Essential Information
| Type | Events and festivals |
|---|---|
| Location |
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
|
| Date and Times | Saturday 13 July 2024 | 10.30am-4pm |
| Prices | Free |
The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre’s Community Day returns this July, as we celebrate our community and their connection to the collections.
Centred around the theme of routes, networks and connections, this free event is packed with activities for everyone to enjoy, from behind the scenes tours to live musical performances.
Get set for a day of fun and festivity.
Community Day events
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Tours
Feels Like a Better Tomorrow
11am, 12pm and 1pm
Gabriel Dedji is an author, curator and musician who is passionate about creating interactive community spaces that educate us to feel empathy for one another and make the world a better place.
His tour of The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, ‘Feels Like A Better Tomorrow’, uses an expansive collection of items from across the globe and an array of historical anecdotes to stimulate togetherness, self-reflection and optimism. It is paired with a live painting session in the ‘Less Talking Space’.
Tours can be booked at reception on arrival. Please note places are offered on a first come, first served basis.
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Talks
Ceramic Networks: How our collection represents international trade routes and home-grown industries
11.45am-12pm | Seminar Room
Royal Museums Greenwich is home to over 2,000 ceramics which represent the UK’s long and diverse history of maritime activity. In this talk, Louise Bascombe, Collection Stores Manager, will be highlighting a few of her favourites and will discuss the routes by which they made their way to Greenwich; exploring the different networks that transported these items from all over the world.
She will also be looking into how international goods inspired local, home-grown industries to develop new skills to compete with demand. Finally, using a local archaeological excavation as an example, we will delve into what various networks are represented by the everyday ceramics present.
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Timehri Travels: The Journey to Emancipation
12.05pm – 12.20pm | Seminar Room
In this talk, artist Remiiya Badru will discuss her creative work as an artist and walker, the creation of her model ship Timehri, and insights from her creative research fellowship at Royal Museums Greenwich.
She will explore themes of identity and belonging through contemporary and historical artefacts discovered during her fellowship. Remiiya's inspiration stems from the River Thames, its scents, colours, sounds, and industrial history.
Her work revolves around Timehri and her journeys along various rivers and bodies of water. This liquid history connects the past, present and future, serving as a global conduit for our stories. Timehri guides Remiiya on a transformative journey of discovery, recovery and emancipation.
Image: Paul Wyatt
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Astronomy & Islam: Sacred Sites and the Islamic Calendar
2.10pm-2.40pm | Seminar Room
Explore the fascinating connection between astronomy and Islam in this presentation. We will delve into the little-known orientations of Islam’s most holy site, the Kabah in Makkah, in relation to the Sun, Moon and stars, and discover its relationship to the Islamic lunar calendar.
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Honouring Legacy: The Windrush Era's Impact on Greenwich
2.45pm-3pm | Seminar Room
Join heritage consultant S.I. Martin for a short presentation on the impact and contribution of Windrush Era settlers and their families on the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The talk will be illustrated by entries from The Great Greenwich Windrush Trail produced by Royal Museums Greenwich.
Live performances
Performances take place throughout the day at 11.35am-11.45am, 12pm-12.30pm, 2pm- 2.30pm and 3pm- 4pm | Outdoor stage area
Get ready to party with a series of dance and musical performances.
Come and watch Kidbrooke Kollective, a dance company for children aged 5-11 years old, and be transported to Brazil by TARU Arts's Samba Band and Brazilian dancers.
Don't miss music from PhaseDifference and improvised jazz performances inspired by Royal Museums Greenwich's collections from curator, writer and multi-instrumentalist, Gabriel Dedji and friends.
Activities and workshops
Unless specified, activities and workshops will take place throughout the day.
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From Rope to Route, Weaving Your Story: Make, Do and Maintain Workshop
10.30am - 11.30am | Seminar Room
Learn how to make rope and couch stitch with textile artist Alice Burnhope. Use the rope to showcase your daily route or dream journey, using techniques such as couching, and glueing onto watercolour paper or textiles.
