A Love Letter to Broadmead
A Love Letter to Broadmead wraps up with a free bank holiday weekend takeover across Broadmead and the Galleries.
Friday 1 May begins with the Crazy About You Street Party: tours of Broadmead Baptist Church, participatory art at the Climbing Hangar, a live broadcast from Unit Ujima, and Bristol Ballroom Community in Unit One. From 6pm, Broadmead comes alive with performances from Bristol Breakers, Strangebrew artists and Shredenhams skaters, followed by a party at Shredenhams from 7pm.
On Sunday 3 May, the Galleries hosts a free party from 2–11pm, with live electronic music, visuals and experimental sounds in Unit One, while Unit Ujima transforms the space outside Boots into an outdoor dancefloor.
Diaspora Festival events also run across the weekend, including Five Women One Show on Saturday and workshops on Monday 4 May.
All events are free. Book tickets via Headfirst.
https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/checkout/compass-presents
A Love Letter to Broadmead is funded by the UK government through UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Crazy About You Street Party - A Love Letter to Broadmead
The Crazy About You Street Party kicks off the Bank Holiday Weekend of free performances and activities around Broadmead.
9am - 2pm: Broadmead Baptist Church Tours.
12pm onwards: The Climbing Hangar Participatory Art Installation.
4pm - 6pm: Performances from Bristol Ballroom Community in Unit One and special live broadcast in Unit Ujima.
6pm - 7pm: Break Dancing, Skateboarding Show and Activated Art Installations.
7pm - 11pm: Decks! Decks! Beats! (The Crazy About You Street Party: Afterparty).
Crazy About You Street Party Afterparty - A Love Letter to Broadmead
The Crazy About You Street Party: Afterparty
7pm - 11pm: Decks! Decks! Beats!
Love Letter to Broadmead x DIASPORA!: Five Women, One Show
Broadmead’s urgently in need of some TLC, and Compass’ community-focused takeover is here to deliver it!
In collaboration with this year’s towering Diaspora fest, they light up the Galleries with an afternoon showcase of heritage-celebrating female performers, including stand-up comedian Michelle Meredith, Old Vic storyteller-in-residence Muneera Pilgrim, and dance-theatre artist Ceci Opal.
Unit 1, first floor, The Galleries. Free entry.
No Bags, Just Bangers - Galleries Party! - A Love Letter to Broadmead
Drop the shopping bags at the door and get your best shapes out!
Produced by young people in partnership with groups from Strangebrew and Ujima, the No Bags, Just Bangers Galleries Free Party will transform part of the Galleries into a music event.
From 2pm, audiences will nestle alongside shoppers to enjoy the sounds of Unit Ujima, or immerse themselves in the audio-visual treats in a takeover of Unit One.
At 5pm, when the Galleries closes to the public, the space between the two units will become a dedicated dance floor, performance space, and hangout.
So, dust off your dancing shoes and be part of this city moment, as Bristol re-invents this most kitsch of urban spaces, and consumer units become corners of culture for one night only.
Unit Ujima Set Times:
5-7pm DJ Style
7-9pm Krazy / WordLife
9-11pm Dancehall Generals
Love Letter to Broadmead x DIASPORA!: Collective Dreaming with Many Minds
Join Many Minds, mental health and performance charity in an interactive and inclusive workshop that invites you to dream with others, of the future we are longing for in a collective act of imagination, care and resistance. Centring people’s experience of culture and identity we’ll use creative exercises dream boldly about what culture could become.
Unit 1, first floor, The Galleries. Free entry.
Love Letter to Broadmead x DIASPORA!: Miniature Worlds of Broadmead
Join artist and set designer, Alexia Dobre, for a playful hands-on workshop where everyday discarded materials are transformed into imaginative miniature worlds.
Participants will explore the basics of theatre design and storytelling through model-making, building their own tiny dream spaces. Rooted in the idea of “giving old objects a new life,” the workshop encourages audiences to reimagine Broadmead’s spaces, histories, and identities by creating small-scale sculptural worlds inspired by the neighbourhood.
Unit 1, first floor, The Galleries. Free entry.
A Love Letter to Broadmead: Community Crochet with Snapshot
Participants will be guided through making small crochet granny squares, with support available for people who have never crocheted before as well as space for more confident participants to experiment with colours and patterns.
Each person’s square will represent their own contribution to Broadmead, and all of the squares will be joined together to create a single community crochet cardigan. The finished piece will act as a wearable artwork that represents collaboration, belonging and the idea that a community is made up of many different individuals coming together.
