Culture Shift update: Christmas is coming

Lots of Christmas activity now that we are properly into December, including concerts, exhibitions, maker markets and specially produced gifts and cards, art and more. I am working on a special edition of Art in Norwich to help to promote Norwich alongside the forthcoming British Art Show8. There is so much going on in the visual arts in Norwich that it would be a crime not to showcase it. I am also planning an 'out of town' section to encourage visitors to stay and make a week of their visit to Norfolk so stand by for news of how that is going to happen. I am also talking to lots of people about arts and health and wellbeing, which is an interesting area to explore. There has been a record number of submissions to Cley 16 with 196 artists applying to the show In Norfolk Now curated this year by architect and artist Hugh Pilkington. It will be exciting to see who gets chosen to develop some work for the show that runs throughout July 2016.

But onto the most pressing lineup of events starting with tonight! As ever, there is more listed on www.artinnorwich.org.uk and www.musicinnorwich.org.uk but here's some to keep you going!

There are several concerts this weekend: at St Peter Mancroft at 1pm tomorrow Saturday 5th, Norwich Phil at St Andrew's Hall ay 7.30pm and then on Sunday Eaton Concert Series at 3pm at St Andrews' Church, Eaton full detail at www.musicinnorwich.org.uk

Tonight 4 December Sistema in Norwich Christmas Concert at Octagon Chapel starts at 6.30pm. There is limited capacity but still some spaces, and its free. You will also be able to buy Sistema in Norwich Christmas cards - a bargain at £3 for 5, £5 for 10 and a mere £12 for 30 so consider sending REAL cards this year and support Sistema. If you are not coming to the concert then you can also buy online at www.sistemanorwich.org.uk

At Anteros in Magdalen Street, a new exhibition launches with John Midgely tonight at 6pm John is a prolific abstract landscape painter of some repute in Norfolk and the exhibition runs to 12 December.

Saturday 5 December 7.30pm
​Norwich Puppet Theatre 35th Birthday celebration and Rumpelstiltskin Gala night for their new Christmas show. Book tickets for an evening show of Rumpelstiltskin on Saturday and make sure you book to bring your young friends too. This is an old favourite story but a brand new show made for modern audiences of all ages. Puppets are a great introduction to live theatre for young children and fascinating and magical for all ages. Book at www.puppettheatre.co.uk - and by your self some mug gifts while you are there (see below)

Cherryleaf coffee house Saturday 5 December
"You are all warmly invited to the private view of the Holly & Alice Christmas exhibition opening Saturday night at 6-8pm in the Cherryleaf Cafe  (50 St Giles St). There will be a mince pie and festive cheer waiting with some lovely artwork and Christmas cards available to purchase. We look forward to seeing you there! Holly & Alice
https://www.facebook.com/events/581351935347529/581354275347295/ 

Sunday 6 December, 1.30-4pm
Makers Meet-up at Norwich Castle​
Join crafters, makers and Do-It-Yourselfers for a special event at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Part of the Build Your Own: Tools for Sharing Exhibition programme
A FACT and Crafts Council partnership exhibition in association with Norfolk Museums Service

Calling all tinkerers, hobbyists and enthusiasts! Come and meet local makers, crafters, DIYers and hackers for this family friendly afternoon about the joys of doing it yourself.

From cookery to coding, find out what people are working on, get help with a problem and pick up ideas and inspiration for your own creative projects.
Norwich Hackspace will be there printing snowflake Christmas decorations which you will be able to buy.​

Groups on hand to offer advice and inspiration include community creators, Norwich Hackspace, master gardeners, craft brewers and amateur radio enthusiasts. The exhibition is for anyone who likes to tinker, problem solve, DIY or just make stuff, and is a mixture of high-tech (3D printing) and low-tech (home-made fire surrounds).  We would like to encourage visitors to think about what they could do themselves at home, and give them some ideas.

The event is part of the programme inspired by the current exhibition at Norwich Castle, Build Your Own: Tools for Sharing, which takes a fascinating look at today’s making revolution, celebrating the act of making and sharing skills.

So whatever your passion, make sure you come along to the Castle on Sunday 6 December to share your ideas and kickstart new ones.

Friday 11 December to Monday 11 January 2016  at the Norwich Cathedral Hostry
Richard Denyer: Affinity and Kindred 
Photography exhibition and book investigating links between Norfolk and the Outer Hebrides. 70 diptychs described as 'A collection of photographs made in two differently marginal places, shaped by sea and faith’.
This includes the launch of the companion book containing over 100 photographs. The collection includes an imaginative essay by novelist and broadcaster Will Self, commissioned by Writers’ Centre Norwich with Richard Denyer. 