Fly Your Own Flag: Make, Do and Maintain Workshop
1pm - 2pm | Learning Space
Join artist Remiiya Badru for an inspiring craft session to create a personal flag, inspired by the unique ‘Nanna’ flags held at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre.
This hands-on workshop invites participants to reflect on and explore their identities as individuals and families, and to delve into their personal journeys.
Throughout the day, Remiiya will also run drop-in flag making sessions, located outside.
Make, Do and Maintain is a monthly crafting session for crafters of all ages, held at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre.
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CoderDojo: Coding Workshop
Learning Space
From creating computer programmes and animation to art and electronic experiments, children and young people can let their imaginations run wild at our CoderDojo club.
TheBooksDem: Writing Workshop
Learning Space
TheBooksDem is an award-winning creative agency founded by Dejuan Desiree (pictured), an actress, model and theatre writer. Principled on its ethos of being ‘by the people and for the people’, her agency makes literature and creativity accessible to all through workshops, showcases and discussions.
Dejuan will be leading a creative writing workshop, using poetry and storytelling to explore the history of Windrush and its legacy.
Less Talking Space: Drawing Workshop
Mystery Story Store
Less Talking is an arts and culture series facilitated to stimulate moments of togetherness and self-reflection. Through music, visual arts and other immersive activities, it creates a safe space for communal expression.
The Less Talking Space in The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre will be a creative quiet space facilitated by Lottie Mac, an experimental artist and curator. Here, she’ll be doing a live abstract painting inspired by the tour. Take time out and draw in silence alongside her.
Astronomy Objects in Focus
Invented in ancient Greece but developed and refined in the Middle East, the astrolabe is an astronomical instrument that serves as a star chart and calculator.
Drop in to meet Assistant Curators Alex Grover and Daisy Chamberlain and discover how this instrument can be used to measure how the Sun and stars appear to move across the sky – and to tell the time during the day or night.
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Visit our Community Garden
Come and see the array of plants grown in our garden by members of Wingfield Primary School council, with help from ESOL students (English for Speakers of Other Languages) from Lewisham College and Greenwich Youth Services.
Join Sarah Gardener to create a garden shelter out of willow for communities and local school children to enjoy.
Botanical Pathways Workshop: Exploring and Painting with Garden Finds
Immerse yourself in the sensory delights of our garden and embark on a creative journey over land.
In this workshop, participants will walk, move and roll through the garden, engaging deeply with the natural world.
Using plants and flowers like daisies, buttercups, dandelions, lavender, sage and herbs, craft your own paints and document the unique flora you encounter.
Pop-up displays
Learning Space
Come and see artwork created by participants from community centre Mycenae House, centred around identity and routes.
Their pieces take inspiration from Feeling Blue, a tapestry by artist Alberta Whittle and Dovecot Studios on display in the Queen's House.
Also on display will be a vibrant installation by Greenwich Youth Services, which was paraded at Kidbrooke Carnival.
Refreshments
Outdoor area
Enjoy food and refreshments provided by local pop-up eateries and bars including Flavours of Jamrock and Eventers London.
Plan your visit
Getting here
The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre is a quick, easy journey from central London by rail or via local bus services.
Address: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, Nelson Mandela Road, Kidbrooke, SE3 9QS
By train: You can reach us from central London via direct routes by Cannon Street London Bridge, Charing Cross and Victoria. Our nearest station is Kidbrooke which is only 5 minute walk away.
By bus: The following buses stop near the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre: 178, B16, 286, 132
By car: There is limited parking space in our car park but we will prioritise parking for visitors with disabilities. Please pre-book, otherwise we cannot guarantee a place. E-mail: ppmcc@rmg.co.uk
Visit the collection
Go behind the scenes at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre and explore our state of the art conservation studio and collections store.
