What’s Happening

RISE

Saturday 18 January, 7pm

The opening spectacle of Brent's year as London Borough of Culture.

Olympic Way, Wembley Park

Locked In: Mariah Idrissi

7 May 2020

Activist and international model Mariah Idrissi is interviewed by Brent’s Moeed Majeed. Known as the face of modest fashion, Mariah made her name as the first Hijab wearing model for H&M in 2015.

Online

Locked In: Nikesh Shukla

15 May 2020

Award winning international author Nikesh Shukla is interviewed by Brent’s Moeed Majeed. Born in North Wembley, Brent, Nikesh has written numerous novels for adults and teenagers. His debut novel 'Coconut Limited' was set in Brent. .

Online

Locked In: Rachel Yankey OBE

22 May 2020

The original Brent superstar of women's football, England and Arsenal legend Rachel Yankey discusses struggling with dyslexia and memories of playing football at Queens Park, Brent.

Online

Locked In: Ben Smith aka Doc Brown

29 May 2020

Rapper and comedian Ben Smith speaks to Blueprint Collective Member Tyrique about what influenced his music, his first experience of rapping and getting into the music industry.

Online

Locked In: Marilyn Okoro

5 June 2020

From sneaking out for runs to representing GB at the Olympics - Marilyn discusses growing up in Stonebridge Brent, coping as an athlete in lockdown and being a positive black female role model.

Online

Locked In: General Levy

12 June 2020

Ragga deejay and Brent legend General Levy discusses bubbling up in Brent against ‘early beef in the hood’, his early career in the music scene & how 34yrs since his first show, he’s still INCREDIBLE.

Online

Locked In: Andria Zafirakou MBE

19 June 2020

2018 Global Teacher Prize Winner Andria Zafirakou MBE takes us on her teaching journey; from her earliest memory of making art to stepping into eerily quiet school buildings during lockdown.

Online

Locked In: Bilal Harry Khan

3 July 2020

Over 16k followers & co-host of an award-winning podcast, Neasden-born Bilal Harry Khan discusses growing up in Brent in the 90s and how lockdown has given him perspective.

Online

Locked In: Ekow Eshun

10 July 2020

Born in Wembley, writer and curator Ekow discusses growing up in 70s Britain, finding a way not to be defined by other’s expectation and putting Black visual culture at the heart of art exhibitions.

Online

Locked In: Paterson Joseph

17 July 2020

Brent born Paterson Joseph shows how a fascination with history, a hunger for knowledge and his willingness to immerse himself in his character’s circumstances are what really matters.

Online

Locked In: Guy Gunaratne

24 July 2020

Born in Neasden, author Guy talks about gaining the confidence to not explain or contextualise his writing and how art becomes richer when it’s infused with a mix of cultures, languages and senses.

Online

Locked In: Ian Duhig

31 July 2020

Kilburn born poet Ian Duhig grew up in a strong Irish community, working alongside some incredible Brent characters who've inspired his work. Named ‘most original poet of his generation' by Carol Ann Duffy.

Online

Locked In: Jack Dromey

7 August 2020

Born into a proud Irish Brent community, Jack Dromey MP was instrumental in supporting the groundbreaking Grunwick strikes and retells being on the picket lines alongside Jayaben Desai.

Online

Locked In: Dean Atta

14 August 2020

Born in Brent, author of The Black Flamingo Dean speaks about what it was like for him during lockdown, and how finding his poetry from school has helped him build the characters for his future novels.

Online

Locked In: Nicolas Kent

21 August 2020

Artistic Director of Brent's Tricycle Theatre (Kiln Theatre) for 30 years, Nick pioneered thought provoking and politically charged productions. He was granted the Freedom of Brent in 2012 for his work.

Online

Locked In: Elizabeth Anionwu

11 September 2020

Nurse, campaigner and co-founder of the first UK Sickle Cell society, in Brent (Harlesden) in 1979, Dame Elizabeth Anionwu's determination and dedication to the Sickle Cell community earned her the Pride Of Britain 2019 Lifetime Achievement award.

