Advance booking required for most events
WHAT’S ON
Autumn I Winter 2023
A seasonal programme of FREE events from Brent Libraries, Arts and Heritage
EXHIBITIONS
NHS 75
From 14 July 2023
Kingsbury Library Free
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS, this display explores the history of hospitals and nursing in Brent.
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
Dress to Remember
Dress to Remember:
A dementia project
21 September, 5 October and 19 October
2 – 3pm
A series of drop in workshops for people living with dementia until 19 October.
Dress to Remember celebration
Thursday 2 November
2 – 3pm
Join us to celebrate the final session and revisit past moments through dress.
Venue: Elders Voice, 181 Mortimer Rd, London NW10 5TN
Harlesden Heritage Action Zone (HHAZ) exhibition
4 September 2023
– 31 January 2024
The Library at Willesden Green Free
A celebration of Harlesden through art, film, and objects acquired and created through Harlesden Heritage Action Zone cultural programme.
BOOKING
Unless stated as drop-in, all adult events require advance booking via the Brent Culture Service Eventbrite page. All events take place at library sites unless stated. Search Brent Culture Service Eventbrite or scan the QR code for more information and to book.
Children’s events are drop in unless otherwise stated as bookable – arrive early to avoid disappointment.
For more information call 020 8937 3400 or email libraries@brent.gov.uk
Black History Month: A musical celebration
Thursday 16 November 12 noon – 12.45pm
The Library at Willesden Green
Join a mix of musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a fun celebration of the greatest black composers, musicians and music.
A special lunchtime performance will feature favourites from a range of genres, from classical to jazz, Motown, reggae and more. Listen, celebrate and discuss your own favourites in this interactive format. Suitable for all ages.
2
3
UNDER 5 s BOOKTRUST STORY AND RHYME TIME
Weekly story and rhyme time sessions for children under 5.
Kilburn Library Tuesdays, 11 – 11.30am
Kingsbury Library Wednesdays, 10.45 – 11.15am
The Library at Wednesdays, 11 – 11.30am Willesden Green
Harlesden Library Thursdays, 11 – 11.30am
Ealing Road Library Thursdays, 11 – 11.30am
Wembley Library Fridays, 11 – 11.30am
Drop in Term time only
SPECIAL BOOKTRUST STORYTIME AND RHYME TIME SESSIONS
These sessions will take place on your library’s regular under 5s session day in the week’s beginning:
Monday 2 October
National Libraries Week
Celebrating the earth: green card craft activity.
Monday 16 October
Black History Month
Celebrating British Space Scientist Dr Maggie AderinPocock – make a space rocket.
Monday 6 November
Diwali
Make a Diya lamp.
Monday 13 November
Nursery Rhymes Week
Make your favourite story or nursery rhyme’s character.
Monday 11 December
Christmas fun
...with a very special guest Ho! Ho! Ho!
Ealing Road Library
Tai Chi 16, 23 and 30 September 2 – 3pm
Moderate exercise composed of a series of flowing movements. Suitable for adults of all abilities.
Ealing Road Library
STEM CLUB
Wednesdays 4 – 5.30pm
Coffee Morning
Wembley’s 1948 Olympic Games
Tuesday 3 October
11am – 12 noon
75 years ago, Wembley hosted the Summer Olympic Games. Come and discover the story of the 1948 Olympics at this talk by Philip Grant of Wembley History Society.
3-D map of Africa
Tuesday 24 October
11am – 12 noon
In celebration of Black History
Month create a 3D map of Africa featuring landmarks, animals, famous people and more! For children aged 5 – 11.
BookTrust Storytime prize!
This prize celebrates and promotes the best books for sharing with young children.
This autumn we’ll be discovering the new shortlisted picture books and doing some exciting activities around their stories and characters.
Plus, you can borrow the new books and vote for your favourite to win the prize!
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workshops for children aged 8-11.
The first ever scientist
27 September
Meet Ibn al-Haytham, the man who discovered how we see.
Make a ladybug with flashing eyes
25 October
Discover how everything runs on electricity.
Working with our hands
29 November
Make a moving cardboard robotic hand!
Build your own radio!
13 December
Build a working radio.
Ealing Road Library FILM
CLUB
Super Mario Bros
Thursday 26 October
2.30 – 4.30pm
Screening of an animated film for children aged 5 – 12.
5
4
Harlesden Library
CREATIVE CRAFTS
Saturdays, 2 – 3pm
Come and make ‘something kind of wonderful’ at these monthly story and craft workshops for ages
5 – 11.
Joyous jewellery
14 October
Make beautiful necklaces inspired by African designs.
