Latest News
What's On in Plymouth - May 2024
Monday, 22 April, 2024 — Spring is here and it won’t be long until we’re treated to long summer days and hot sunny weather rather than endless rain.
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Spring is here and it won’t be long until we’re treated to long summer days and hot sunny weather rather than endless rain. Thankfully, there’s plenty to keep you busy for the month of May in Plymouth, so make use of those Bank Holidays and have a blast!<br /></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/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/artsuniplym/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/artsuniplym/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Student Support’s new ‘Tea & Cake Breaks’ are a weekly drop-in session, a great way to pop by and chat about anything on your mind in a more relaxed environment. A member of the team will be available with some sweet treats and tea, ready to have a chat about anything you wish. It will be a chilled, safe and judgement-free zone, with multiple chairs available so no need to book - just turn up if you want to!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/278541751902525/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 May - 1pm to 2pm @ AUP:SU</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, enjoy four days of great food, entertainment and family fun with over 30 top street food traders coming together to serve up a diverse range of dishes. This year, the festival is even bigger, better and tastier with the addition of more tasty traders, market stalls, live music and evening entertainment. Feast on anything from Indian to Vietnamese, Thai to Moroccan, Mexican to Afghan, Caribbean to Uzbek, with food to suit every dietary requirement and plenty to satisfy your sweet tooth!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/plymouth-street-food-festival-p3247653" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 to 6 May @ Central Park</a><br /></p>
Native Makers is a staple of local makers and creatives, why not check it out at Ocean Studios on 4 May and see what artisan delights you can find?
<p dir="ltr">The 2024 market season kicks off with a series of fresh Native Makers events to support the makers community. There’ll be a new themed series of events, highlighting endangered crafts, sustainably made products, collaborations and opportunities for start-up businesses, students and graduates. Expect over 25 artisan makers, creative activities and demos, food and drink as well as being able to enjoy a dog friendly free event!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/native-makers-makers-market-p3480923" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4 May - 10am to 4pm @ Ocean Studios</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join Alan Qualtrough, alumni of Arts University Plymouth, and use vintage wood type to print a poster to celebrate Plymouth’s Urban Tree Festival. The second festival of its kind, the Plymouth Urban Tree Festival joins other cities including London and Belfast for the 7th annual Urban Tree Festival to celebrate the value and importance of our city’s trees. The festival is independently run entirely by passionate local volunteers, tree experts, charities and groups.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-letterpress-poster-printing-sessions-tickets-881763376997?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4, 11 & 18 May @ Ocean Studios</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Known for showcasing some of the region’s most talented artists and makers, the Good Food & Craft Market offers everything from tasty treats to handcrafted gifts. The monthly markets have been a staple of Royal William Yard’s event calendar for years and has won awards along the way. Expect delicious food and drink to sample, savour and take home, unique handmade goods by talented artists and makers, fresh local produce and unique small local businesses all held in a dog friendly venue with plenty to discover and do for all the family.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/good-food-and-craft-market-p2522663" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 May @ 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">5 May - 9am to 11am @ Boston Tea Party</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Are you longing to dive into your sewing projects while connecting with a supportive community of like-minded individuals? Join the Sewing Socially All-Dayer in collaboration with Lizzy from Make at 140, where your creativity will soar, and friendships will blossom. Immerse yourself in a fun and chilled sewing environment within our fully equipped sewing studio. With spacious tables, a comprehensive sewing kit, and all the accessories you need, our studio is a haven for sewing enthusiasts like you. Bring your projects, machines, fabrics and patterns!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://royalwilliamyard.com/whats-on/socially-sewing-all-dayer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 May - 10:30am to 4:30pm @ Ocean Studios</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Come to the Students’ Union for a low-pressure Study Social event. They’ll be sticking a film on for those of you who just want to relax for a while, and for those of you who prefer a bit of background noise while you get on with your work. This is a regular event so please feel free to suggest films to the SU Team. This event is part of the ‘Anti-Burnout Initiative’ by Beth Evans, Student Union President, helping to keep the pressure off and your work on track.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/380654651535924/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">7, 14 & 28 May - 5pm to 7pm @ AUP:SU</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join in a vibrant and creative evening of fashion and textiles with local fashionistas <a href="https://minski.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minski</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/go.ra.ka/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goraka</a>. Minski, an independent UK-based slow fashion collective, is on a mission to create sustainable and funky clothing using a variety of handcrafting techniques. Nina Westwood, Arts University Plymouth alumni, artist and fashion designer behind the brand, started it in 2019, advocating for upcycling, sustainable slow-fashion and expressing individuality. Goraka, a Plymouth-based brand by BA (Hons) Fine Art alumni Ash Franceschi, focuses on repairing, mending textiles, clothing alterations and upcycling. With a background as a fine artist turned self-taught seamstress, Ash specialises in reusing scrap materials and zero-waste making.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://royalwilliamyard.com/whats-on/fashion-textile-social-with-minski-goraka-make-140" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">9 May - 6:30pm to 8:30pm @ Make@140</a><br /></p>
