February event highlights

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Tower Hamlets has a vibrant arts scene, and a host of family and community activities. We hope you find something to enjoy.

For more events taking place in Tower Hamlets this month, visit our What’s on Guide for arts and entertainment listings.

What's on in Tower Hamlets      >


Get Your Skates On is back!

Get Your Skates On

Join us this half term for this FREE activity for all the family. Sports and physical activity, synthetic ice skating, games, face painting, arts and crafts and lots more.

No need to book, just turn up 10.30am - 4pm at Bethnal Green Gardens on Wednesday 15 February

This event is organised by Tower Hamlets Council Sports and Physical Activity, Children and Family Centres and Parks and Open Spaces teams.


Half Term Fun in Tower Hamlets Parks

Half Term activities in Tower Hamlets Parks

Get ready for spring with lots of family activities in parks and open spaces this February half term. Join our community bulb planting days in Prospect Park or come and plant your own window box, build bird boxes, go pond dipping or take part in Valentines themed arts and crafts. Plus adventure play sessions at Whitehorse and Bird Barmy Army in Victoria Park. All activities are free to take part in and all Tower Hamlets children and families are welcome. Check out our full half term programme. 


Tracks in Time: Exploring space, place and identity

Tracks in Time: Exploring space, place and identity

The Tower Hamlets Art Teachers Network (THAT) return to The Art Pavilion, Mile End Park for a celebration of the creativity and innovative practices in Tower Hamlets schools. This exhibition will showcase artwork produced by students and staff during the academic year 2022-2023.

Following the years of disruption caused by the pandemic Tower Hamlets schools are now refocusing their efforts on creativity in the classroom.  There will be a series of workshops taking place during the exhibition to encourage and develop creative practice for current students in Tower Hamlets schools. 


Judy's Vintage Fairs and Kilo Sale

Judy's Vintage Fair and Kilo Sale

We are excited to welcome Judy’s Vintage Fairs to the Pavilions in Mile End Park for the first time. Shop affordable, vintage, handmade and reworked at carefully curated marketplaces.

The East London Vintage Kilo Sale at The Art Pavilion on 5 February

The most affordable way to buy vintage and preloved clothes.  Come and shop for sustainable, vintage, retro & branded fashion for just £20 per kilo.

Judy’s Vintage Market at The Ecology Pavilion on 26 February

From vintage fashion and homewares to handmade jewellery and ifestyle products – unique ideas cross paths with a sustainable ideology, small-batch and preloved.

The Vintage Furniture Flea at The Art Pavilion on 26 February

Voted 'Best Fair' by the Vintage Guide to London. Doing away with expensive replicas and focusing on quality and affordability, the Flea provides an antidote; a celebration of mid-century living from the 50s and beyond, the event offers up top vintage traders, all offering furniture and homewares without costing the earth.  

One ticket for the 26 February gets you into the events at both pavilions. 


LGBT+ History Month events at St Margaret's House

LGBT+ History Month 2023

St Margaret's House in Bethnal Green are holding two events to mark LGBT+ History Month in February

LGBT+ Women over 50 film screening 

Come together on  to mark LGBT+ History Month’s 2023 theme ‘Behind the Lens’ in Tower Hamlets. Women Over 50 Film Festival will be presenting a range of short films celebrating LBTQ+ older women in front of and behind the camera, plus Q&A with the director of WOFFF.  Free - book now

Open Mic - Queer Icons

Celebrate LGBTQIA+ icons from across history at this ‘Queer Icons’ themed open mic night Share your best poetry, music and performances inspired by LGBTQ+ people past and present. The Gallery Cafe, Thursday 23 February. Sign up


Highlights from the Brady Collection

Highlights from the Brady Collection

Throughout February, there will be a selection of work on display from the Brady Arts Centre collection. This mini retrospective provides a snapshot of the creative output from classes that have run in a variety of media, for many years. There will also be  commissioned pieces which reflect the vibrancy of the area as a thriving cultural quarter and position the centre and its activities at the heart of the community.


