The Colliers Wood Arts Festival 2015 Is Underway
A celebration of local artists and venues
The 4th Colliers Wood Art Festival is now underway, aiming to showcase the town and how much there is going on.
It's focusing on celebrating local artists and promoting a range of cultural events: jazz, poetry, photography, art workshops and exhibitions, creative writing, films and documentaries, classical music and the art of cooking.
The use of local venues will demonstrate how arts can still take place without the traditional concert venues, galleries and theatres.
The Festival, which runs until April 5, aims to connect communities, people and places in celebrating the cultural life of Colliers Wood.
Forthcoming events include:
Free Creative Writing Workshop
Tuesday 24 March, 4pm-5pm
Donald Hope Library
Creative Writing Workshop
Wednesday 25 March, 7pm-9pm
The Sound Lounge
Unit 1-2 Merton Abbey Mills
Meet The Author
Friday 27 March, 5.30pm-7pm
Author Michelle Yaa Asantewa reads from her work and talks through her publishing journey
Donald Hope Library
Cabaret Night
Friday 27 March, 7.30pm-11pm
£5 entry at the door
Joseph's Hall
Licensed bar and refreshments.
An evening of music, song, performance poetry, storytelling and comedy. Compere Keith Spears of the Community Building Group Making Colliers Wood Happy
"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come to the Cabaret!"
The Art of Cooking
Saturday 28 March, 12pm to 1pm
£3 to be donated to Deen City Farm
Corleone Pizzeria
An opportunity for children aged four and above to make their own pizzas - and eat them! Held at Corleone. Colliers Wood's local Italian Restaurant. Booking recommended. Contact Anna at the Corleone on 020 8543 5151.
Blues Matters
Saturday 28 March, From 7pm onwards
The Sound Lounge, Merton Abbey Mills
Free
Blues Matters: A showcase of some of London’s best blues music featuring The Dave Bourne Band performing a range of chilled out and up beat music that will have you on your feet and dancing. The band are playing festivals in Europe across the summer so catch their performance before they head off on tour. Free entry. Music starts at 7:30pm
The William Morris evening
Saturday 28 March, 7.30pm-11pm
£5.00 entrance
William Morris pub, Merton Abbey Mills
Come and celebrate the life of William Morris whose birthday was on the 24th March, internationally known artist/designer/craftsman/poet/conservationist and Socialist. There will be music, poets, songs and speakers
like Dave East and Doreen Lighter and The Wandle Delta String Band, Jo Silver, Songwriter/guitarist, the Merton Poets, and many more.
Money raised will go to the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow.
Chapter House Open Day
Heritage festival
Sunday 29 March. 11.30am-4pm
Totally Free
The Chapter House, Underneath Merantun Way between Sainsbury’s Car Park and a well know pizza emporium
Explore the 12th Century remains of Merton Abbey with the archaeologist who has tended them since they were excavated before Savacentre was built, look at the plans to convert them into a permanent museum or see how William Morris created his wonderful prints (using wood blocks) in the adjacent workshops.
Arts & Craft Workshop with The Craft Gallery
Heritage Festival
Sunday 29 March, All day
For children and adults
The Craft Gallery, Merton Abbey Mills
Free as it is sponsored by the Craft Gallery
Series of William Morris-inspired craft workshops and demonstrations led by artists from the Merton Abbey Mills' Art Gallery collective in their dedicated workshop unit opened throughout the Festival. Printing with original William Morris Works printing blocks from the Wandle Industrial Museum, a huge outdoor canvas to be decorated with designs inspired by Morris's swirling leaves and flowers, and chalk to draw on the paving stone.
900 years in 90 minutes
Heritage Festival
Sunday 29 March, 11.30am
Meet for coffee at the Sound Lounge ,12:00 pm start of the 90minutes walk
Free
The Sound Lounge, Watermill Way, Merton Abbey Mills
Join the ebullient John Hawks for a light hearted talk as he guides us round the unique historic sites of Colliers Wood. Highlights are sure to include Liberty’s, references to William Morris, 19th Century designer and polymath and a visit to the 12th Century remains of Merton Priory.
Sunday Evening Music Among Friends
Sunday 29 March, 7.30pm to approx 9.30pm
The Colour House Theatre, Watermill Way, Merton Abbey Mills
Take this rare opportunity to experience the keyboard virtuosity of the renowned pianist Robert Bridge as he masters the complexities of Chopin’s 2nd set of studies, “Etudes (Op. 25)” and, after your free glass of wine in the interval, Scriabin’s “24 Preludes (Opus 11)” A rare treat indeed.
£14 full price, £10 concessions
Common People, The Movie
Monday 30 March, 7.30pm -10pm
£3 per person
The Guardian Centre, 67, Clarendon Road, Colliers Wood
Stephen Fry says it is “a rare gem”. We are proud to bring you the opportunity to decide whether or not you agree with him. Filmed on Tooting Common and centred around a missing parrot the film shows how people come together to help each other in a community.
Poetry Slam Competition
Tuesday 31 March, 7pm-9pm
Donald Hope Library
Theme: Connecting: Use the medium of poetry to tell us about the place and people you feel connected to. Perform to a live audience.
Adult Category ages 18 and over: Submissions must be no less than 20 lines and up to 40.