The Trust Fall (15) explores Julian Assange & WikiLeaks in this eye-opening documentary available to watch at Plymouth Arts Cinema from 11 to 16 May
<p dir="ltr">Despite being detained, silenced and hidden from public view in maximum security Belmarsh Prison, multi-award-winning Australian journalist and publisher Julian Assange has become one of the loudest voices for free speech of our times. The disclosures of WikiLeaks and Assange from 2010 onwards ignited a firestorm of controversy. The Trust Fall examines the meaning and significance of the insights that WikiLeaks shared with the world, the resulting behaviour of the governments involved, the extraordinary personal risk taken by Assange, and the wider fundamental issues around press freedom that affect all of us and our right to know. Filmed over two years on three continents and in ten cities, the film invites viewers to embark on a journey of understanding, where the circumstances are unprecedented and the destination unexpected.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://plymouthartscinema.org/whats-on/the-trust-fall-15/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11 to 16 May @ Plymouth Arts Cinema</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Grab a coffee with a member of Devon and Cornwall Police for confidential conversations, advice or find out how to report something you’re concerned about. Staff and students from Arts University Plymouth are invited to this no pressure drop-in session with Tracey Godfrey, the Police University Liaison Officer for Arts University Plymouth.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/824022845856530/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">14 May - 1:30pm to 3:30pm @ Arts University Plymouth</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Join curator Hammad Nasar in conversation with artist David Alesworth for a special insight into the artist’s practice and to learn more about his paintings in the ‘Beyond the Page: South Asian Miniature Painting and Britain, 1600 to Now’ exhibition at The Box. The talk will begin with a seated event in the South Hall. After a Q&A, the event will move over to the exhibition in St Luke’s so you can explore ‘Beyond the Page’ further.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/talks-and-tours/gardens-of-england-the-migration-of-forms-and-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">17 May - 5:45pm to 8pm @ The Box</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Theatre Tours give you a unique look at how a busy theatre operates. These tours aim to take you behind the scenes to view The Lyric auditorium from the stage, the flexible format of The Drum, the smallest performance space in The Lab, the orchestra pit, the trap-rooms and front-of-house areas. Glimpse inside the dressing rooms, wings and backstage areas, and experience some of the theatricality, heritage and tradition all in the company of the experienced and knowledgeable technical and Front of House teams.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/trp-theatre-tours-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">17 May onwards @ Theatre Royal Plymouth</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Enjoy exclusive access to the ‘Beyond the Page: South Asian Miniature Painting and Britain, 1600 to Now’ exhibition in a private tour with curator and expert on contemporary South Asian art, Hammad Nasar.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/special-events/beyond-the-page-private-tour-with-curator-hammad-nasar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">18 May - 10:15 to 11:30pm @ The Box</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Brought to you by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, enjoy a swashbuckling weekend of fun and entertainment inspired by the high seas, and explore a treasure trove of free activities across the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, Royal William Yard and Waterfront for all the family to enjoy. Discover the entertainment with tons of pirate fun throughout the Waterfront. Visit the historic ships that you can explore and learn more about its history, and feel the rhythm with sea shanty bands bringing maritime music to life.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/major-events/plymouth-pirates-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">18 & 19 May @ The Barbican, Sutton Harbour, Royal William Yard & The Waterfront</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Ahar me hearties. Register for the Plymouth Pirate Fun Run, as part of Pirates Weekend, and bring your best pirate outfit! Be part of the UK’s first pirate fun run in aid of bereavement support charity, Jeremiah’s Journey. The Plymouth Pirate Fun Run will see hundreds of people dressed as pirates take to the city’s historic waterfront as they walk or run the 3k route. Pirate fancy dress welcome - the more pirates the better!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/plymouth-pirate-fun-run-p3494833" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">19 May - 10:30am to 12pm @ The Barbican</a><br /></p>
Harriet Bowman will be exploring her exhibition 'Taking care of the yolk' at MIRROR
