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Some Things to Do This Weekend

Polar Silk Road

Until 24th Nov
10am - 6pm
Natural History Museum
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Gregor Sailer's photography exhibition The Polar Silk Road explores the existing, potential, and unexpected impacts of this new global trade route and documents this fast-changing region at a pivotal moment in its history.

The Ralph Saltzman Prize 2024

2nd Feb - 15th April
10am - 6pm
Design Museum Kensington
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The third year of the Design Musuem's annual prize in partnership with the Saltzman Family Foundation celebrating emerging product designers in recognition of Ralph Saltzman’s design legacy.

Metalworking Now

23rd March - 31st Dec
10am - 5.45pm
V&A South Kensington
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Contemporary metalworking is a dynamic field and today’s metalsmiths continue a long tradition of experimentation in a range of metals to create exciting and innovative work. This display highlights a selection of work by metalsmiths from across the world that have been collected by the V&A since 2010.

National Art Library and Archive talks: each Monday from 15 January

https://shorturl.at/ioOV1
V&A South Kensington
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The V&A will be holding free, open sessions every Monday (except bank holidays) in the National Art Library. A member of the Library or Archives staff will introduce the history and purpose of the Library and talk about an item from their collections.

Kensington and Chelsea Music Society (KCMS) at Leighton House

Various dates
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House Museum
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Kensington and Chelsea Music Society (KCMS) will perform at Leighton House with an outstanding season of seven concerts, featuring a mixture of new and established artists, performing an exciting programme of chamber music, song and choral works.

Image credit: Christoph Liedtke

And finally... The Natural History Museum scientists described a record 815 new species in 2023

Natural History Museum
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In 2023, scientists at the Natural History Museum achieved a remarkable feat by describing a record-breaking 815 new species. Understanding and documenting these new species are vital components in the efforts to protect, preserve, and reverse declines in biodiversity worldwide.

Untold Lives: A Palace at Work

Opens 14th March
10am - 4pm
Kensington Palace
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A new exhibition uncovering the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over 300 years ago. They were at the centre of royal life, but little is known about the servants and courtiers who ran royal palaces for centuries.

Out Shopping: The dresses of Marion and Maud Sambourne (1880-1910)

23rd March - 20th Oct
10am - 5.30pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House Museum
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A curated selection of rarely-seen outfits, this exhibition will tell the story of Marion Sambourne and Maud Messel, at a moment in history that significantly shaped fashion.

Refik Anadol

16th Feb - 7th April
10am - 6pm
Serpentine
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Refik Anadol, is an internationally renowned artist, director and pioneer in the aesthetics of data and machine intelligence. Visitors will experience gallery walls wrapped in AI-generated images inspired by data of flora, fungi and fauna from over 16 rainforests.

Enzo Mari

29th March - 8th Sept
10am - 5pm
Design Museum Kensington
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This major exhibition will celebrate the life and work of one of the greatest Italian designers of the 20th century, Enzo Mari, whose designs have inspired generations of creatives around the world.

Urban Nature Project has been awarded for Sustainable design

Natural History Museum
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Urban Nature Project wins silver award in the European category at the Holcim Foundation Award for Sustainable Construction.

Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration

opens 22nd January
10am - 5.45pm
V&A South Kensington
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One of the foremost British artists of the 20th century, Lucian Freud is best known for his figurative paintings, but he also made many etchings, often of the subjects and sitters featured in his painted works. A selection of these intricate and intimate prints will be on display at the V&A South Kensington in 2024.

Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence

2nd March - 22nd Sept
10am - 5.45pm
V&A South Kensington
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An exhibition exploring Tropical Modernism - an architectural style developed in the hot, humid conditions of West Africa in the 1940s. After independence, India and Ghana adopted the style as a symbol of modernity and progressiveness, distinct from colonial culture.

Future Observatory display

20th Nov - 31st Aug
10am - 5pm
Design Museum Kensington
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The first display in a new space for research at the Design Museum is now open. The Future Observatory display showcases six researchers who are confronting environmental concerns and working towards liveable futures.

Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍: Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City

1st Feb - 2nd June
10am - 6pm
Science Museum
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Discover a beautiful collection of unique clockwork wonders. This exhibition will showcase the stunning craftsmanship and the inner workings of centuries-old timepieces prized by the emperors of China's Forbidden City.

Design Museum Shop Christmas Gift Guide

Design Museum Kensington
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Channel your inner interior designer and transform your space into a winter wonderland with classic and contemporary decorations from all the wonderful designs that are on offer at the Design Museum Shop this Christmas!

Natural History Museum Christmas Gift Shop

Natural History Museum
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Go wild with the dinosaur decorations this year! Look out for the T. rex on skis, the Stegosaurus in a bobble hat and the Triceratops tree topper to top it all off. As for decorating yourself and the kids, there is also festive knitwear!

Ainu Stories: Contemporary Lives by the Saru River

16th Nov - 21st Apr
10am - 8pm
Japan House London
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Experience Ainu culture as it exists today in the southern Hokkaido region of Biratori in the UK's first exploration of the contemporary lives of this indigenous people of northern Japan.

Springboard: Music Creators

31st Aug- 4th April 2024
10:30am– 4pm
Royal College of Music
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This FREE course allows participants to develop communication skills and creative decision-making through inspiring, practical workshops and courses that explore how music is created, eventually working towards inventing an original composition.

Image credit: © Zhai Zeyu, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Until 30th June
10am - 5.50pm
Natural History Museum
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Get beyond the camera and discover the stories behind some of the best nature photography in the world.

Leslie Linder: Decoding Beatrix Potter

Until 15th Sept
10am - 5.30pm
V&A South Kensington
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On the 50th anniversary of Leslie Linder’s gift to the V&A, This display celebrates his unrivalled Beatrix Potter collection and shines a light on Linder’s contribution to our knowledge of the world-famous author and illustrator.

Giants of Today Trail

Natural History Museum
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From hefty herbivores to jungle jumbos, discover who's topping the charts when it comes to being the biggest, the tallest and the heaviest of them all. Follow the trail to meet some of world's biggest animals and to find out all about the highs and lows that come with being so big.

Young V&A

Opens 1st July
10am-5:30pm
V&A South Kensington
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Get ready to spark your creativity at Young V&A – the museum where children, young people and families can imagine, play and design. From 1 July 2023, be inspired by spaces, explore our collection and get creative. Right now, keep in touch on social.

Brian Eno for 364 More Earth Days

23rd April 2023- 21st April 2024
Serpentine
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Serpentine are working with Brian Eno on developing a new set of cards. Presenting prompts and questions, the deck aims to invite young people, adults and organisations to think differently about the planet. Be part of the conversation! Send in your answers, as well as your own questions!