Online

BRENT BIENNIAL: BRIAN GRIFFITHS, CRICKLEWOOD LIBRARY

13 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: SELF – CONSCIOUS is conceived as a parallel lending library of selected books paired with sculptures, the work explores the potential and limitations of the unreliable narrator.

Cricklewood Library, 152 Olive Rd, London NW2 6UY

Blueprint Collective Creative Placements

Fri 18 September, 2020

BRENT BIENNIAL: RASHEED ARAEEN, THE LIBRARY AT WILLESDEN GREEN

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: The Library at Willesden Green presents two large-scale works by artist Rasheed Araeen responding to its physical spaces and its civic role as a space for research, cultural discourse and exchange.

The Library at Willesden Green, 95 High Road, Willesden, London NW10 2SF

YASMIN NICHOLAS: THE CHILDREN OF THE SUGAR

19 Sep - 13 Dec 2020

Part of Brent Biennial, Brent-based artist Yasmin Nicholas has developed new collage works ‘The Children of the Sugar’ centering personal and collective histories that form Brent’s identity. Hear her recite her four poems that her collages bring together.

Across the borough

BRENT BIENNIAL: DAN MITCHELL, WEMBLEY LIBRARY

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Artist Dan Mitchell’s commission will take the form of a large-scale text-based work covering the glass facade of Wembley Public Library housed within the Brent Civic Centre.

Wembley Library, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0FJ

BRENT BIENNIAL: DAVID BLANDY, HARLESDEN LIBRARY

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Artist David Blandy has worked with young people from Capital City Academy and Roundwood Youth Centre to reimagine Harlesden 8000 years from now.

Harlesden Library Plus, 49A Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London NW10 8SE

BRENT BIENNIAL: DAWN MELLOR, KINGSBURY ROAD

From 19 September 2020

Brent Biennial: The first permanent public artwork by British artist Dawn Mellor: a large-scale mural that will celebrate the life of local hero George Michael, who lived and went to school in Kingsbury.

499 Kingsbury Road, Corner of Winkworths Estate Agent, London NW9 9ED

BRENT BIENNIAL: ABBAS ZAHEDI

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Soul Refresher is a new commission by London based artist Abbas Zahedi. Through a process of conversations in Brent with invited collaborators the work will explore connections of identity to place and history.

Across the Borough

BRENT BIENNIAL: ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE (AiR)

N/A these are closed events for schools

Brent Biennial: AiR is delighted to be a recipient of the 2020 Culture Fund and will be producing bespoke art projects through collaboration with five Brent schools.

Schools in Brent

BRENT BIENNIAL: AVANT-GARDENING, BARHAM COMMUNITY LIBRARY

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: At Barham Community Library, Avant-Gardening (Polly Brannan and Paul Green) have explored the rich history of the library, park and the wider local area to craft new stories with schools and local communities.

Barham Community Library, 660 Harrow Rd, Wembley HA0 2HB

BRENT BIENNIAL: BARBY ASANTE

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Declaration of Independence is an ongoing performance/forum by artist Barby Asante, bringing together womxn* to reflect on how the political affects the personal and how the social, cultural implications of historic declarations, policies and legislations Impact on their everyday lives.

Online

BRENT BIENNIAL: RUTH BEALE, KILBURN LIBRARY

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: ‘The library as memorial’ is a new commission for Kilburn Library. Taking the form of a book dedication, in which books themselves become a way to mark and remember.

Kilburn Library, 42 Salusbury Rd, Queen's Park, London NW6 6NN

BRENT BIENNIAL: CARL GABRIEL, PRESTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: New and existing work by artist Carl Gabriel will be presented at Preston Road Library.

Preston Community Library, Carlton Avenue East, Wembley HA9 8PL

BRENT BIENNIAL: IMRAN QURESHI, EALING ROAD LIBRARY

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi’s commission will see a series of site-specific installations situated throughout the Library at Ealing Road, bringing his unique visual language to the public spaces of the library.