Architecture and Fashion: Making Creative Connections

A Team Education half term programme

This FREE programme from A Team Arts Education is for young people aged 14-18 with a talent or interest in art and design, as well as those wanting to explore new ideas and different ways of working with  like-minded young people.

The half term programme Architecture and Fashion: Making Creative Connections includes trips and practical workshops. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in a career in fashion and textiles or architecture. Through practical workshops, participants will work with industry specialists to explore and experiment. Participants will be able to access support with course work and portfolio development.

The programme is supported and delivered in partnership with Alexander McQueen,  UAL: Central Saint Martins Insights Team and alumni, Dover Street Market and Homegrown.

Sessions take place at The Brady Arts Centre. Advance registration is essential.  Find out more and register. 


Outside Edge Young People's Project

Outside Edge Theatre Company Young People's Project

The Young People’s Project run by Outside Edge Theatre Company is open to all young people (aged 13 – 17), and in particular those who are affected by addiction of a loved one. Participants will have the chance to develop skills in all aspects of theatre and explore the Five Ways to Wellbeing through creativity. There will be a chance to perform their work at the end of the week in a theatre space. The project will be held at The Brady Arts Centre during February half term.


Archive Night: Women of Bethnal Green at Work

Archive Night: Women of Bethnal Green at Work

Image © Sarah Ainslie

Oxford House host photographer Sarah Ainslie in discussion about her work documenting the lives of East London's women past and present.  This special event on 21 February looks at the heritage of women and their work in Bethnal Green through talks and archive.

Tower Hamlets based photographer Sarah Ainslie has spent her career documenting the lives of local women. She has created a remarkable archive of life in East London. Her latest exhibition Women of Bethnal Green at Work continues this theme. Sarah will be sharing stories and photographs in an informal talk discussing her work and process. There will be an opportunity to see the exhibition after hours.  

Oxford House will also be hosting a pop-up archive handling session in this event. They will be showcasing objects and material from their collection related to women and their stories. Many of these objects will be shown publicly for the first time in decades. Book free tickets now.


Certain Blacks: Heroes Festival at Rich Mix

Certain Blacks: Heroes Festival at Rich Mix

Certain Blacks, the East London arts development organisation, return for the 9th edition of Heroes Festival celebrating diverse artists and programmes. Highlights include the festival launch event on 2 February; a celebration of international female musicians Maria Uzor, Helen Adove Hawk, Daphna Sadeeh & duo Eastern Strings.

On Saturday 4 February legendary grime innovators Ruff Sqwad present an evening of spoken word, rap, grime and dance. 

Find the full festival programme at the Rich Mix website. 


Free event training for community Coronation celebrations 

Coronation Street Party training and applications

Coronation Street Party in Ratcliffe Cross Street, 1937: Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives

Free online training is available on 15 February 2023, on how to deliver a safe community event. Training is open to all those organising community celebrations in Tower Hamlets Sign up for the training.

Applications for street parties and celebrations to honour His Majesty King Charles III's Coronation are now open. Residents are invited to apply for permission to hold a community street party on Tower Hamlets highways over the Coronation bank holiday weekend Saturday 6 to Monday 8 May 2023. Applications to hold street parties or community park events must be submitted by noon Friday 24 March 2023 Find out how to apply.


Are you organising events?

If you are organising arts or cultural events, either online or at your venue in Tower Hamlets, please submit listings to our What’s On pages.

Use #TowerHamletsTogether to highlight your event and enter wider conversations about activities and support available to the local community.

Twitter @THevents

Facebook TowerHamletsEvents


Gally Space Brady Art Centre

Tower Hamlets Arts and EventsTeam

Brady Arts Centre, 192 - 196 Hanbury Street, E1 5HU

020 7364 7921 | artsandevents@towerhamlets.gov.uk | www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/arts


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