Renowned British Artist Stuart Semple will devise a free and immersive one-day festival at Dulwich Picture Gallery which will showcase his new work, along with performances from the City of London Sinfonia and a joyful line up of activities.
The Festival of Happiness will make use of the Gallery’s expansive gardens and, in recognition of the challenges of the past two years, will encourage recovery and embrace hope and joy through colourful and imaginative interventions, workshops and family trails.
A highlight of the festival will be the premiere of Semple’s new work Something Else, an elaborate series of sculptural installations spread throughout the Gallery’s gardens. Visitors will be invited to follow a map designed by Semple which will guide them through this interactive artwork, which will sit alongside family-friendly workshops and a series of relaxed performances from the City of London Sinfonia.
The festival will also feature Semple’s famous ‘Happy Clouds,’ which will be shown in the UK for the first time in over a decade. Throughout the day visitors can access the Gallery and the current exhibition Reframed: The Woman in the Window for free.
Festival of Happiness will be held in memory of Ingrid Beazley, former Chairman of the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery from 2005 – 2008, and founder of the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery, which brought art to the streets of South London.
Schedule
Something Else: 10.30am-12.30pm, 12.30-2.30pm and 2.30-4.30pm
Stuart Semple presents a series of interactive installations throughout the Gallery gardens.
Rainbow Poetry: 10.30am, 12:30pm and 3.30pm
Enjoy a creative writing workshop exploring stories about our natural surroundings, places we love and colours that inspire joy.
Happy Pins: 10.30am-4.30pm
Join this drop-in workshop where you can make fun badges to take home.
Happy Clouds: 11.30am, 13.30pm and 15.30pm
Semple’s Happy Clouds will be released into the sky for the first time in a decade.
City of London Sinfonia Comfortable Classical Concert: 12am-12.30pm, 1.30-2pm and 3-3.30pm
This interactive and relaxed concert will take place in the Gallery’s gardens and will be themed around birdsong.
6pm
Stuart Semple will host an informal talk in the Gallery’s cafe? exploring his career, practice and inspiration.
Throughout the day exclusive items by Semple will be available from the Gallery’s shop, and from 12-4.30pm, pizzas will be available from Anticoli’s wood-fired pizza van.
Stuart Semple said: “I hope people have an amazing day, and that the artworks and events give people a chance to experience a true sense of happiness. It would be a dream if that stayed with visitors for a little while – if they could take something of the day back home with them. I’m just happy to be able to build something like this and share it with everyone.”
Jennifer Scott, Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery, said: “We’re excited to be working with Stuart on this unique festival celebrating fun, playfulness and hope. We worked with Stuart on our 2019 exhibition Rembrandt’s Light where he provided his Black 3.0 paint as a dramatic backdrop for Rembrandt’s Girl at a Window. We are delighted that he’s returning to the Gallery to harness the power of art to lift our spirits and spread joy!”
Festival of Happiness
Saturday 30 July
10.30am-12.30pm, 12.30-2.30pm and 2.30-4.30pm In Memory of Ingrid Beazley
