What's on - free events guide from Brent libraries, Arts and Heritage

Advance booking required for most events

WHAT’S ON Spring 2023

A seasonal programme of free events from Brent Libraries, Arts and Heritage

brent.gov.uk/whatson

EXHIBITIONS

The Willesden Gallery

Located within The Library at Willesden Green, the Gallery is fast becoming one of the premier places in North West London to see an eclectic range of high-quality art from established and emerging artists.

Willesden Gallery is available to hire for solo and group exhibitions. For more details search ‘Willesden Gallery’ online. Follow the Gallery to keep up to date with the latest exhibitions. @willesden_gallery

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle – Art and Sustainability

Wednesday 18 January – Friday 24 February 2023

Free

Curated through an open call process, this mixed-media group show responds to themes of sustainability, environmental breakdown, and waste reduction. How can art and artists respond and address the global environmental emergency and how can artists make their practice more sustainable.

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

British Ugandan Asians at 50

Until 26 February 2023

Brent Civic Centre Free

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of the Ugandan Asians, The Indian Overseas Trust has captured the memories and stories of those who volunteered to help arrivals to the UK.

Charlie Watts at Kingsbury

Until 20 April 2023

Kingsbury Library Free

The late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts is celebrated in the form of a bronze bust, sculpted by artist Sissy Piana.

Being Brent

Until 30 April 2023

The Exhibition Space, Second Floor, The Library at Willesden Green Free

HOW TO BOOK

Unless stated as drop-in, all events require advance booking via the Brent Culture Service Eventbrite page. All events take place at library sites unless stated online. Google or scan the QR code for more information and to book.

Featuring artwork made by local children, faith groups and members of the local community, alongside artist commissions, Being Brent delves into what makes Brent so vibrant.

Maths on Toast

Monthly STEM family learning fun workshops focusing on maths. Ages 5 – 11.

Drop in

Ealing Road Library

Onsite: 2 – 3.30pm / Online: 11.30am – 12.30pm

Once upon a Maths Story

Saturday 21 January

Musical Maths

Saturday 18 February

Bookmark Maths

Saturday 18 March

Timeline Crowns

Saturday 15 April

A Sort of Data Day

Saturday 20 May

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1 HANNAH KELLY – WHAT A WASTE 2 NIMA JAVAN – HOD HOD 3 RICCARDO MATLAKAS – PRAISE TO CONSCIOUSNESS 4 MADELEINE FAMUREWA – LAZY RIVER 5 HENRYK TERPILOWSKI – EX TAMESIS (DETAIL) 1 3 4 2 5

Online sessions bookable via Eventbrite

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS (CONT.)

Sew, Mend and Save: Hand Sewing Workshop

Learn a range of hand sewing stitches that can be used to repair, mend, or create an item. These can be used on items including clothes, scarves and hats. The workshop will be delivered by Naomi Tracey the founder of Thirtyone Fashion House.

Kingsbury Library Tuesday 28 February 11am-12 noon

Kilburn Library Wednesday 19 April 11am-12 noon

Family History Research with Paul Crooks

Discover who you are – come to these drop-in sessions for advice on exploring your ancestry.

BOOKTRUST STORYTIME AND RHYMES

Weekly story and rhyme time sessions for children under 5.

Kilburn Library Tuesdays, 11 – 11.30am

Willesden Green 11 – 11.30am

Getting Back into Work with Shaw Trust

Join one of our drop-in 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.

The Library at Thursdays 2 February, 2 March, 6 April, 4 May 11am – 12 noon

Willesden Green

Wembley Library Mondays 13 February, 13 March, 10 April, 15 May 11am – 12 noon

Willesden Green

The Library at Wednesdays 15 March, 12 April, 31 May

5.45 – 7.45pm

Kilburn Library Saturdays 18 March, 8 April, 27 May 11am – 1pm

Fixing Factory: Make it last with Dr Laptop

Last year, west Londoners threw out 116,000 tonnes of electrical items – that’s over 68 Wembley arches worth of stuff! West London Waste have teamed up with Restart Project to provide free advice and repairs – come and see if they can save your device from landfill.

