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As Wandsworth prepares for our most incredible year of culture ever as London Borough of Culture 2025, here is your monthly round-up of performances, cultural events, courses and opportunities to get creative.

Performances & Events

Wandsworth celebrates South Asian Heritage Month 2024

As Wandsworth gears up to become London Borough of Culture 2025, the borough is celebrating South Asian Heritage Month 2024 with a programme of community-focused, cultural, arts and heritage-based activities and events.

The projects are bringing the bell-jangling footwork of the traditional Kathak Dance, a range of free craft sessions including the art of creating Rangoli patterns, an evening of singing with Decolonise Choir, a day long community festival of Sri Lankan contemporary culture and a series of community workshops with local writer Sudha Bhuchar.

Until Sat 17 Aug.

Battersea Arts Centre: The 4 x 4 Dance Championship Final

Join Battersea Arts Centre for a showcase of the nation's top dance talents competing before live audiences and judges.

Get ready for a night of full on competition, vibes and incredible teamwork - featuring some of the country’s brightest dance talent. The successful teams made their way from the preliminary round in June, where they performed in a unique 4 X 4 metre squared space responding to a music theme.

Fri 2 Aug, 7pm - 9.30pm. Pay What You Can, starting at £6.

Omnibus Theatre: Wormholes

A domestic abuse survivor, imprisoned by recollections of the past that she can’t make sense of – and tormented by paths not taken – finds herself in a secure mental facility being questioned by police. But what is her crime? A gripping, relevant tale about the effects of coercion in relationships.

Until 10 Aug. £18/£16/£10.

Enable: Battersea Park in Concert

After an outstanding inaugural year Battersea Park in Concert returns this August Bank Holiday to deliver another wonderful weekend of live performances. Showcasing the best in classical, West End & jazz music. Unpack your picnic, pop the fizz and sit back and enjoy beautiful music in majestic surroundings. 

Sat 24 Aug – Mon 26 Aug, 4.30pm - 11pm. £40 (plus fees).

Exhibitions & Installations

WIP Space: Redemption by Nacheal Catnott

ActionSpace: Roland Young

An exhibition of drawings and works on paper celebrating the artistic practice of ActionSpace artist and Wandsworth resident Roland Young (b. 1953–d. 2023) is currently on show at Studio Voltaire. Roland was known for creating minimal compositions of intricate figurative drawings, depicted through delicately repeated abstract forms. 

Open Wed – Sun until 25 Aug, 10am – 5pm. Free. Studio Voltaire.

Sprout Community Arts' Artist in Residence - Michelle Baharier

Throughout August award-winning artist Michelle Baharier, who is well known for her expressive and colourful portraits, will be Sprout's Artist-in-Residence. She will be creating a Community Portrait by inviting local people to add their images and ideas to a special collage. Michelle will be sharing her experiences and expertise by doing creative workshops and talks, as well as running fun drop-in activities for all the family and offering portrait opportunities.

Tue 6 Aug – Sat 31 Aug, 11am to 5pm. Free event, but workshops have various fees. 

Workshops, Classes, Talks & Courses

Royal Academy of Dance: Exploring The Art of Musicality in Dance

Join Lynn Wallis OBE, Producer of The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2024 in conversation with Dame Monica Mason and Ashley Page, esteemed judges of the inaugural Musicality Award.

Mon 2 Sep, 7pm - 8pm. £15.

Wandsworth Libraries & Heritage Service: An Evening of Windrush Poetry

Join Dr Velma McClymont for the launch of her first collection of poetry, Walk Foot Woman and Other Poems. Born in rural Jamaica and raised in Battersea, Dr McClymont draws on her own experience and that of the Windrush generation in her work. She will read from her collection followed by a Q&A.

Wed 31 Jul, 6.30pm - 8pm. Free. Battersea Library.

Sprout Community Arts: Head in the Clouds - Dreamscapes & Workshops

Free drop-in sessions with artist and model-maker Julie Blaney and watercolour artist Simon Stephens to create a unique Dreamscape. Fun bookable Workshops for all ages - learn to paint dreamy watercolour landscapes with Simon and painting on silk with Julie, and family friendly workshops making Bunny Lights, Paper Lanterns and Moving Monsters!

Until Sat 3 Aug, 11am - 5pm. Free drop-in activities. Workshops £10 - £20.

London Fine Art Studios: Pastel Portrait Workshop

Over the span of three days, you will be taught how to create a pastel portrait from a live model. Instructor Ann Witheridge will lead you through the process, covering topics such as proportion, shadow shapes, colour, and optical blending.

Tue 10 Sep – Thu 12 Sep, 10am - 4pm. £290.

Children & Families

Alton Renewal Team: Super Fruit Club

You are invited to join the Super Fruit Club, two sessions filled with free fruit-themed crafting and fresh fruit dishes for kids to create.

Tue 13 Aug & Tue 20 Aug, 11am - 1pm. Free.

Alton Arts Hub.

art-k: Summer Holiday workshops

art-k's holiday workshops are for children aged 6 - 16, and are a combination of half day and full day courses. They explore projects working with paper sculpture, clay, design, mixed media, watercolour and acrylics. Every student works on their own individual project - at the end of the session they'll go home with a finished piece of artwork!

Monday to Friday until Fri 30 Aug. £62 full day, £27 half day.

Acacia School of Dance: Modern Dance for 5 - 8 years

Modern works together with Ballet developing abilities such as turning and elevation used at more advanced Ballet levels. Limbering and strengthening study develop Ballet and Modern technique and artistry, rhythm, presentation, musicality, strength, control and ensures correct alignment of feet and posture - as well as being great fun! 

Wednesdays, 11 Sep - 4 Dec. £6.50

World Heart Beat: Music Lessons

Award-winning World Heart Beat Music Academy offers music tuition for young people (aged 5 - 25 years) keen to start, progress or establish their music learning journey.

The new term starts Mon 16 September –  from £8-25 per lesson. Book your free trial lesson now.

World Heart Beat Kimber Road and Embassy Gardens.