preview

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

School's out! And if you're looking for ways to turn your holiday free-time into pure magic, we've got you covered.

We've whipped up a playful holiday schedule filled with FREE art classes and creative workshops designed to ignite your children's imagination and keep their hands busy. From artist-led workshops, focused on specific mediums, to outdoor creative sessions in Brockwell park, there is something for every young artist to enjoy.

And the fun doesn't stop here! Our gallery's walls are dressed in a brand-new and joyful exhibition to discover. Dive in, catch-up on all the gallery news, and be sure to come by this month.

Our Dream Team, Fran and Morgane, preparing to install the 96 canvases that form the JOY exhibition.

Free Workshop: Shadow Puppet Making with Carolene Yawa Ada - 11th of August 2026

This month, we are honoured to welcome to the gallery the inspiring Carolene Yawa Ada, from Swallow's Wings Puppetry! She will be leading two very special workshops centred around the making of shadow puppets, using everyday materials.

These sessions are open to young creatives aged 5 to 16, and will take place on Tuesday the 11th of August across two afternoon timeslots:

Session 1: 13.00 to 14.30
Session 2: 15.00 to 16.30

Spaces are FREE, but limited to 8 per sessions, so be quick to secure a spot for your young artist. Click the button below to email us and register your interest.

Email us

Still of a puppet show, showing the shadow of a bird being cast on a white circular background. Small insert featuring Carolene

"Puppetry is an amazing medium for children to find new voices within, and think out of the box. It caters for all abilities, and all children can find new ways of expressing and creating things." Carolene Yawa Ada

To find out more about the amazing work that Swallow's Wings Puppetry does with children as well as adults, check out their website: swallowswingspuppetry.co.uk

Summer Schedule

Join us this summer, as we explore colour, texture, and imagination! Each week will centre around a different artistic medium, from messy air-drying clay to paint on mini canvases, there is something to inspire every young artist in our summer programme.

Click below to secure a spot for our pre-booked workshops, and look out for our drop-in sessions too!

Email us

Tuesdays, 10.00 to 11.30 (From the 28th of July to the 25th of August included)

Little Creators - For under 5's and their family.

FREE drop-in sessions: Messy, sensory, and playful art-making designed perfectly for tiny hands and big imaginations. A wonderful way for toddlers to explore new textures and be creative.

Wednesdays, 13.30 to 15.00 (From the 29th of July to the 26th of August included)

The Studio Sessions - For children aged 8 and above.

FREE pre-booked drop-off sessions: Leave your independent young creators with us for a deep-dive, artist-led workshop around specialised mediums. Perfect for developing creative thinking and studio skills. Spaces are limited to 6 children, so book early!

Thursdays, 14.30 to 16.30 (From the 30th of July to the 27th of August included)

Space to Dream Gallery in the Park - For children of all ages.

FREE drop-in sessions: We are taking the gallery outside! Join us for creative activities in the fresh air of Brockwell Park. (Our exact park location will be shared on the day, via our social media stories, so make sure to follow us)

Fridays, 14.00 to 16.00 (From the 31st of July to the 28th of August included)

Friday Family Studio - For children of all ages and their family.

FREE drop-in sessions: A collaborative afternoon where families of all ages can create side by side. Run on a first come first served basis, but our doors are open for the full two hours, so come in and have a go!

Summer schedule (pdf)

JOY: A Young Artists' Group Exhibition

This exhibition presents 96 mixed-media canvases created by pupils in years 2 to 4, from St. Andrew’s C of E and Christ Church Primary Schools in Lambeth.

Each artwork began with the question: What brings you joy?

Every child brought in a meaningful object that represented joy in their own life. Through a three-part creative journey, they explored new materials and techniques, transforming these personal objects into richly layered artworks. They discovered the cyanotype printing process, experimented with mixing and naming their own colours to create expressive abstract backgrounds, and learned hand stitching to add texture, detail, and another dimension to their canvas.

Although every child worked with the same three materials, each artwork is entirely unique. Together, these 96 canvases form a vibrant tapestry of imagination, individuality, and joy.

We believe that the creative process is every bit as important as the finished artwork. And, at a time when education is often shaped by measurable outcomes and linear goals, we choose to celebrate curiosity, experimentation, and the confidence to stay with the process. These works are not simply about joy; they are the joyful result of making.

Our JOY exhibition opened last week, but if you couldn't make the opening party, you still have plenty of time to pop in and explore the work, which will be on show until the 5th of September 2026.

Visitors on opening day of the JOY exhibition. A father and daughter looking at a cluster of canvases on the wall.

Summer Holidays Opening Times For Exhibition Viewing

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 12.00-14.00 (except on the 11th August - workshop afternoon)

Wednesday: 15.00-16.00

Thursday: Closed (outreach day in the park)

Friday: 16.00-17.00

Saturday: 12.00-16.00

Sunday: Closed (Open only for special events, or by appointment)

Our Visit To Sir Frank Bowling's Studio

Last month, we were incredibly lucky to be invited to visit the studio of the renowned artist, Sir Frank Bowling.

On arrival, Susi welcomed us and showed us around the space, where we got a rare, behind-the-scene look at works in progress! The real magic happened when our young artists were invited to paint using Frank's signature techniques! Starting with a solid wash of colour, the children used water to move the paint across their canvas before building up their creation. It was an exciting and inspiring day for everyone involved!

Our young artists in full flow during their visit to Sir Frank Bowling's studio, thoughtfully guided by our workshop lead, Susi, and Frank Bowling's grandson, Frederik.

5 children working on individual canvases around a central table. To the right, Susi and Frederik, from Sir Frank Bowling's studio, are visible.

Work in progress, titled "Crazy Colour Cloth 1"

Open Call For Our Next Exhibition: CELEBRATION

Next month, we are celebrating one year of Space to Dream Gallery, and we would love for you to celebrate with us!

Encourage any young artist you know (aged between 5 and 16) to reflect, explore and share a visual representation of what celebration means to them. What does it look like, feel like? What do they celebrate? They could be included in our next exhibition, opening on the 12th of September and running until the 24th of October 2026.

Eligible media include, but are not limited to, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, collage, printing, textile, ceramic, illustration and digital art.

You can submit up to 3 images by email or DM.

And, please include the following details: The artist's name and age, the size and title of the artwork, and a few words about it, like what it means to you (the artist), and what you want to share with your art. The deadline for submissions is the 2nd of September 2026, at midnight.

We can't wait to see your artwork!

Look What's Blooming In The Courtyard!

During our recent exhibition, CHANGE, we invited every visitor to add their own touch to our collaborative rose garden collage. To watch it grow and bloom day by day was a total delight!

Now, the completed masterpiece has moved to its new home in Brixton Village's courtyard. So, on your next day or night out in Brixton, pop by, snap a selfie, and tag us in your posts: @spacetodream.gallery. We can't wait to see you with it!

Our collaborative rose garden collage; glossy cut-out of blooming rose heads stuck on a painted green background. A man is screwing the stretched canvas onto a wall of the courtyard in Brixton Village.

Our collaborative rose garden being installed in the courtyard in Brixton Village.

Help Us

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), we rely on a blend of funding and the kindness of our community to keep our doors open. While the recent funds injections from Arts Council England and Christie's have helped enormously, we need more to ensure we continue creating together.

By clicking the button below, you can help us keep our sessions free or affordable, ensuring that young artists from all walks of life have a vibrant space to hone and showcase their talents.

Thank YOU!

Donate

www.spacetodreamgallery.org

SUPPORT US

Donate

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST

Subscribe

If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.