Diwali, a Fire Festival and a whole lotta art!
by Jen (follow Jen on Twitter:@JenBarnes207)
The leaves may not be turning yet, but Autumn is just around the corner. The Indian summer is finally over but the it looks like the sunshine might stay so we might as well stay outside as much as possible. In case it decides to return to typical dreary London weather, there are some indoor events on the list as well! As always, if nothing on my list tickles your fancy, some of my fellow BrokeinLondoners have some more ideas for you in the Free Entertainment in London section.
#1 | Really Good – Fourth Plinth | All Month
Image: Evening Standard
A new sculpture has landed in Trafalgar Square on the infamous Fourth Plinth. David Shrigley’s ‘Really Good’ is (in the words of the Guardian) a “gleefully ugly” sarcastic salute to post-Brexit Britain. It’s there all year but if you want to be the first of your friends to get a good shot on Instagram I’d head down soon. Personally, I still kind of miss the blue cock but David Shrigley’s addition to Trafalgar Square is winning me over.
When: All Month
Where: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
#2 | Merge Bankside Festival | Until 7th October
Image: Merge Bankside
Back again for its sixth year, Merge Bankside Festival is running until the 7th October. Saving the best for last, we’re looking forward to Time to be Late – surprise comedy performances along Blackfriars Road on the 6-7th October and United We Stand – a short play about history and identity followed by an 80’s disco! Read the whole brochure online.
When: Until 7th October
Where: Along the South Bank – check brochure for locations
#3 | Frieze Art Fair Sculpture Park | From 6th October
Image: Visit London
Frieze London Art Fair has come to London and they have brought with them a whole collection of fabulous sculptures that you can tour for free! For the next three months a section of Regent’s Park has been transformed into a sculpture park full of wonders. Expect to see works by Conrad Shawcross, Claus Oldenburg, Nairy Baghramian, Ed Herring, Goshka Macuga and Lynn Chadwick.
When: From 6th October
Where: Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NR
#4 | Diwali Festival | 16th October
Image: Visit London
The Festival of Lights (Diwali) in Trafalgar Square with thousands of your new friends on the 16th October. The Hindu, Sikh and Jain festival symbolises joy, love, reflection, resolution, forgiveness, light and knowledge – things that all of us could use more of in our lives. There will be music, performances, activities and FOOD! The festival is free but food and drink isn’t so bring a few ££ with you!
When: 16th October, 1pm – 7pm
Where: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
#5 | Museums at Night | 28th October
Image: Museums at Night
Museums at Night has events across the country in a number of your favourite museums. London highlights include late night-access to Banknotes and Bullions at the Bank of England Museum where you can find out about our fancy new polymer £5 notes and An Empty Vessel under the gothic arches of the Nunnery Gallery. If those don’t tickle your fancy you can take a look at all the London events here.
When: 27th – 29th October
Where: Museums across London
#6 | Big Draw at The Royal Society | 22nd October
Image: The Big Draw
The Big Draw festival wants to introduce you to the delightful world of drawing. Now that you’ve mastered colouring, it’s really the logical next step. The Royal Society is hosting one of the Big Draw Festival’s highlight events with drawing workshop and talks by artists and scientists alike.
When: 22nd October, 11am – 5pm
Where: The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG
#7 | Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Fire Festival | 29th October
Image: Time Out
In a prelude to Bonfire Night, head to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens for the Fire Festival, a Greek Halloween spectacular full of fireworks, fire eaters and fire-themed everything. This year’s theme is “The Music of Orpheus and the Jealousy of the Gods” – I don’t really know what that means, but who wants to miss that!?
When: 29th October, from 7pm
Where: Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, London SE11 5HY
#8 | Protest | From 4th October
Image: Time Out
It’s been a year of change and protest across the world, so Victoria Miro has invited 17 artists to think about the nature of protest; their work is now on show in their Hoxton gallery in the exhibition “Protest”. Expect to find life-sized prison cells and films about perilous journeys made by migrants. Victoria Miro have partnered with Reprieve for this show, an organisation who offer free legal advise to vulnerable people, so you can enjoy the art while supporting a good cause.
When: From 4th October, Tuesday-Saturday 10am – 6pm
Where: Victoria Miro, 16 Wharf Rd, London N1 7RW
#9 | Money Matters | Until 9th October
Image: British Museum
It’s your last chance to check out Money Matters, a free display at the British Museum that takes a look at how money affects our everyday life. Across borders and across time, money has played a central role in our lives through concepts like taxation and inflation. Now that summer is over it’s probably time to start taking your finances more seriously, so this exhibition is a great place to start!
When: Until 9th October
Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
#10 | The Infinite Mix | All Month
Image: Southbank Centre
The Hayward Gallery may be closed for refurbishment, but they’re still showing some great art off-site. The Infinite Mix is a group show of audio-visual works by the likes of Martin Creed, Jeremy Deller, and Elizabeth Price. The exhibition is open at The Store, a new creative space at 180 The Strand all month long!
When: All Month
Where: The Store, 180 The Strand, London WC2R 1EA