Fun with fall leaves
11 November
Make your own table mat decorated with autumn leaves.
Christmas craft: Terrific trees
9 December
Make your own woven paper Christmas tree.
Brent: The birth of Muslim hip hop
Saturday 14 October 5 – 7pm
Join historian and writer Nadia Khan to meet Rakin Fetuga and Ishmael Lea South, founding members of Muslim hip hop act, Mecca 2 Medina.
Kilburn Library
Coffee Morning
Information literacy is for everyone! Navigating the digital age
Thursday 5 October 11am – 12 noon
and one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age.
Power of Plants
with Michael Holland
11am – 12.30pm
Indoor gardening in a changing climate
Coffee Morning
Can I fix it? Yes, you can!
Friday 8 December 11am - 12 noon
Discover how to mend clothes and furnishings using hand stitching techniques at this sewing workshop with Naomi Tracey the founder of Thirtyone Fashion House.
Coffee Morning
Scams! Be aware – how to protect yourself
Tuesday 10 October
11am – 12 noon
Join our local safer neighbourhood team for help and advice on how to protect yourself from scams and fraud.
Somali Sideways: In conversation with author, Mohamed Mohamud
Friday 20 October
6.30 – 8pm
Join Nadia Khan as she interviews author Mohamed Mohamud about his book
Somali Sideways: A Photobook in Changing Perceptions of the Somalis.
Stéphane Goldstein of InformAll, will introduce some key ideas around information literacy, including thinking critically and making judgements about the information we find and use online.
Wednesday 4 October, Learn about a diverse range of houseplants. Plus get hands-on with planting and creating an ecofriendly pot hanger.
Natural medicines for winter
Thursday 9 November, Unlock the secrets plants hold to a healthier, more resilient you this winter.
Nature-based art
Kingsbury Library
Coffee Morning
Vietnamese silk painting
Spooky fun and Halloween monsters
Tuesday 24 October 2.30 - 3.30pm
Spooky crafts for ages 5 – 11.
Family craft: Celebrating Iraqi culture in Brent Thursday 26 October
2.30 – 4.30pm
Awesome Day of the Dead craft workshop
Tuesday 24 October
2.30 – 3.30pm
Celebrate the forthcoming Day of the Dead and make a skull mask!
For children aged 5 – 11.
Spooky snakes and ladders and Halloween hats!
Tuesday 24 October
11am – 12 noon
Spooky crafts for ages 0-11.
Coffee Morning
Johannes Vermeer: Sphinx of Delft
Wednesday 1 November 11am – 12 noon
Join artist Rosmond Kinsey
Milner to discover Johannes Vermeer, man of mystery
Thursday 14 December, Try your hand at a selection of art techniques that use and celebrate the natural world.
Tuesday 26 September 11am – 12.30pm
To celebrate East and Southeast Asian History Month, join Art Responders’ Daryl Stenvoll-Wells for a practical workshop exploring Vietnamese Silk Painting.
Find out about inspirational members of Brent’s Iraqi community and make a colourful charm to take home. Age 3+. Drop in.
6 7
Coffee Morning
Can I fix it? Yes, you can!
Tuesday 28 November 11am – 12 noon
Discover how to mend clothes and furnishings using hand stitching techniques at this sewing workshop with Naomi Tracey the founder of Thirtyone Fashion House.
sessions to find out how the Shaw Trust can help you join the 13,000 people they have supported back into work so far.
The Great Big Dinosaur Show
Wednesday 25 October 2.30 – 3.30pm
Spooky Halloween
Thursday 26 October
2.30 – 3.30pm
Come and create your spooky character. For ages 5 – 11.
Tracing Black ancestry
Wednesday 4 October
6.30 – 8.30pm
Women in zoological art
Friday 6 October 11am – 12.30pm
Bridget Jones vs Bridgerton: It’s time to diversify romantic fiction
Unveiling the history of Willesden Jewish Cemetery
5 December
12 noon – 1pm
Learn about rich history of Willesden Jewish Cemetery from its consecration 150 years ago to the present day. Discover Jewish funerary traditions and the fascinating people buried there.
Wembley Library
Getting back into work with Shaw Trust
9 October, 13 November and 11 December 11am – 12 noon
Join one of our information
Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a family show full of poems, raps and songs about all your favourite prehistoric protagonists (and some you haven’t heard of yet!).
Inspired by Simon Mole’s 4th book; A First Book of Dinosaurs. For ages 4 – 11.
The Library at Willesden Green
AI (Artificial Intelligence) can help you succeed!