The Library at Saturdays 4 March, Willesden Green 3 June

10.30am – 4pm

Kilburn Library Saturday 1 April 12noon – 4pm

Wembley Library Saturdays 6 May, 1 July 12noon – 4pm

Kingsbury Library Wednesdays, 10.45 – 11.15am

The Library at Wednesdays, Willesden Green 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 EVENTS

Rabbit Delights

It’s the Lunar Year of the Rabbit so don’t miss out on a delightful rabbit story plus rhymes, and a lantern craft activity suitable for all little ones.

Kilburn Tuesday 31 January, 11 – 11.30am

Kingsbury Wednesday 1 February, 10.45 – 11.15am

Willesden Green Wednesday 1 February, 11 – 11.30am

Ealing Road Thursday 2 February, 11 – 11.30am

Wembley Friday 3 February, 11 – 11.30am

World Book Day fun

- Luna loves library day!

Share the joy of a library visit by Luna, written by Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, plus rhymes and crafty activity to make your own book.

Kilburn Tuesday 28 February, 11 – 11.30am

Kingsbury Wednesday 1 March, 10.45 – 11.15am

Willesden Green Wednesday 1 March, 11 – 11.30am

Ealing Road Thursday 2 March, 11 – 11.30am

Wembley Friday 3 March, 11 – 11.30am

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SPECIAL BOOKTRUST STORYTIME AND RHYME TIME EVENTS

(CONT.)

St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day

celebrations

Celebrate the patron Saint of Ireland St Patrick on Friday 17 March and say thanks to mum for Mother’s Day with a story, rhymes and a shamrock craft activity.

Kilburn Tuesday 14 March, 11 – 11.30am

Kingsbury Wednesday 15 March, 10.45 – 11.15am

Willesden Green Wednesday 15 March, 11 – 11.30am

Ealing Road Thursday 16 March, 11 – 11.30am

Wembley Friday 17 March, 11 – 11.30am

Spring is Coming!

Celebrate the coming of Spring with an Easter festival story, rhymes and a chance to make an Easter wreath with lots of eggs.

Kilburn Tuesday 28 March, 11 – 11.30am

Kingsbury Wednesday 29 March, 10.45 – 11.15am

Willesden Green Wednesday 29 March, 11 – 11.30am

Ealing Road Thursday 30 March, 11 – 11.30am

Wembley Friday 31 March, 11 – 11.30am

Dancing Dragons

Friday 23 April is St George’s Day so kick those little feet and wiggle away with lively rhymes, a naughty dragon story and fun craft activity.

Kilburn Tuesday 18 April, 11 – 11.30am

Kingsbury Wednesday 19 April, 10.45 – 11.15am

Willesden Green Wednesday 19 April, 11 – 11.30am

Ealing Road Thursday 20 April, 11 – 11.30am

Wembley Friday 21 April, 11 – 11.30am

Ealing Road Library

Tamil Heritage Month Celebration

Saturday 28 January

1.30 – 4.30pm

Join the Tamil Reading Group as they celebrate Tamil Heritage Month at Ealing

Ealing Road Library

STEM CLUB

Wednesdays 4 – 5.30pm

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workshops for children aged 8-11.

15 March

Fun, hands-on Family Learning workshop for British Science Week from Brent Start.

19 April

Fun, hands-on Family Learning workshop from Brent Start.

17 May

Food chains and food webs

What makes a food chain and what makes a food web? Design, create and colour your own.

FILM CLUB

2.30- 4.30pm

Animated film screenings for children aged 5+

Thursday 16 February - Sing 2

Thursday 13 April - DC League of Superpets

Thursday 1 June - Lightyear

Road Library. Traditional Tamil snacks provided.

Drop in

Windy Weather Windmills

Tuesday 14 February

2.30 – 3.30pm

Story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11.

Drop in

Celebrating Gujarati Textiles

Wednesday 15 February

2.30 – 4.30pm

Using lots of colourful materials, come and create your own design and learn about the variety of methods and designs in traditional Gujarati fabrics. Age 3+ Free.

Drop in

Easter baskets and bunnies

Tuesday 4 April

2.30 – 3.30pm

Spring festival story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11.

Drop in

Paper plate scarecrows

Tuesday 30 May

2.30 – 3.30pm

Summer half term story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11.

