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What's On in Plymouth - December 2023
Monday, 20 November, 2023 — The festive season is upon us! Plymouth is lit up with Christmas lights and shopping for the big day is in full swing.
<p dir="ltr">'Tis the season to be jolly! Plymouth is decorated with twinkling holiday lights and bustling with holiday shoppers. As the party season approaches, we have curated a list of the must-see attractions and activities in Plymouth during this merry time of year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Want to give us a heads up for a forthcoming event? Email <a href="mailto:editor@aup.ac.uk">editor@aup.ac.uk</a> or let us know on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/artsuniplym/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/artsuniplym/">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/artsuniplym/">Instagram</a>.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Make Space Makers Market is a Christmas pop up makers market, selling beautiful hand made items. Twelve local artists will be exhibiting and selling pieces of their work. The market is open for a week and includes ceramics, jewellery, metal work, leather, print, collage and textiles.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/make-space-makers-market-p3415763" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">27 November to 3 December @ Vacancy Atlas</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Experience the UK premiere of a major new multi-screen film commission by visionary artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah. With beautiful visuals of landscapes from across the globe, stunning underwater footage and a haunting soundtrack, Arcadia reflects on ‘The Columbian Exchange’ - the widespread transfer of plants, animals, precious metals, commodities, populations, technology, diseases and ideas between the Americas, Afro-Eurasia and Europe - the ‘New World’ and the ‘Old World’ - from the 1400s onwards. The film is presented across five screens in the shape of a cross with a multi-layered narrative featuring storms, restless seas, vast skies, beaches, ice fields, mountains, rivers and forests.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/exhibitions/john-akomfrah-arcadia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">30 November to 2 June @ The Box</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Dream Scenario is the wickedly entertaining comedy from writer-director Kristoffer Borgli and producer Ari Aster. Hapless family man Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers start seeing him in their dreams. But when his night-time appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate the trials and tribulations of his newfound stardom. Expect an inky black and witty critique of celebrity culture in this darkly comic satire that also stars Julianne Nicholson and Michael Cera.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://plymouthartscinema.org/whats-on/dream-scenario-15/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1 to 6 December @ Plymouth Arts Cinema</a><br /></p>
Dream Scenario (15) comes to Plymouth Arts Cinema from 1 December
<p dir="ltr">Royal William Yard’s popular Festive Good Food & Craft Market will be taking place inside the iconic Melville building and surrounding area outside. Enjoy the freshest local produce from the South West’s top suppliers and unique arts and crafts by artisan makers, while also having the opportunity to explore one of the Yard’s oldest buildings.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://royalwilliamyard.com/whats-on/festive-good-food-craft-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Every Sunday throughout December @ Royal William Yard</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Are you an LGBTQ+ identified writer who would like to meet other LGBTQ+ writers and write in the community? Join us on a Sunday morning to keep your writing practice regular. After introductions at the beginning, the rest of the time is for writing - whether you want to chat during or at the end is up to you! Some people may come only to write, some to share their work, some to read and some to swap their work for praise or critique. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queer-writing-group-tickets-571710871607?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 December - 9am to 11am @ Boston Tea Party</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Hundreds of Santas will run, jog and walk around the Barbican and Waterfront in a traffic-free environment, in aid of Jeremiah’s Journey and Shekinah. Take part in this run and receive your own Santa costume and finisher’s medal. The main route is approximately 4km, with the mini route approximately 2.5km suitable for ages 6-11 (and anyone else who wants to!)</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/santa-fun-run-p1782623" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 December - Starts at 11am @ The Barbican and Sutton Harbour</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">DJ Simon S and guests invite you to a Sunday of soulful sounds at Hub Plymouth. Record collectors - there will be quality new and used vinyl for sale, as well as great food, drinks and company.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/pop-up-record-shop-w-futuristica-p3368693" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 December - 12pm to 5pm @ Hub Plymouth, Royal William Yard</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join in the fun in the Students’ Union for Christmas Quiz Night, open to the whole of the Arts University Plymouth community. At just £1 entry per person, and all profits going to the Students’ Union Food Bank Christmas Appeal, you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain at the festive quiz! Your team can be as small as one person, with a limit of 8 people per team, with plenty of prizes to be won from vouchers, hampers and more plus a top prize worth over £100! Festive outfits are encouraged, we look forward to seeing your ugliest Christmas jumpers and your sparkliest Santa hats!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/369071565549545/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 December - 5pm to 8pm @ AUP:SU</a><br /></p>
Our Open Days are a great way to get a feel for what it's like to study at Arts University Plymouth
