December Creative Events and Opportunities 2021

The festive season is here! Looking for creative events, showcases and opportunities to get involved in this December?

Blueprint Arts has curated a selection of events and creative opportunities available in-person in London and Kent as well as virtually. Whether you want to attend a festive celebration, experience some beautiful artwork, get creative or get more experience in the creative industry, there’s something for everyone here. Scroll down to see the full list of creative happenings taking place this month.

arts events

Koestler Arts: The I and the We

Now until 5th December 2021

Southbank Centre

Free

Curated by artist Camille Wall and curator Sarah Ihler-Meyer, The I and the We showcases around 200 powerful pieces of art, music & writing full of humour & joy, as well as pieces reflecting on prison life. These artworks have been selected from over 6,400 entries to the 2021 Koestler Awards for the arts in criminal justice settings.

 

For more information, click here.

Doughnuts and Dreidls: Hanukkah Family Day

Sunday 5th December, 2.30pm-4.30pm

Jewish Museum London

Tickets from £10

Come along to this fun family event to celebrate Hanukkah, open to people of all backgrounds. Make your own doughnuts, explore the museum with the Hanukkah activity trail and play a fun game of dreidel. Finally, the event will end with a Hanukkah candle lighting.

 

Info & booking: click here.

Festival of the Baubles

Saturday 11th December

Ashford Town Centre

Free

Come along to this year’s Festival of the Baubles and watch a procession of giant illuminated lanterns and baubles, decorated by children from local primary schools.

 

This year’s parade will host a special appearance from Emergency Exit Art’s Disco Turtle – a giant mechanical puppet leading the procession. The day will also include live music, dance, a family-friendly disco party, and lantern-making workshops.

 

Info & workshop booking: click here.

opportunities

BFI Documentary Residential Academy 2022

Applications close Sunday 5th December

Apply Online

Interested in a career in documentary filmmaking? Apply to the BFI’s 2022 Documentary Residential Academy, open to all 16-19 year olds in the UK. 

 

This course will involve masterclasses with industry professionals, practical film workshops, and the chance to screen your film at a cinema.

 

Info & apply: click here.

Pentabus Young Writers Programme

Apply now

7-month online programme

Free

Aged 16-30 years old and interested in writing and storytelling? Pentabus Theatre Company is running a Young Writers programme. Beginning in January 2021 programme involves giving young people a chance to write a short play for a professional production.

 

It will involve a series of online evening sessions that will see participants working with experienced writers and directors.

 

Info & apply: click here.

Creative Lives: Call for volunteer Creative Advisers

Deadline: 31st December 2021

Apply Online

Creative Lives is looking to recruit a pool of new volunteer Creative Advisers to support, inform and influence the work of the organisation. This is also an opportunity to meet and network with a diverse range of creatives from across the UK and further afield.

 

Creative Lives is a charity championing community and volunteer-led creative activity. They work to improve opportunities for everyone to be creative.

 

People from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds are welcome.

 

Info & apply: click here.

get involved

Kent Creative meet-up – Medway

Tuesday 7th December

Nucleus Arts, Chatham

Free

Come along to this free get together for like-minded creatives and artists. Chat, learn, discuss ideas, and get support and feedback from the group. This is also a great chance to develop creative relationships and open up work opportunities.

 

Kent Creative is an independent cultural organisation based in Faversham. They run projects that promote excellence in arts and culture across Kent. Their events also offer marketing opportunities for local businesses to get seen and heard. 

 

Booking required. Info & registration: click here.

kca-arts

Modern Drawings | The Karshan Gift – Free Young People’s Workshop

Saturday 11th December, 10.30am-4.30pm

The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House

Free (booking essential)

Come along to The Courtauld Gallery to discover and experiment with the expressive power of drawing. Participants will explore an exciting selection of bold, innovative and experimental drawings from the Modern Drawings exhibition. Including work from artists such as Paul Cezanne, Georg Baselitz, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and more. You will then get to experiment with a wide range of mixed media drawing techniques.

 

Suitable for people aged 16-18.

Info & free booking: click here.

The Art of Disability History: A personal view through NDACA

Mon 13th December 2021, 6pm-7pm

Online talk

Free

As part of Disability History Month, the University of Wolverhampton presents a talk with Tony Heaton OBE about the Disability Arts Movement.

 

Tony Heaton OBE is a sculptor, Chair of Shape Arts and consultant/advisor to many cultural organisations. He also initiated NDACA (the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive).

 

Info & booking: click here.