experiments to investigate the science of happiness. From practising gratitude to eating well, the results of the experiments can be seen in illustrations across the libraries. Join Anstee Bridge and Bounce Theatre at Kingston Library to participate in wellness workshops. When:…

A cartoon workshop inspired by the art project featured across Hook and Kingston libraries. David Lewis is a professional London-based cartoonist, caricaturist and visualiser, with twenty years of experience within the corporate sector. He is also experienced in work for television, most notably as a designer/cartoon artist for ITV’s award-winning animated topical satire 2DTV. David works…

Practical ways of managing teenage stress. Learn ways to deal with the general stresses, pressures and challenges that face teenagers today. More and more teenagers are reporting stress and anxiety as they struggle through the high demands on them academically, socially and emotionally. This is an opportunity for you to come and learn some simple…

Get involved and create your own manga or comic story in this exciting session, The StoryBoard! Whether you’re an artist or writer, join other young creatives to create fantastic characters and storylines in a safe and friendly environment, facilitated by manga brand Mayamada. When: Saturday 9 March, 2 – 4pm Where: Queen’s Park Library, 666 Harrow…

Come and join experienced artist and ESoL teacher Gunes Guven, creative facilitator, as she explores language through creativity. Gunes is passionate about providing spaces for people to use their voices through storytelling in an array of creative disciplines. For those whose first language is not English come and have fun with English speaking in a…

“I have 5,021 friends on Insta but I still feel lonely…” Join us for a workshop to help develop a new piece of theatre for the end of 2019. #Lonely is a co-creation between Bounce Theatre and students from Chessington Community College. It explores loneliness in urban living. This event is part of SPINE Festival…

From palm reading to genetics, identity to heritage, what do our hands say about us? Make some animation and poetry with SPINE Artists in Residence Linnéa and Yomi, and be part of creating a film as part of Spine Festival 2019. We’re exploring ‘Hands’ as the theme. How feelings are shown through our hands or…

It’s a lesser known fact that stress can actually be helpful, as it can motivate us to work harder than we would otherwise. However before, during and even after exams, stress can become overwhelming. Come along to chat with exam invigilator and school librarian Jacqui for tips on handling this type of stress. When: Saturday…

It’s the beginning of summer and the local festival is in full swing…  Everyone is there but among the smiles and excitement lies something that could spoil the party. Crowded tells the story of the ordinary young people whose mental health leads to harmful and destructive behaviours. It gives voice to emotions that are often…

Author Margaret Bateson-Hill talks about her new work in progress! Her latest work explores a young carer’s (Sam) mixed emotions about his parents and the impact this has on his own life, including his escape to the fantasy world of Golden Sands. This seemingly wonderful world slowly turns threatening and demanding… Refreshments will be served…

Led by manga illustrator Irina Richards and poet and performer Rue Gumbochuma, this exciting session is all about writing poems and drawing comics! You will learn more about writing poetry based on your emotions, find out more about drawing manga, and turn your poem into manga-styled comics. When: Wednesday 13 March, 3.45 – 5pm Thursday…

It’s amazing what you can achieve when an industry professional shows you how. Start today by pursuing your pathway towards a brighter future! The Power of 21 is a motivational empowerment book packed with inspirational stories from successful individuals sharing their experiences and expertise across various industries and professions. Darren Douglas is a qualified former…

Local Ealing production company Showpatrol TV help young filmmakers release their creativity, tell their own stories, and grow their confidence in this Mobile Movie Magic workshop. Using iPads or their own mobile phones and focusing on filming and editing clips, Showpatrol TV encourage young people’s ability for literacy by storytelling in groups, which is a…

Spoken word artist Shareefa Energy is facilitating this intergenerational creative writing workshop. Explore avenues encouraging positive mental health in this modern world, leading to a final writing exercise: ‘Letter To My Younger/Older Self’ making promises or reflections. Although Shareefa is a poet by nature, all styles of writing are welcome and encouraged! This event is…

Living Lyrics is an exhibition of portraits of Key Changes‘ artists by renowned filmmaker and photographer Sam Strickland. These striking black and white photographs and videos powerfully and sensitively capture the unique, diverse community of musicians, songwriters, singers and rappers who attend the Islington-based music and mental health charity. Sam’s respectful and insightful approach is…

Join Katie Greenall for a creative session using photography and creative writing to explore who we are and the lives we lead. This won’t be like any other class as we combine games and exercises to make photographs, and explore poetry and creativity in its many forms. No experience needed, just a willingness to share. When: Wednesday…

This fun day is a free opportunity to explore different activities that encourage health and wellbeing in a fun and interactive way. From learning techniques in our baby yoga taster to mindfulness colouring for families, the fun day aims to show how little changes to our lifestyles can help children and grown-ups improve their wellbeing….