Thursday 28 September
6.30 – 7.30pm
Join communications professional Diane Hinds to discover how AI tools such as ChatGPT can help you to kick start your career, your business or help you to become more effective working at home. Getting back into work with Shaw Trust
Join author and researcher Paul Crooks as he shares his experience tracing his roots and the historical narrative that connects the histories of Caribbean and North American Black people enslaved during Britain’s involvement in Transatlantic slavery.
In the wake of the British Library exhibition, Animals: Art, Science and Sound come and learn how women found points of entry into life sciences through zoological illustration. Then create your own personal animal illustration.
Thursday 12 October 6.30 – 7.30pm
Author Frances Mensah Williams will discuss the multicultural heroines and heroes in her books and how the UK’s diverse cultures can be represented in our romantic fiction.
Library of Things Grand Launch and Repair Café
Saturday 14 October, 11am – 3pm
Why buy when you can borrow? From carpet cleaners, to drills, or projectors
– Willesden Green Library of Things is a place where you can borrow the useful household items you don’t need every day.
Adult activities:
• Dr Bike, bring your bike along for free basic repairs and advice
– book a slot from 11am
Children’s activities:
• 11am – 3pm Mini-eco warrior facepainting
Family craft: Celebrating Iraqi culture in Brent
Tuesday 24 October 2.30 – 4.30pm
Find out about inspirational members of Brent’s Iraqi community and make a colourful charm to take home. Age 3+. Drop in
5 October, 2 November and 7 December 11am – 12 noon
Join one of our information sessions to find out how the Shaw Trust can help you join the 13,000 people they have supported back into work so far.
• Get creative at a We Restart waste reduction workshop
• Bring along a clothing item to repair with help from TRAID – book a slot from 11am
• 11am – 12.30pm Kitchen gardening and upcycling workshop
• 1 – 2.30pm: Family hand sewing workshop
8 9
Home from Home:
Exploring the legacies of British-Nigerians in the UK
Tuesday 24 October
IROKO Theatre Company and Brent Libraries invite you to a day exploring the legacies of BritishNigerians in the UK. The event is part of IROKO’s ‘Home from Home project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• 12 noon – 1pm: Arts and crafts workshop. Age 7+
• 2.30 – 3.30pm: Home from Home storytelling performance. All ages.
A digital exhibition will be available from October.
Black ancestry for beginners
Tuesday 24 October 2023
6.30 - 8.30pm
Join author and researcher Paul Crooks as he shares his expert knowledge on tracing roots and overcoming barriers in family history research. Staff from Brent Archives will be on-hand to advise you how to start your research journey.
The Great Big Dinosaur Show
Wednesday 25 October
12 noon – 1pm
Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a family show full of poems, raps and songs about all your favourite prehistoric protagonists (and some you haven’t heard of yet!). Inspired by Simon Mole’s 4th book; A First Book of Dinosaurs
For ages 4 – 11.
Picture Perfect
Thursday 26 October
2.30 – 3.30pm
Handmake a picture frame to celebrate your own inspirational Black History Month hero! For children aged 5 – 11.
Brent, London and the struggle against Apartheid
31 October 2023
12 noon – 1pm
Learn how London, and Brent, was a hub for the international opposition to apartheid South Africa. With Suresh Kamath then ViceChair of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and organising committee of the Wembley Mandela concerts.
Coffee Morning
Prostate cancer: Know the facts
Tuesday 7 November
11am – 12 noon
This prostate cancer awareness talk by the charity Orchid Cancer for Movember will cover prostate conditions, risk factors, signs and symptoms and diagnostic pathways. All welcome.
500 years of history: Building diversity, inclusivity and equity
Tuesday 21 November
6.30 – 7.30pm
Meet the author of History
Through the Black Experience
Simon Hudson, to discover stories and experiences from the worldwide Black community reflecting 500 years of Black history.
Rhythm and Moves:
West African and Caribbean dance movement workshop
Tuesday 14 November
11am – 12 noon
Come and actively take part in a lively and playful exploration of dance movement influenced by West Africa and the Caribbean. Dance workshop led by Tanya Campbell. Please wear comortable clothes such at leggings, baggy pants, and t-shirts.
Festive feast of multicultural music from around the Balkans
Thursday 14 December 6.30 – 7.30pm
In a story told through music, The Magic Violin String Trio invites you on a festive musical journey through Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Black History Month: a musical celebration
Thursday 16 November 12 noon – 12.45pm (see page 3 for details)
10 11
@WeLoveBrentLibraries @BrentLibraries @BrentCultureService E-library Join Brent Libraries to access e-audio and e-books, e-newspapers, magazines, comics, reference and study materials on your device. Libby Borrowbox uLibrary Pressreader Contact Email: libraries@brent.gov.uk Telephone: 020 8937 3400
