Emerge Festival is a new festival of night-time events in museums, galleries, historic houses, visual arts venues and more. Over two nights in September, Emerge Festival will see a creative kaleidoscope of events take over 11 London Boroughs. With one ticket, you’ll have access to all the night’s venues and some of the best breakthrough artists in town. Their stage? Dozens of the capital’s iconic buildings from Tower Bridge’s glass walkway to The Design Museum’s paraboloid hall.
FRIDAY 27th SEPTEMBER:
Neo-soul at the Horniman Museum
Head down to the Horniman after work for a soulful Friday night in the South. Grab a drink and some vegetarian street food then sway to Ady Suleiman’s hypnotic falsetto. He’s supported by Poppy Ajudha whose timeless voice and jazz melodies floating from the Horniman’s bandstand are not to be missed.
Friday 18:00-23:00
Body Positive Evening
You’re a bopo rebel and a mental health warrior. Join us for cocktails and a Q+A with best-selling author, Bryony Gordon. This interactive, thought-provoking and esteem-boosting event is for everyone who needs to hear the powerful message: you got this. Hosted at the beautiful Dulwich Picture Gallery this radical night of self-love activities celebrating body positivity and mental health awareness is designed to leave you feeling empowered.
Friday 19:00-23:00
Make Your Own Cartoon with Wilfrid Wood
Best known for making cheeky plasticine sculptures of Zuckerberg and Putin, Wilfrid Wood is a satirical sculpting prodigy. His style harks back to trademark British animators of the 80s and 90s as well as huge artists like Jeff Koons and David Shrigley. Emerge is your chance to pull up your sleeves under Wilfrid’s instruction and go wild. Misshapen plasticine faces and cartoonish bodies with nuts expressions are totally fair game.
TBC
DJs, Workshops and a Gladiator’s Chill Lounge
Start with an Anthologist cocktail on the top floor and vibe to the DJ. Join a workshop with a Lego artist, where you can build your own edifice. Down a floor and if you’re timing’s right, catch a pop-up talk in the Architecture of London show – where a bit of Roman wall stands casually next to some iconic brutalism, a wee medieval church sits coolly across from the Gherkin. Take some time with the giant map of Tudor London for a spot of mindful colouring. Venture even further down to a chill-out space in the 2,000 year old gladiator ring where crowds used to watch wild animal fights, executions and people fighting it out to the death.
Friday 19:00-22:30
Wristbands can be purchased here:
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SATURDAY 28th SEPTEMBER:
Fairytale Gothic Night Garden
Take a walk on the wild side after dusk and wander into Strawberry Hill‘s enchanting night garden. Against the backdrop of the 18th century fairytale castle, explore a secret world of follies, clairvoyants and spell-binding storytelling. Walk through a fairy woodlands and willow grottoes magically lit by lanterns and fairy lights. A tarot card reader, harlequins and a fairy queen – who will you meet in the pleasure garden?
Saturday 18:30-22:30
Political Art in a former Convent
Post-modern, post-prorogue, post-baby blimp, post-Facebook, post-truth: are we post-post? 2019 Bow Open Selector, Carey Young has called some of the most exciting artists to arms in a mission to produce work that responds to our current political moment. The result? An artist using Google Earth to comment on drones watching us from the skies, a South Korean painter using traditional oriental pigment to explore the politics of his birthplace, a Caribbean artist using sculpture to look at the injustices of the Windrush generation and many more. For Emerge, Bow Arts presents this work, spoken word from Queer Pakistani Muslim Poet Sanah Ahsan, art installations and more that deals with the *insert colourful expletive here* that is politics today. Don’t miss performances by Benin City and Mina Rose in their Victorian courtyard.
Saturday 17:00-22:30
Vagina Museum x Jewish Museum collaboration
Taking a sledgehammer to the stigma and shame surrounding women’s anatomy and sexuality, The Vagina Museum (the only one in the world, by the way) and The Jewish Museum join forces to present a night dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy. Doubtless the museum collaboration of the century, this’ll be a lively affair. They’ve sure got an eclectic mix lined up for Emerge. Workshops, pop-up exhibitions, food, curator talks and more to explore the power and wonder of the female body in Jewish culture and beyond.
Saturday 19:00-22:30
Candlelit stories in a secret grotto
A place where ‘angels fear to tread’, a blind storyteller – Giles Abbott – roams through the candle-lit chambers of Alexander Pope’s lair. His tale? One of Pope’s quest for perfection. One of disability. Of overcoming adversity. Of a meteoric rise to stardom. Were he alive today, Alexander Pope would probably be co-writing Black Mirror. Feel your way through the mineral-encrusted den and enjoy sunset drinks on the shore of the Thames.
Saturday 18:00-22:00
Intimate Gig and Twilight Tour at 575 Wandsworth Road
Pad through the lights and striking shadows cast by the exquisitely carved and hugely atmospheric home. Enjoy an intimate performance of ‘Khadambi’s House’ -a piece shortlisted for the British Composer Awards by London Symphony Orchestra composer, Cevanne Horrocks. It’s got an intimate gig vibe in Khadambi’s living room. If you’re into intimate performances of otherworldly soundscapes, this is for you.
Saturday 18:00-21:00
‘Name that Ad’ with the Maconchy Quartet
Remember the drop in ‘In the Air Tonight’? Neither did we, until Cadbury’s put an ape on the drums, pushing Phil Collins hit-single back to the top of the charts 25 years after its original release. Having hosted our partner Time Out’s 50th birthday bash last year, Museum of Brands is back with a bang. For Emerge, they’ve got an acoustic quartet playing catchy TV commercial tunes. Suit up Mad Men: it’s quiz time.
Saturday 18:40, 19:20, 20:15 at Museum of Brands
Wristbands can be purchased here: