June
Care and Compassion
Tuesday, 17th
18.00 BST
Portable Works of Art
Many early European paintings were made to be carried with you. To be reminded of your loved ones and to pray for. Not meant to be hung on a wall these images have fronts and backs of equal importance, they often have intricate encasings, and they were meant to be handled: kissed, stroked and looked after. In this one hour talk we will look at some of these works of art and why they should be appreciated out of the museum context.
Monday, 23rd
19.00 BST
Japanese Calligraphy – ‘mindful attentiveness’
In our next Japanese Calligraphy workshop, we will explore the subtle and deeply valued concept of 気配り (kikubari)—a uniquely Japanese expression of mindful attentiveness and quiet care for others. Kikubari is at the heart of many Japanese social interactions. It’s the ability to notice what others might need—before they even ask—and respond with gentle, often invisible, acts of kindness. Unlike grand gestures, kikubari lies in the details, the unspoken, the intuitive response to another’s presence.
Wednesday, 25th
18.00 BST
Looking to Heal: the Art of Memorial
This lecture will introduce Maya Lin and her work with focus on her most famous monuments: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Civil Rights Memorial and What is Missing?, which is a memorial to climate change and endangered species. Lin has an innovative and quite controversial perspective on a memorial as a site of introspection rather than glory. We’ll explore how Lin’s work asks us to reflect on the role of a memorial, a type of sculpture that typically commemorates war and domination. The purpose of the talk is to think about how public memorial are used to commemorate our shared histories. We’ll come to understand the value of art and the artist in creating spaces of healing and contemplation.
July
Friendship
Wednesday, 2nd
19.00 BST
Faithful, Fierce, and Fashionable: how the Dog became Man’s Best Friend
Across millennia, the dog has occupied many roles in human history—guardian, hunter, worker, companion, and status symbol. This lecture explores the evolving place of the dog in societies around the world, from ancient civilizations to the modern living room. The lecture will also address how the dog’s role mirrored shifting human attitudes toward animals, nature, and class.
Monday, 7th
19.00 BST
Japanese Calligraphy – ’emotional bond with friends’
In Japanese culture, friendship is often quiet and steady, grounded more in shared experiences and mutual care than in verbal expression. Yūjō represents a type of relationship where presence, reliability, and unspoken support speak volumes. Writing 友情 invites us to slow down and think about the people who support and shape us—and how we can embody those qualities for others.
Wednesday, 9th
18.00 BST
Forever Friends: the Art of the Friendship Portrait
A selfie with your best friend is nothing new. This talk explores friendship in early modern Europe through portrait painting. The act of making an image that connected people was a powerful declaration of personal connection. The talk will look at different subcategories of the portrait to explore the many facets of friendship: from diplomatic agreements to brotherly and romantic love, souvenirs of a good-time-had-by-all and dedications of devotion.
Monday, 21st
19.00 BST
Japanese Calligraphy – ‘connection, fate’
In this special Japanese Calligraphy workshop, we’ll explore the kanji 縁 (en)—a rich and deeply spiritual concept in Japanese culture, often translated as connection, fate, or bond. While friendship is usually thought of as something we choose, en suggests that some connections are destined—woven by invisible threads that bring people together across time and space.
Wednesday, 23rd
18.00 BST
Brueghel & Rubens, a Fruitful Partnership
In the early 17th century 2 admired painters teamed up to profit from each other’s strengths: Peter Paul Rubens painted the figures while Jan Brueghel the Elder the landscapes, flora and fauna. Join Mariska as she discusses this fruitful partnership and looks at some of their most mesmerising works of art.
Monday, 28th
19.30 BST
Poetry Reading: Friendship
Join us for an unforgettable evening where literature comes to life! Amazing actor Matthew Peter-Carter will bring some of the most powerful and thought-provoking poems to life, immersing us in the beauty of language and emotion.