Drop in

Harlesden Library Plus

Harlesden Library Plus is closed for refurbishment until February 2023 with an exciting new outlook, including a new space for the community. During this time we’re offering a limited, essential service at:

The Designworks

Park Parade

Harlesden

London NW10 4HT

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 10am –6pm, closed weekends

Kilburn Library

Windy Weather Windmills

Tuesday 14 February

2.30 – 3.30pm

Story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11.

Drop in

Coffee Mornings

11am – 12noon

Coffee Morning

Introduction to the history of mathematics: Where do our numbers come from?

Wednesday 1 February

Discover the fascinating story of the history of mathematics. We’ll take a closer look at the history of numbers, numerals, counting and learn about how longforgotten counting methods are hidden in language.

Coffee Morning Brief Encounters - 25 Years of Writing

Histories of Gay Men

An illustrated talk by Stephen Bourne

Wednesday 22 February

Stephen Bourne presents an informative and engaging overview of his work as a historian of gay men’s lives. His books include Brief Encounters, a survey of lesbians and gays in British cinema; the acclaimed Fighting Proud which focusses on gay men’s lives in the two world wars.

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Kilburn Coffee Morning Radical Women of Bow 1880-1920

Wednesday 1 March

Join Islington and Camden guide Oonagh Gay to discover the inspirational radical women associated with Bow, including the Bryant and May matchwomen and the Federation of East End Suffragettes led by Sylvia Pankhurst.

Kilburn Library

Kilburn Coffee Morning Artist Talk – Present Past: Being Brent

Wednesday 3 May

For Local and Community History Month celebration, we have invited British artist and educator Kinga Markus, who was the digital artist in residence at the Brent Museum and Archives in 2022. Kinga will be talking about her drawing works, which includes an animated film compromising over

4000 charcoal drawings.

Easter baskets and bunnies

Tuesday 4 April

2.30 – 3.30pm

Spring festival story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in Colourful Collage

Thursday 6 April 2.30 - 4.30pm

Learn about some of the communities that make up the borough of Brent and

POWER OF PLANTS: MONTHLY WORKSHOPS WITH NATURE EDUCATOR AND AUTHOR MICHAEL HOLLAND 11am-12.30pm

Sustainable Gardening Thursday 20 April

Natural medicines for a spring boost

Thursday 9 March

Beat the winter blues and put a spring into your step with this hands-on workshop all about the wonderful world of natural medicines. With nature educator and author Michael Holland. Please bring a clean, empty jar with you.

To celebrate Earth Day, join Michael Holland who’ll share some of his ideas on how to enjoy your garden while making a positive difference to your environment. Please bring an empty and clean small/medium plastic bottle with you.

Compost Clinic Thursday 11 May

To celebrate International Compost Awareness Week, join compost enthusiast Michael Holland for an overview of soil, how to compost, what to compost, how to use the final product and what to do if it all goes wrong! You can bring a small sample of your garden soil with you for analysis.

make a beautiful collage to reflect the diversity and different experiences of people within the borough. Free. Ages 3+. Drop in Paper plate scarecrows

Tuesday 30 May

2.30 – 3.30pm

Summer half term story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

Kingsbury Library

Coffee Mornings

11am – 12noon

Coffee Morning

The benefits of a Whole Food Plant Based Diet: A personal and medical perspective

Tuesday 31 January

To mark Veganuary 2023, join GP Tila Kansagra to learn how lifestyle choices drive chronic disease and how adopting a more plant predominant diet can prevent, improve and even reverse chronic conditions and help us all live longer and healthier!

Coffee Morning

Ernest TrobridgeKingsbury’s Extraordinary Architect

Tuesday 28 March

Ernest Trobridge designed thatched wooden cottages to be “homes for heroes” and blocks of flats that looked like castles in the heart of Kingsbury. Discover more about this remarkable man with Philip Grant of Wembley History Society.