Unit 1, first floor, The Galleries.
Free.
Whitchurch Community Day
Come and join fellow Whitchurch residents at this summer get together, celebrating local talent, creativity and community spirit.
There will be a local talent show, stalls run by local community groups, hands-on workshops and live music. Come along and get involved!
Free entry.
Stokes Croft family day
Come down to Stokes Croft for an action-packed family day of free live arts performances, workshops, discounts and meal-deals. A great way to end the half term holidays.
The event starts at BIMM at 12pm with a range of follow-up activities on offer, across various venues.
Destination Old Market
Step back in time this half-term to an Old Market of days gone by.
Trinity present Destination Old Market: a medieval promenade and fayre. Activities for all ages, where you will sample a little of Old Market’s medieval history.
Join a ticketed theatrical tour of the street (five time slots available, bookable in advance) or visit the medieval fayre at Trinity Gardens.
Visit Trinity for more information and to book tickets.
Hidden stories of Christmas Steps
Visit this iconic Bristol street for a trip back in time as you meet some of the characters who have lived, worked, and played here in years (and centuries) gone by. A theatrical promenade, produced by Invisible Circus.
A Taste of St Pauls
Enjoy food and drink with neighbours, come together with friends new and old, learn about food and drink from different cultures, try something new.
Bridges for Communities, working with local food producers, present a series of food events in different venues.
Thursday 6 March, 6pm to 9pm – Community Meal @Malcolm X
Free, book your seat in advance
Showcase Celebration Event
Come to this final event and let’s celebrate you and let out a big cheer for the community!
A celebration event to recognise all that has take place creatively through the sessions run in Ashley Road / Grosvenor Rd as part of the Culture and Events Programme. Expect to see the results of creative workshops and take part in activities.
Free to attend, book in advance.
Malcolm X Community Centre, BS2 8YH
DIY and Making club
Learn DIY and making skills while working together to build a chain reaction machine from found materials. Free drop in at St Pauls Learning Centre.
Saturday 1 March, 10:30am-1pm - DIY engineering & Making Skills
Cooking Workshop with One Green Kitchen
Cooking workshop with the amazing Anne Su from One Green Kitchen. Part of the Taste of St Pauls event series.
Join us for a special session where you can learn a new recipe featuring nutritious and culturally significant vegetables.
Wednesday 26 February, 12:30pm to 2:30pm.
Carr House, Ground Floor, BS2 8XU
Book your place in advance.
Gongs & Drums Sound Bath
Workshop for Malcolm X Elders. As a part of this series of workshops we will be joining the Malcolm X Elders and going on a journey of sound for health and wellbeing.
Free to attend, book in advance.
Malcolm X Community Centre, BS2 8YH
Spring is Coming! Photography Workshop
Free Photography Workshop for beginners & enthusiasts. Spring themed session using plants to create prints to take home.
Free to attend, book in advance.
Darkrooms at St Pauls Learning Centre, BS2 8XJ
Parkour In The Park
Parkour is a great workout with dynamic movements out in the open. Such as running, jumping, and climbing, for improved strength, agility, balance and cardiovascular endurance. Come and have a taste of this for free.
Free to attend, book in advance.
St Pauls Learning Centre Green, BS2 8XJ
(This event is subject to licensing and site permissions approval)
Wardrobe Theatre film screening of Sing Street
Come and enjoy a lesser-known rom-com this Valentine’s weekend at the Wardrobe’s screening of Sing Street. Free of charge. Booking in advance required. Rated 12A.
Creative Crow Lane Celebration Party
Over the last 3 months, Crow Lane residents have been getting creative, making poetry and banners, bottling joy, painting nails, making music, and even creating their own Crow mascot. Come along and celebrate all that has been created and take part in fun art activities.
Free of charge, drop in.
Henbury Library, BS10 7DR
Transforming Lyrics
Back by popular demand! A rap & drill workshop for self-expression with uplifting lyrics – led by the highly motivational Dayton Powell, who is also a violence reduction specialist. The session, out in the open, will empower you to feel the energy of the space and support around you, to create lyrics with passion and positive energy.
Free to attend, book in advance.
St Pauls Learning Centre Green, BS2 8XJ
(This event is subject to licensing and site permissions approval)
Colombian Dance
A workshop for the body, heart & soul. Learn the steps, feel the beat and sway to the rhythms of Colombian dance and music.