Ealing Road Library, Coronet Parade, Ealing Rd, Wembley HA0 4BA

BRENT BIENNIAL: JUDE WACKS

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: A photography project by Jude Wacks documenting local businesses around Brent, celebrating the history, entrepreneurship and community contribution of family firms across the borough.

Online (Instagram)

BRENT BIENNIAL: JOHN ROGERS, KENSAL RISE LIBRARY

19 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Through walks and talks that invite local residents to contribute their stories, artist John Rogers will produce an audio-visual portrait of the local area surrounding Kensal Rise Library, drawing on people's lived experiences and memories.

Kensal Rise Library, Bathurst Gardens, North Kensington, London NW10 5JA

BRENT BIENNIAL: YASMIN NICHOLAS

22 September - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Brent based artist Yasmin Nicholas will be developing new collage works that will be presented across the borough.

Displayed on over 50 digital billboards, bus stops and posters in launderettes across Brent.

RUMAH Fest

26 September 2020, 18:00 - 20:30

RUMAH Fest is a one-day festival to open up spaces for integration amongst Artists from the various Asian Diasporas based in London, supported by Metroland Cultures Fund.

Online (RUMAH’s YouTube Page)

BRENT BIENNIAL: JAYKOE, THE LIBRARY AT WILLESDEN GREEN

1 October - 22 November 2020

Brent Biennial: Culture Move (Sampled History) is an exhibition by London-based artist Jaykoe. The show explores the history of sampled music in the borough.

The Exhibition Space Brent Museum and Archives in The Library at Willesden Green 95 High Road Willesden London NW10 2SF

ST MICHAEL’S AND ALL ANGELS STEEL ORCHESTRA

3 – 4 October 2020

Come and watch a group of talented young steel pan players from St Michaels and All Angels steel orchestra performing an eclectic mix of classical, soca, reggae and pop music – all the best tunes from Mozart to Stevie Wonder!

TBC

BRENT BIENNIAL: ACTIONSPACE, BARHAM PARK

3 - 4 October 2020, 11:00 - 17:00

Brent Biennial: an exploration of the life experiences of Brent residents with learning disabilities and a celebration of the creativity of Brent's learning disabled community, also highlighting Brent-based studio artists' work from COVID-19 lockdown.

Barham Park, Harrow Rd, Wembley HA0 2HB

BRENT BIENNIAL: THE OCTOBER ANTHROPOLOGIST, WILLESDEN GREEN

3 October 2020, 14:00

Brent Biennial: Baristas Under Brexit - The October Anthropologist team has conducted research into the lives of Southern and Eastern European immigrants who work as baristas in London cafe.

Online via ZOOM

BRENT BIENNIAL: CRISIS, HARLESDEN TOWN GARDEN

4 October - 31 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Culture Click 2020 is a bespoke photography based project, tailored to the needs of homeless and vulnerably-housed residents in Brent to promote transferable skills, build social networks and provide opportunities to creatively participate in the Brent 2020 programme.

Harlesden Town Garden, NW10 4BB

BRING YOUR OWN BARS POETRY

12 October 2020, 20:00

Bring Your Own Bars Poetry is an open mic, supported by Brent 2020 Culture Fund, dedicated to showcasing the best of the Spoken Word scene from all around London!

BOXPARK Wembley 18 Olympic Way Wembley, London HA9 0JT

DAVID BLANDY: 8,000 YEARS IN THE FUTURE

12 October 2020, 18:00

Join Brent Biennial artist David Blandy, critic and curator Gabrielle de la Puente, and publisher and curator Sarah Shin as they embark on an online roleplaying game set in Harlesden 8,000 years in the future.

Online (Twitch)

BRENT BIENNIAL: PIO ABAD, KILBURN

16 October - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Pio Abad’s murals on the Burton Road and Kilburn High Road depict personal, significant and idiosyncratic objects collected from residents that live in the area.