<p dir="ltr">Find out what it’s like to study at Arts University Plymouth by joining us from the comfort of your own home and signing up for our Online Open Day! Our Open Days offer you the chance to ask questions and find out more about studying with us. Our online events are a great option to get a feel for life at Arts University Plymouth, all without having to leave your bedroom!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/online-open-day">6 December - 4pm to 6pm @ online</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join graduate Alan Qualtrough’s Letterpress Club every Wednesday evening at Ocean Studios. Meet in the cafe and head over to the Print & Press Room with Alan to discuss all things letterpress including type and typography, inks, process, paper, techniques using historic process and learn about future workshops, programmes and opportunities. This club is free, bring your own materials if you’d like to share your projects or feel free to purchase materials from RAMP Paint Shop.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/letterpress-club-tickets-745101026227" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6 & 13 December - 5pm to 9pm @ Ocean Studios</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">The Students’ Union regular Open Mic Night welcomes students and staff to perform acoustic sets, poetry and spoken word. Come along, grab a drink, have a listen or add your name to the sign up sheet on the night! </p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/659700959631678/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6 December - 6pm to 8pm @ AUP:SU</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Open to members of the Arts University Plymouth community and the general public, students from courses across the university, staff members and local businesses will all be selling their wares. The Students’ Union bar will also be open with a festive menu, as well as a tombola to raise money for the Students’ Union Food Bank Christmas Appeal. Entry to the Festive Market is free, so why not pop along and browse a range of unique gifts and crafts from local artisans and makers?</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/arts-university-plymouth-students-union-festive-market">7 December - 4pm to 7pm @ AUP:SU</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join the talk at Ocean Studios as Alice takes you on a remarkable artistic journey, from her beginnings as a printmaker to her current role as a passionate painter, walker and explorer. This event will delve into her profound connection to the essence of place, both near and far. During this special talk, Alice will offer insights into the creative process that led her from printmaking to painting. Her primary materials, pastels, acrylic paints, and charcoal, play a vital role in her artistry and she’ll reveal how these materials enable her to capture the spirit of the places she explores.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-printmaker-to-painter-talk-by-alice-robinson-carter-tickets-750821606637?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">7 December - 6pm to 8pm @ Ocean Studios</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Are you curious about the fascinating world of abstract art, where the boundaries between painting and printmaking blur? Look no further, as Llyr Davies, an accomplished artist based in Plymouth, invites you to experience the magic of his unique creative process. Llyr Davies is renowned for his abstract and representational art, which breaks away from traditional norms. He masterfully incorporates everyday objects and gestural marks with vibrant colours to create energetic and raw paintings. His work delves into the essence of humanity, exploring themes of myths, space, domestic life, urban landscapes, coastlines, moorlands and storytelling. Llyr’s art is a captivating blend of diverse elements, including oil, spray paint and collage, all woven together on canvas.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/painting-in-printmaking-free-drop-in-sessions-tickets-737969375267?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10 December - 10am to 12pm @ The Factory Cooperage, Royal William Yard</a><br /></p>
Native Makers Festive Market will take place on 9 & 10 December at Ocean Studios
<p dir="ltr">Shop small this winter at the Native Makers Festive Market at Ocean Studios. With over 40 of the best indie businesses in the South West, selling everything from jewellery and ceramics to plants and doggy cupcakes, there will also be kids crafts, live music, delicious food and more. It’s also free entry and dogs are welcome too!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://royalwilliamyard.com/whats-on/native-makers-festive-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">9 & 10 December @ Ocean Studios, Royal William Yard</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join Anne Morgan, Senior Archivist at The Box for an exclusive look behind the scenes. Learn how The Box manage, maintain and move their collections across sites and discover more about why they decided to bring some of Plymouth’s most historically important archives together under one roof.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/talks-and-tours/behind-the-scenes-collections-tour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10 December - 1.30pm to 2.30pm @ The Box</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Would you like to improve your spoken English and meet new people? The Conversation Cafe will help you feel more confident when speaking out during lessons, discussions, crits, presentations or to your peers. Please contact Karen (<a href="mailto:kwelton@aup.ac.uk">kwelton@aup.ac.uk</a>) or Donna (<a href="mailto:dgundry@aup.ac.uk">dgundry@aup.ac.uk</a>) if you have any questions.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2848504138624064/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11 & 18 December - 3pm to 3.45pm @ AUP:SU</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join The Box’s Contemporary Art Curator, Nicoletta Lambertucci, for an informal talk that delves into John Akomfrah’s immersive multi-screen film, ‘Arcadia’. Akomfrah’s practice is heavily research-based and ‘Arcadia’ features footage and draws on archival sources from across the globe. This is a chance to discover more about how it was made and the many themes it explores.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/december-2023/bitesize-exploring-arcadia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">13 December - 1pm to 1:45pm @ The Box</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">SOAK Salons are a place for conversation amongst performance artists and audiences. Alongside Leadworks’ regular Live Art night, these bi-monthly sessions feature artist-led talks and workshop-style activities. Each session is an opportunity to share responses to past performances and to gain new insights into artistic practice. The aim is to develop practice-based dialogue and build a creative community that supports new ideas.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soak-salon-artist-audience-discussion-tickets-737037698597?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">14 December - 7pm to 9pm @ Leadworks</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Marine Aquarium, the Ocean Conservation Trust is carrying out 25 litter picks across 2023. Join the trust on a two-hour drop in event to help keep Plymouth’s stunning waterfront clean and become part of a movement to reduce plastic entering our ocean. These litter picks are open to members of the public and all equipment is provided.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://plymouthsoundnationalmarinepark.com/event/ocean-conservation-trust-litter-pick/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">15 December - 10:30am to 12:30pm @ Meet at Mayflower Steps</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">The working lunch model brings together like-minded people to discuss what is important to them. The focus is print, however all artists, makers and creators are welcome to join in the discussion about the experience of being a creative professional. Each month, you’re welcome to bring your work and your energy for honest, respectful feedback. New discoveries will be made, collaborations may be formed and friendships will be fostered!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-working-lunch-tickets-675878961167" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">19 December - 12:30pm to 2pm @ Ocean Studios</a><br /></p>