<p dir="ltr">Join in the conversation at MIRROR to hear artist Harriet Bowman discuss her new exhibition, ‘Taking care of the yolk’. The exhibition looks at the boundaries of materials in relation to human and non-human entities. Events unfolding all around us, microscopic to macro, we find ourselves tangled between them. These seemingly small happenings become heightened, fixated on and replayed over and over when they circle a significant moment.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://mirrorplymouth.com/whats-on/harriet-bowman-artist-in-conversation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23 May - 6pm to 7:30pm @ MIRROR</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">In the scenic surrounds of Firestone Bay, relax with local musical talent with a drink in your hand as the sun goes down for the return of the popular Yard Session series. Andy Quick is a genre-defying musician and independent powerhouse of the South West music scene. Renowned for his dynamic performances and exceptional songwriting skills, Andy is the driving force and frontman of festival favourites Land of the Giants, The Andy Quick Band and The Andy Quick Trio. Over his 14 year career, Andy has delivered hundreds of shows connecting with thousands of music lovers across the land and set countless dance floors alight with his mongrel blend of funk, rock, rap, indie and reggae.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://royalwilliamyard.com/whats-on/yard-sessions-andy-quick-trio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">24 May - 5:30pm to 8pm @ Firestone Bay</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">This year is the 9th annual Green Man event and will be a fantastic mix of entertainment provided by local bands, circus acts, morris dancers, re-enactment groups and more to keep you entertained. Once again, traditional family activities will be running throughout the event along with food and craft stalls, wood turning crafts in the Barrow Centre, bouncy castles, a beer tent and the obligatory hog roast. Lots of fun for visitors of all ages.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/green-man-weekend-p3104343" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">25 & 26 May @ Mount Edgcumbe Country Park </a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">A Living Lab is an occasion where you can share challenges, hacks that work for you and come up with ideas to try. All with a view to help become successful in business as a neurodivergent person. Anyone is welcome who feels they are trying to squeeze themselves into doing business as usual. Come and meet Ed the Duck and learn how a small yellow bath toy can increase workplace productivity (yes, really!). Based in the UK, NeuDICE is a neurodivergent and inclusive community of entrepreneurs, with a global reach.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neudice-plymouth-living-labs-2024-tickets-869340419597?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">28 May - 5pm @ Union Corner</a><br /></p>
Find out about Arts University Plymouth’s dynamic range of Masters degrees and the active, cross-disciplinary community of thinkers and makers that make up our vibrant postgraduate community on 29 May
<p dir="ltr">If you’re interested in studying a creative postgraduate degree, before you decide where you would like to study and what course is right for you, it’s helpful to attend an event and speak to real staff and students about your options. Find out about Arts University Plymouth’s dynamic range of Masters degrees and the active, cross-disciplinary community of thinkers and makers that make up our vibrant postgraduate community. Whether you’re a current undergraduate considering progression, a professional looking to sharpen your expertise or a mature creative looking for a new adventure, this could be the chance for you to get a feel for life at a university-sector independent art school.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/postgraduate-open-evening" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">29 May - 5pm to 7pm @ Arts University Plymouth</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Plymouth’s food and drink extravaganza, Flavour Fest, is set to celebrate 20 fabulous years with an even bigger and better offering. Flavour Fest 2024 is expanding to feature an exciting new entertainment zone where visitors can kick back and relax, soak up the atmosphere of live music and Ibizan beats, sample amazing street food and sip on cocktails. The festival will also feature more than 80 stalls of fantastic local produce, tasting sessions, and bookable masterclasses, workshops, themed demonstrations and children’s activities to mark the anniversary.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/flavour-fest-p1988533" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">31 May to 2 June @ Plymouth City Centre</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Did someone say merch? Head to Tavistock Place Reception for all your merch needs. This is your last chance to get your hands on hoodies, t-shirts, totes and more with the current design, so stock is limited.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1175133067189114/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">31 May - 9am to 4pm @ AUP:SU</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Sonia Sabri Company is one of the leading contemporary South Asian dance and music companies in the UK and the creator of Mughal Miniatures, a series of hit productions which celebrate and take inspiration from the exquisite art of Indian and Persian miniature painting. Originating from Northern India, Kathak is the most naturalistic of all the Indian classical dance forms - derived from simple everyday movements and full of unique percussive, musical and storytelling elements. Inspired by ‘Beyond the Page’, this fun and accessible Kathak dance workshop will bring to life some of the fabulous miniature worlds depicted in the exhibition.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://theboxplymouth.com/events/special-events/introduction-to-kathak-dance-workshop-for-adults" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">31 May - 7pm to 9:30pm @ The Box</a><br /></p>