Kilburn High Road, on Burton Road and Willesden Lane

BEWILDERING BY WILLESDEN JUNCTION POETS

BeWILDering - explore Willesden Junction Station in more depth through words and art, from a collective of poets and artist supported by Brent 2020 Culture Fund.

Willesden Junction

Seen and Heard - The Petition

Sign the Seen and Heard petition now.

QUEER EAST FILM FESTIVAL

22 October 2020 - January 2021

Queer East Film Festival brings the East and Southeast Asian LGBTQ+ cinema to London, with a fortnight of screenings and events. Find out what it means to be Asian and queer today from the unheard voices of storytellers, activists, academics, and those who dare to challenge social norms, history, and the law in Asia. Supported by Brent 2020 Culture Fund.

Lexi Cinema and online

BRENT BIENNIAL: PAUL PURGAS

22 October - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Co-commissioned with Camden Art Centre, artist and musician Paul Purgas will present an audio-visual installation exploring the sonic experimentations of India’s first electronic music studio, established at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India.

Metroland Studios (behind Kilburn Market), Kilburn High Rd, London NW6 6JH

Locked In: Kanya King CBE

9 October 2020

Kilburn born, MOBO Awards Founder and CEO, Kanya King CBE has played a major role in bringing Black British music and culture to the mainstream throughout her career.

Online

TALK: RUTH BEALE AND BRIAN GRIFFITHS IN CONVERSATION

27 October 2020, 18:30

Join artists Ruth Beale and Brian Griffiths as they discuss their commissions for the Brent Biennial, the role libraries play in community making and the threat they face from austerity.

Online (ZOOM)

TALK: PIO ABAD AND MINERVA CUEVAS IN CONVERSATION

29 October 2020, 19:00

Join artists Pio Abad and Minerva Cuevas as they discuss their artistic practices and Abad's murals commission for the Brent Biennial.

Online

BRENT BIENNIAL: DHELIA SNOUSSI

Zines will be available and distributed from the 1 November 2020

Brent Biennial: Artist Dhelia Snoussi’s commission will support a collective process of alternative place making that will explore how we might begin to think about our areas through our lived experiences, relationships and connections as the basis of a new map.

Online

BRENT BIENNIAL: INANIMATORZ

7 - 15 November 2020

Brent Biennial: Inanimatorz will creatively combine art, motion and metaphor to convey ideas and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Brent by collaborating with Brent based artists such as poet Amanda Epe.

Metroland Studios, 91 Kilburn Square, London NW6 6PS

PERFORMANCE: THESE DAYS

10 November 2020, 19:00

Screening of a new performance by fictional character Dr. Robert Laing, investigating the themes and concerns behind artist Dan Mitchell’s commission for the Brent Biennial THESE DAYS EVEN REALITY HAS TO LOOK ARTIFICIAL, a large-scale text installation covering the outside of Wembley Library.

Online

SCREENING: ZIGZAG AFTERLIVES: FILM EXPERIMENTS FROM THE 1960S AND 1970S IN INDIA

11 November 2020, 19:00

Cultural theorist and curator Nancy Adajania will present a screening programme of experimental films made in India in the 1960s and 1970s.

Online

OUR JOURNEYS

11 November 2020, 19:30

‘Our Journeys’ is a film about human stories of resilience created by artists Addictive TV, supported by Culture Fund.

Online (YouTube)

NO BASS LIKE HOME ONLINE FESTIVAL

Sun 15 November

A seven-hour online celebration of reggae culture curated by Seani B and reimagined for a locked-down London.

Online

PODCASTS: AVANT-GARDENING

Mon 16 and Mon 30 November, 10:00

A series of podcasts exploring the local histories of Barham Park in Brent, developed by Avant-Gardening artists’ collective. Their work investigates social spaces, communication and the urban environment.

Online (TBC)

WORD UP LONDON: WORKSHOPS

20 November 2020

Word Up is back with a program of workshops and stellar live events at the Royal Oak and online (during Covid-19) to continue the conversation we started with Harlesden in 2015.