Colour-in Norwich
Colour-in Norwich is a new adult/family colouring in book featuring drawings of Norwich Lanes buildings in the City Centre, made by local illustrator Beverley Gene Coraldean. You will have seen her work on several of the GoGo Dragons around Norwich and she has a distinctive style which is very intricate and usually black and white - see more of her work here http://www.genealityart.com/. You can buy the Norwich Colour-in Book at many Norwich Lanes venues and shops (the Birdcage for sure) and its just a fiver.

Norwich Puppet Theatre mugs
While we are in the subject of gifts, Norwich Puppet Theatre has a great range of mugs which feature some of the most beautiful of the celebrity puppets that were auctioned a week or so ago. Some of the most popular were turned into mugs (John Hegley, Michael Rosen, Matt Reeve, Suzie Hanna, George Szirtes and Clarissa Upchurch). Many of the first run sold on the night so a new batch are on order with Ben and Tom Youngs, Dame Cleo Lane as well as reorders of some of the others - but they are currently on sale at NPT so you can buy some when you go and get your Rumpelstiltskin tickets. Also for families is the Great Rumpelstiltskin Letter Hunt - a trail  you can follow to find letters with a prize draw at the end of it. We all love a good treasure hunt

For more gifts, Clutter City is on Saturday 12th December at Norwich Arts Centre where you will be able to buy local cultural produce, and our friends Print to the People also have an online shop where you can buy original prints and their popular annual Get Stuffed event is relocated at the new Freight Gallery in Magdalen Street (next to Oxfam) on Thursday 10 December

Christmas trees at Redwell Brewery
And for your Christmas tree, there is a plentiful supply on sale at Redwell brewery just behind my house in Trowse Millgate. Jack is selling the finest quality trees so pop down right next to the railway bridge to pick a proper tree! He's there everyday for the next two weeks or so but don't leave it too late!

Carol singing and other concerts
There are concerts this weekend at St Peter Mancroft 1pm, Norwich Phil at St Andrew's Hall 7.30pm and Eaton Concert Series 3pm St Andrew's Church Eaton
Full details here at www.musicinnorwich.org.uk

​At St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral
Concert by The King’s Men
Friday 18 December 7.30pm​
A superb evening of carols and music with the world famous Choral Scholars of King’s College Cambridge.
The King’s Men is the close harmony group formed from the Choral Scholars of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. As Choral Scholars they follow the daily routine of Chapel services throughout term, as well as undertaking a busy concert and recording schedule in the vacations.

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist is honoured to host this magnificent concert that is sure to have you singing along!

Monday December 21st 4pm at the Green Grocers​
There will be carol singing from 4pm to 6pm outside the Green Grocers at Earlham shopping centre, collecting for 'Strong Roots' [a local gardening therapy project].
Please join us, bring your own torches and carol words if you have them. We will have a list but may not have enough sheets.
Mulled wine for singers afterwards.
RSVP to give us an idea of numbers
ps UEA carol singing at St Johns on Wednesday 9th at 7.30

Skippings Gallery in Great Yarmouth
I thought you might be interested in the current and future status of the gallery on King Street, Great Yarmouth, previously known as 133 Gallery.

From Bridget Heriz and Katarynza Coleman
We are a group of local artists who, with the support of the Preservation Trust, have formed a panel of volunteers to help get the gallery re-launched. We have re-named the gallery as ‘Skippings Gallery’, referencing the building’s previous incarnation as Skippings Store, and the sympathetic conservation of the original shop front.

There is an Open Day at the gallery on Saturday December 5th, 12pm to 4 pm where those interested in the success of this elegant and important addition to the cultural landscape of Great Yarmouth can come along to find out more. We are also looking for volunteers to invigilate during exhibitions and will be giving out information on this on the day.
 
We hope you will be interested in supporting this venture. If you can’t make it this Saturday, but would be interested in getting involved, then please email skippingsgallery@gmail.com   
 
We are organising an exhibition programme for 2016 comprising solo and group shows. These kick off in January 2016 with an exhibition of the work of ‘Chedgey’, a very interesting, eclectic and witty artist whose work encompasses painting, sculpture and collage.
www.davidchedgey.com   and more can be found about him here:www.davidchedgey.com/biography.html
 
Other confirmed exhibitions for 2016 include the artists Michael Horn, Mary Webb and Audrey Pilkington.
 
In the meantime, we have hung the gallery with a range pictures including paintings by Derek Greaves, Susan Gunn, Frank Pond, Martin Battye and Rachel Thomas, many of which are for sale.