Windy Weather Windmills

Wednesday 15 February 2.30 – 3.30pm

Story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

Make a Paper Portrait

Friday 17 February 2.30-4.30pm

Learn about well-known people from Brent such as Charlie Watts, the drummer in The Rolling Stones, and Jayaben Desai who led the Grunwick Strike in Willesden in the 1970s. Create your own portrait of someone connected to Brent – it could be you, a family member or someone who you admire. Age 3+ Free. Drop in

Circus Skills Through the Seasons

Wednesday 5 April 11.30am – 12.30pm and 2.30 – 3.30pm

Discover the natural world through movement! This session will include a demonstration from a circus artist and a chance to have a go yourself. For families with children aged 5-11.

Easter baskets and bunnies

Wednesday 12 April 2.30 – 3.30pm

Spring festival story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

Our Health, Our Culture

Tuesday 16 May 11am – 12noon

Are you living with diabetes, heart disease, or a carer for someone with a long term condition? Join Salma Mehar community dietitian, to learn how you can still enjoy your cultural foods and stay healthy.

Paper plate scarecrows

Wednesday 31 May

2.30 – 3.30pm

Summer half term story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

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MUSEUM OF LONDON

Wembley Library

Windy Weather Windmills

Thursday 16 February

2.30 – 3.30pm

Story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

Fairytales from Forests and Streets – Balkan stories, songs and dances

Friday 17 February

2.30 – 3.30pm

Whirling violin music weaves through sparkling spoken word on a joyous journey into Balkan music and stories. A collaboration between writer and performer Sally Pomme Clayton and local Brent musician and composer Gundula Stojanova Gruen and her band Magic Violin Tio. For children and families 5+.

Changing the Narrative: A Celebration of Muslim Female Authors for International Women’s Day

Wednesday 8 March 6.30-8pm

The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is #EmbraceEquity.

When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion. In this spirit we shall be presenting a panel event highlighting some successful female Muslim authors of colour, to elevate their expereinces and voices and celebrate the work and achievements of minority female authors.

Wembley Library

SPINE FESTIVAL 2023

10 April – 10 May

Easter baskets and bunnies

Thursday 6 April

2.30 – 3.30pm

Spring festival story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

Colourful Collage

Wednesday 12 April

2.30 - 4.30pm Learn about some of the communities that make up

the borough of Brent and make a beautiful collage to reflect the diversity and different experiences of people within the borough. Free. Ages 3+. Drop in

Paper plate scarecrows

Thursday 1 June 2.30 – 3.30pm

Summer half term story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

Circle of Security

Parenting Group

Fridays from 27 January – 24 March

11am – 12noon

Style in my DNA

– American Swagger

Tuesday 14 March 6.30-7.30pm

A spoken word and arts festival for children and families. This year’s theme is kindness. Look out for Spine Festival Artists in Residence workshops and other events coming this spring!

In the Heart of the forest

Thursday 13 April

2.30 – 4pm

When her stepmother sends Natasha alone into the forest to the house of BabaYaga the witch for a needle and thread, she only has the advice of her mother’s doll to her keep her safe. Come and make a lolly stick doll to remind you that acts of kindness never go unnoticed. With award-winning author Margaret Bateson-Hill.

The Library at Willesden Green

Coffee Morning

Lunar New Year: It’s the Year of the Rabbit

Tuesday 24 January 11am-12 noon

Come and celebrate the Lunar Year of the Rabbit with storyteller and paper crafter Margaret BatesonHill. Margaret will tell the traditional Chinese folktale of the Jade Rabbit, then invite you to experience the transformational magic of paper craft.

Join a circle of security group, delivered by Connected Lives to help you discover new ways of understanding your child’s behaviour and give you the tools to manage positivity. 94% of parents who have completed a group said it strengthened their parent/child relationship. For parents/carers with children under 5.

Windy Weather Windmills

Wednesday 15 February

2.30 – 3.30pm

Story and craft fun for ages 5 – 11. Drop in

A Spring in your Step

Thursday 16 February 1 – 2pm

In this workshop we’ll be exploring some myths and legends and using these to work on our comprehension skills. Delivered by Explore Learning, suitable for children aged 5 – 11.

Archive photographs showing the dress of Caribbean people arriving on SS Empire Windrush in June 1948 are powerful and captivating. Join author and fashion designer Lorna Holder for a talk on her book Style in My DNA to celebrate 70 years of Caribbean influence on British fashion.