TBC

BRENT BIENNIAL: ADAM FARAH

21 November - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Artist Adam Farah has been invited to develop a new moving image work. The new work will be a personal portrait of the borough.

Distributed on Kilburn High Road from 21 Nov 2020, online screening with LUX on Thur 26 Nov and online from Fri 27 Nov

SCREENING: ADAM FARAH, B-SIDES

26 November 2020, 19:00

Developed in partnership with LUX, London artist Adam Farah presents his new film work B-SIDES. ‘B-SIDES…’ is an artwork* produced by free.yard featuring contributions from Adam Farah and Elijah Maja.

Online

BRENT BIENNIAL: LUCY FINE

28 November - 13 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Local artist, designer and fashion lecturer Lucy Fine will present a curated photography exhibition and book documenting the style of Brent’s vibrant residents.

Online

WORD UP LONDON: LIVE EVENTS

7 December 2020

Harlesden's homegrown spoken word night, Word Up, is back as part of the Brent 2020, London Borough of Culture programme.

The Royal Oak, Harlesden, London NW10 8SE

BRENT BIENNIAL: FOR NOW (HOUSE OF LIFE) WILLESDEN JEWISH CEMETERY

Opens 7 December 2020

Brent Biennial: Willesden Jewish Cemetery has commissioned For Now to create a sound piece as part of the ‘House of Life’ heritage experience opening at the cemetery in November.

Willesden Jewish Cemetery, Beaconsfield Rd, Willesden, London NW10 2JE

GROWN UP IN BRENT: 100 YEARS OF YOUTH CULTURE

TBC

What was and is it like growing up in Brent? Supported by Brent 2020 Culture Fund, the Museum of Youth Culture is collecting photographs, ephemera and oral histories to tell the borough’s youth culture story over the last 100 years through the public’s memories.

THE WIFE OF WILLESDEN

TBC

Postponed - new dates TBC. The world premiere of Zadie Smith’s debut play The Wife of Willesden comes to Kiln Theatre for a strictly limited run. This updated irreverent, bawdy and beautiful new comedy celebrates the life and times of one of literatures most beloved characters.

Kiln Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, London NW6 7JR

T.O.Y / THE OTHER YOUTH

TBC

To The T will be creating a short film and an event that seeks to challenge people’s perceptions and prejudices of young people with a focus on the concept of a victim and perpetrator.

The Granville 140 Carlton Vale London NW6 5HE

NW TRILOGY

TBC

Postponed - new dates TBC. Three kaleidoscopic stories re-investigate the different neighbourhoods of our local area and celebrate the important local events and people that went on to change this country.

Kiln Theatre

THE NO BASS LIKE HOME FILM PROJECT

TBC

Postponed - new dates TBC. Marking the contribution of black British filmmakers, from Horace Ove to Menelik Shabazz.

Lexi Cinema 194b Chamberlayne Road Kensal Green London NW10 3JU

BRENT BIENNIAL: ELECTRONIC SHEEP, KILBURN

From 11 December 2020

Brent Biennial: The Kilburn Tapestries is a knitted tapestry, based on the untold stories of the Irish community living in and around Kilburn, Brent.

Kilburn (TBC)

GATHERING: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

12 December 2020, 19:00

Live event celebrating the culmination of workshops led by artist Barby Asante as part of Declaration of Independence, an ongoing performance/forum bringing together womxn* from Brent to reflect on how the political affects the personal and how the social, cultural implications of historic declarations, policies and legislations impact on people’s everyday lives.

Online

THE HARLESDEN & WILLESDEN PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVE

18 January - 21 February 2021

Postponed - new dates TBC. A comprehensive, largely unseen archive of photographs, made by Roy Mehta, documenting life in Brent in the late 1980s and early 1990s in an exhibition at the Library at Willesden Green.

The Exhibition Space at Willesden Library

COMMEDIA DELL’BRENT

From 5 May 2021

A drama participatory project using the Italian comical artform of Commedia dell’Arte, supported by Brent 2020 Culture Fund.

College North West London, Willesden Campus, London. NW10 2XD