City Family Arts Network Autumn 2015

Autumn 2015

Your at-a-glance guide to family-friendly arts events in the City of London

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Welcome to the City!

More than meets the (googly) eyes The City of London is home to a myriad of arts and cultural offerings for families, with many destinations just a stone’s throw from each another.

Did you know, for example, that the Museum of London is just a five-minute walk from the Barbican Centre, home to two theatres, three cinemas, a concert hall, two galleries, the Barbican Children’s Library, plus cafés and a lakeside area for you to relax and replenish? It is also home to two worldclass symphony orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra.

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama shares the Barbican campus; this leading conservatoire also presents many public performances, runs a Saturday school for under-18s and a range of short courses.

Practical The City, or Square Mile, is best known as London’s financial centre, but it also has plenty of places to eat, shop, park, picnic and rest. London Wall Bar and Kitchen, London Wall Pizza Express and Barbican Kitchen are just some of the local eateries which cater specifically for families, with kids’ menus and special offers; there’s shopping galore to be enjoyed at One New Change; and Fortune Park and St Luke’s Gardens offer relaxing green space. Ample parking is available at the Barbican Centre. Check out the map included in this leaflet for more or visit our website, cityfamilyarts.co.uk.

Well-connected Cultural attractions in the City are well served by public transport with mainline train stations including Liverpool Street, Moorgate, Farringdon, Old Street, Cannon Street and underground stations Barbican, St Paul’s and Bank. With the arrival of Crossrail at Farringdon and Liverpool Street in 2018, an estimated 90,000 extra visitors will pass through this part of London every day, putting it more on the map than ever.

Regular family events As well as the events listed in the highlights calendar, your family can enjoy the following regular activities all year-round*: Framed Film Club, Barbican Cinemas 2 & 3 Every Sat 11am A year-round programme of film and learning for 4- to 11-year-olds Museum Explored, Museum of London Every Sun 12pm 5+s are invited to join Museum hosts and explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities LSO Free Friday Lunchtime Concerts, LSO St Luke’s Fri 4 Sep, Fri 2 Oct, Fri 16 Oct, Fri 13 Nov 12.30pm Discover instruments in short, informal concerts by musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra Rhyme Time for Under-5s, Barbican Children’s Library Every Fri 10.30am (babies); Every Mon 10.45am (toddlers) & 4pm (3+) A great opportunity for children to experience stories, rhymes and music in a relaxed atmosphere Storytime for 3–5s, Barbican Children’s Library Every Mon 4pm An engaging session for pre-school children and a good way for young children to begin socialising * We advise you to check online or call the relevant organisation before your visit, as there may be instances where an event is cancelled

Family Arts Festival 2015 A nationwide celebration

Festival in the City of London

The Family Arts Festival is part of the Family Arts Campaign, supported by Arts Council England, which aims to develop the range of arts events and activities available to families.

You’ll see from the calendar that the City Family Arts Network is presenting events for all ages during the Festival period. Here are our top picks:

The Campaign is the initiative of eight organisations including the Association of British Orchestras, Dance UK, UK Theatre, Contemporary Visual Arts Network and Family and Childcare Trust.

The first Family Arts Festival took place in October 2013, and since then each Festival has entertained tens of thousands of families across the country with its ambitious and diverse programme.

Search for events near you Visit familyartsfestival.com to search for events near you and sign up for the e-newsletter.

Don’t forget to follow the Festival on social media too, to pick up special offers and read reviews from other families.

facebook.com/familyartsfestival

When the moon rises … you learn to fly!

Sat 17 Oct, Milton Court Alongside actors, mime-artists and musicians from the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, one of Germany’s premier symphony orchestras, share in the dreamland adventures of a young boy as he learns to fly. Designed to let your imagination run wild, this family concert is a delightful adventure.

Make Do and Mend at the Museum Sat 24 to Sun 1 Nov, Museum of London Crafts, storytelling and drama all about making do and mending. Make your own designs inspired by posters from the Second World War, use recycled fabrics to create artworks and learn 1940s playtime stories and songs.

LSO Family Open Day: Alice in Wonderland Sun 25 Oct, LSO St Luke’s A weird and wacky open day of music, art and drama. Musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra will lead this celebration of all-things-Alice – make sure you look the part so you can fit in with the March Hare and all his friends!

Visit cityfamilyarts.co.uk for complete listings.

@FamilyArtFest

This leaflet has been put together by the City Family Arts Network

For other attractions in the area, visit cityoflondon.gov.uk/thingstodo

Find us & find out more

Barbican Centre Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS

Milton Court (Guildhall School) 1 Milton Street, EC2Y 9BH

The Barbican is Europe’s largest multi-arts venue, iconic in its architecture. Exit Barbican tube at street level, walk through Beech Street tunnel and turn right on to Silk Street for the main entrance.

The Barbican Children’s Library is at the back of the main library on Level 2. The Barbican’s family events include Framed Film Club, family concerts from resident and visiting orchestras and Big Barbican Adventure, a do-it-yourself adventure trail.