Free to attend, book in advance.
Malcolm X Community Centre, BS2 8YH
Nyabinghi Drumming
Nyabinghi drumming is a traditional style of music for Rastafarian culture. All are welcome to come and be energised by the beats and the rhythms. Come play the drums and enjoy the vibes!
Free to attend, book in advance.
Malcolm X Community Centre, BS2 8YH
Creative Ceramics
Come and learn, explore your creativity and making something special. For beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Free to attend, book in advance.
St Pauls Learning Centre, BS2 8XJ
Repair and Make workshops
Learn basic DIY skills, brush up your sewing, or make your own phone charging cable.
All sessions are free and open to all.
Sunday 9 March, 2pm - 4pm - DIY skills. Outside Whitchurch library, BS14 0SX
Monday 10 March, 6pm - 7:30pm - Learn how to solder and make your own phone charging cable. Crispies, 8 Oatlands Avenue, BS14 0SX
Thursday 13 March 10am - 1pm – DIY skills. Outside Whitchurch library, BS14 0SX
Repair and Make workshops
Learn basic DIY skills, brush up your sewing, or make your own phone charging cable.
All sessions are free, drop-in, open to all.
Thursday 6 February, 1:30-4pm – DIY skills
Thursday 13 February, 6-8pm – make your own phone charging cable
Saturday 22 February 2-4.30pm – sewing skills
Sunday 2 March 2.30-5pm – community repair event (for everyone interested in more general household repairs)
Henbury and Brentry Community Centre, Machin Road, Bristol BS10 7HG
Creative Workshops
Free, adult focused creative workshops in Henbury Library. No need to book, just come along.
10am – 12 noon, 6 February 2025 – Photography
Creative Tile Making
Come and learn how to design unique tiles using traditional techniques and narrative themes. Fantastic opportunity to explore your creativity and leave your mark by making something special. For beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Free to attend, book in advance.
St Pauls Learning Centre Cafe, BS2 8XJ
Family creative sessions
Sunday afternoon family creative sessions.
Fill your afternoon with colourful and creative sessions at Henbury and Brentry Community Centre, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
Free of Charge. No need to book, just come along.
2 February 2025 - Puppetry
Open Mic ‘Step up and Shine’
Sing, recite, play and perform – an opportunity for everyone to come together and share their talent.
Free to attend, book in advance.
Malcolm X Community Centre, BS2 8YH.
Wardrobe Theatre film screening of Groundhog Day
Just ahead of the actual Groundhog Day, Wardrobe Theatre is screening the 1993 classic film. Free of charge. Booking in advance is required. Rated PG.
Learn to DJ
DJ Sessions for Young People, ages 13-17.
Learn to DJ, mix, beat match and build your set with experienced DJ and Producer Daisy Moon.
Whitchurch Library, Oatlands Avenue, from 5pm to 7pm on Monday 27 January.
All sessions are free of charge. No experience necessary, everyone welcome. Book your space.
Drop in singing group
Experience the joy of singing. Join choir facilitator Rachael at Whitchurch library for drop in singing sessions.
No experience necessary, just come along and enjoy singing in a relaxed and inclusive group setting.
Free of charge. Everyone is welcome, including children and babies.
Whitchurch Library, Oatlands Avenue
· Friday 24 January, 11am-12noon
· Friday 31 January, 11am-12noon
Crow Lane community mascot
Make the Crow Lane Community Mascot!
Free of charge creative workshop where we will be working together to create a wonderful crow mascot for the community! No need to book, just come along to Henbury Library.
Music workshops for young people (aged 13 - 21)
Come along to our music production workshops at Henbury Library on Crow Lane. Friday evenings, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. (Friday 3 January to Friday 14 March.)
Learn production techniques or record your own music with a team of professional musicians and producers.
Free of charge, drop-in sessions for young people. No experience necessary. All styles and abilities welcome.
Free Writing Workshops
Explore different writing styles and exercises over five sessions at The Whitchurch People’s Writing Group.
Inspired by a 1970s writing workshop which took place in Whitchurch, this is an opportunity to be creative and explore different writing styles under the guidance of writer and artist, Hannah Sullivan.
Come along and find your voice.
No previous experience in creative writing necessary.
Whitchurch Library, Oatlands Avenue, BS14
🖋 Monday 6 January 2025, from 5pm to 7pm
🖋 Monday 13 January 2025, from 5pm to 7pm