£2 per Entry
Young person's category up to 18 years: Submissions no less than 10 lines and up to 15.
Free Entry
Prizes to be won
Caribbean Cooking & Art workshop
for children 5 to 13.
Wednesday 1 April, 2pm-4pm
Free
Tin n' Ting Caribbean Restaurant, Meton Abbey Mills
Come and learn about the fruit and vegetables of the sunny islands with Garfield. Games and drawing and then cook a Caribbean speciality to be eaten on the spot.
Mini Film Screening Night by SWIFF
Wednesday 1 April, 7.30pm
Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills
Three short films, including a documentary about the infamous Colliers Wood “Black Tower” made in 2011 will give you a taste of what is on offer for one day only every November at the SWIFF (South West London International Film Festival), Colliers Wood's very own international film festival .
The SWIFF Festival 2015 (www.swiff.org.uk) will take place on Saturday 28th November 15.
The three films to be screened on 1 April are:
‘Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution’ by Matthew Van Dyke (USA/Syria, Documentary, 15 minutes) The story of two Syrians whose lives have been torn apart by war.
‘A Place For Us’ by Lucia Tambini (UK, Documentary, 23 minutes) Will the long standing residents of the Excalibur Estate in Catford be able to prevent the bulldozers?
‘Living in the Shadow’ by Laurentiu Huianu (UK, Documentary, 39 minutes) A journey over the past years as the Colliers Wood community fought to find a solution to the black tower monstrosity that imposes its shadow over the area.
FREE but a voluntary contribution to pay for the Colour House technician's time appreciated.
Eddie Catz Lasertag Disco and Fun!
Wednesday 1 April, 6 pm-8pm
Eddie Catz Wimbledon in Colliers Wood
For 8-15yrs – Boys & Girls
Book tickets online at www.eddiecatz.com
Entrance is by ticket only
60 places for 8-15yrs are available so book soon!
· 8-15yr olds lasertag player = £5
· Accompanying siblings 1-7yr olds (we will do one round “junior” laser for the little ones) = £3
· Adults and under 1’s (babies) = free
All children need to be accompanied by an adult of 16yrs or over at all times and must not be left on the premises unattended and Eddie Catz's House Rules apply at all times.
Join us at Eddie Catz for some rounds of lasertag fun! We’ll be dimming the lights, turning on the disco music and smoke and players will take over the Eddie Catz sports pitch and entire giant play structure to have as many rounds of laser as we can get in! They’ll also be the chance whilst waiting to have a glitter tattoo and share a meal in our café. The Café will be open all night serving hot and cold meals and drinks.
Short story competition - Adult
Thursday 2 April 7pm-9pm
Donald Hope Library
The theme of the Colliers Wood Arts Festival 2015 Short Story competition is “Connecting.” The aim is to use the medium of fiction to explore how people connect with each other, communities and places that have special meaning for them. Entries must be a work of fiction between 500 – 800 words. The competition is open to anyone over 18 who enjoys writing. Judges will expect original, well written narratives that express the theme and make effective use of language. Exciting prizes to be won.
Submission date of entries 21 March Entry fee £2.
Short Story Competition – Young Person
Thursday 2 April, 7pm-9pm
Donald Hope Library
For young writers between 12 – 18years. Using the title ‘The Wood,’ compose a story in a style of your choice, fantasy, sci-fi? Judges will want to see well composed, original ideas that show a love for writing and creating images through illustration or words. Pieces must be between 300 – 500 words or no more than 2 A4 pages (if selecting graphics to tell the story).
Great prizes to be won.
Submission date of entries 21st March. Free entry
Sound Lounge Marshmallows & Music
Friday 3 April, from 7pm onwards
Free
The Sound Lounge, Merton Abbey Mills
A singer songwriter showcase featuring some of the country’s most up and coming artists including Jane Thomason. Jane has been likened to Joni Mitchell and John Martyn and has been featured on radio all over the country. This evening is free to enter and open to all ages.
Marshmallows are toasted between sets and are absolutely free. Music starts at 7pm.
Dominos & Vinyls
Friday 3 April, from 5pm till late
Ting n'Ting Caribbean Restaurant, Unit 2, The Pavillion, Merton Abbey Mills, Watermill Way, London SW19 2RD
Come in for a treat and play Caribbean dominoes and listen to the best vinyl music with customary Caribbean-style awar winning food made by Garfield and Des. Heavenly food from Grenada!
Minnie’s Henhouse LIVE
Saturday 4 April, 9pm until later
Free, but you have to buy your own drinks
The Charles Holden, 198, High Street Colliers Wood
Come to see Minnie’s Henhouse serve up the Speakeasy Spirit with music from the 1920s, 30s & 40s. Make yourself comfortable and they’ll pour us a glass of Gershwin, a pitcher of Peggy Lee or a jug of Louis Jordan. A great night guaranteed.
Sunday Sound Lounge Festival
Sunday 5 April, From 12pm until early evening
Free
The Sound Lounge, Merton Abbey Mills
A live music festival with over 15 bands and artists from all over the UK and beyond showcasing their talents at the heritage site of Merton Abbey Mills in the heart of Colliers Wood. With a large range of independent world-food restaurants to chose from, and a craft market on-site. It is free and family friendly and the wide range of performances are a wonderful way to end The Colliers Wood Spring Arts Festival.
March 21, 2015