Milton Court is the Guildhall School’s state-of-theart new building, which includes a concert hall and two theatres. It’s located opposite the School’s Silk Street building, with the main entrance on the corner of Silk Street and Milton Street.

barbican.org.uk/families cityoflondon.gov.uk/services (Children’s Library)

Cinemas 2 & 3 Barbican Centre

Beech Street, EC1Y 8AA

The Barbican’s Cinemas 2 & 3 are located on the corner of Beech Street and Whitecross Street, i.e. the left-hand side of the tunnel as you approach from Barbican tube. As well as Framed Film Club, the Barbican Cinemas offer Parent & Baby screenings, with specially adapted light and sound to create a soothing, relaxed environment.

gsmd.ac.uk/visitingus

Guildhall School Silk Street, EC2Y 8DT

The Guildhall School is one of the world’s leading conservatoires and drama schools, with two buildings which are directly opposite each other.

The Silk Street building is next to the Barbican Centre, with the main entrance on the same side of the street. gsmd.ac.uk/visitingus

161 Old Street, EC1V 9NG

LSO St Luke’s, owned by the London Symphony Orchestra, is a stunning 18th-century church restored to become a 21st-century performance venue. Leave Old Street tube via Subway 4, turning left. The spire of LSO St Luke’s will be immediately visible ahead, to the right. Whitecross Street, with its famous food market, is the road linking the Barbican with LSO St Luke’s. The LSO offers family concerts, early years workshops, singing days, open rehearsals and more at both LSO St Luke’s and the Barbican Centre. lso.co.uk/families

barbican.org.uk/film

LSO St Luke’s

Museum of London

150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN

The Museum of London, near St Paul’s Cathedral, is the only museum in the capital dedicated to showcasing London through the ages. It is a family-friendly venue with guaranteed activities at weekends and school holidays; family activity bags and information sheets are available from the information desk. The Museum’s entrance is on a pedestrian high walk which can be reached by stairs, escalators or lifts from Aldersgate Street, London Wall or St Martin’s-le-Grand. museumoflondon.org.uk/families

Autumn 2015 Highlights

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For Barbican, Guildhall, Milton Court and LSO St Luke’s events, call the Barbican Box Office on 020 7638 8891.

For Museum of London events, call the Museum Box Office on 020 7001 9844.

Barbican Centre

Guildhall School

LSO St Luke’s

Cinemas 2 & 3, Barbican Centre

Milton Court

Museum of London

September 2015 Until 29 Nov All day

The Barbican Exhibition: Building a Landmark EXHIBITION

All ages Free

Sun 13 Sep 12.30-4.30pm

Get Stuffed DIGITAL WORKSHOPS

7+

Sun 20 Sep 11am–5pm

Open House: Milton Court TOUR

All ages Free

Fri 2 Oct 6pm

Strike up the Band! CONCERT

All ages Free

Sun 4 Oct 10.30am–4.30pm

Community Singing Day: A Taste of America SINGING DAY

12+

£20, £15 concs.

Fri 9 Oct 12.30–1.15pm

Musical Storytelling for Under-5s CONCERT

1–5

£3 u-5s, £5 adults

Sun 11 Oct 12.30–4.30pm

Stop-motion Animation Creation DIGITAL WORKSHOPS

7+

Free, ticketed

Sat 17 Oct 3pm

When the moon rises… you learn to fly! CONCERT

6+

£10 u-16s, £20 adults

Wed 21 – Sat 24 Oct 7.45pm

Out of India: Modern Moves DANCE

12+

£20 (50% off u-16s)

Free, ticketed

Family Arts Festival 2015

October 2015

Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov 12.30–4pm Make Do and Mend at the Museum WORKSHOPS

All ages Free, drop-in

Sun 25 Oct 10am-4pm

LSO Family Open Day: Alice in Wonderland WORKSHOPS

4–7

£5 u-18s, £7 adults

Thu 29 Oct 1-2pm

BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert: Alice Sara Ott CONCERT

8+

£5 u-18s, £12 adults

Thu 29 Oct 6.15pm

Reveal Ravel: LSO Family Workshop WORKSHOP + CONCERT

8–16

£5 u-18s, £10 adults

Sun 8 Nov 2.30pm

LSO Family Concert: Wonderland CONCERT + WORKSHOPS

7–12

£5 u-18s, £10 adults

Sat 14 – Sun 15 Nov 12–4pm

Celebrating the City: Family Festival Weekend WORKSHOPS

All ages Free

Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov 11am

Framed Film Festival 2015 CINEMA

4–11

From £3.50

Sun 22 Nov 12.30-4.30pm

Animated Animals DIGITAL WORKSHOPS

7+

Free, ticketed

Sat 28 Nov 11am-5pm

Serious Play: The World of Charles & Ray Eames EXHIBITION + WORKSHOP

All ages Free

November 2015

December 2015 Sun 13 Dec 7pm LSO Choral Christmas CONCERT 8+

£5 u-18s, £10-29 adults

Thu 17 – Wed 30 Dec 10.30am, 1 & 3.30pm

Get Happy THEATRE

4+ £12

Fri 18 Dec 6.15pm

BBC Singers Plus Family: A Child’s Christmas in Wales

8–16 £5

INTERACTIVE INTRODUCTION + CONCERT

Sat 19 Dec 1.30, 3.30 & 5.30pm The Snowman and Peter and the Wolf CINEMA AND CONCERT All ages £16–30

(50% off u-16s) Sun 27 Dec – Sun 3 Jan 12.30-4pm London Celebrates HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

All ages Free, drop-in

Please note booking fees apply (ranging from £0.60 to £4 per booking) to tickets booked online or by phone.

This calendar is designed to give an overview of activity. Please visit the related websites (listed overleaf) for comprehensive information on all events, including further details about content and suitability, how to purchase tickets and any terms and conditions.

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