Welcome to what will be our final full Stuff To Do of this series. In it, there is the usual mix of creative and educational ideas to keep you occupied indoors. Find out about some art going on in Acton, learning activities for the very littlest ones in the family and an evocative video that the headteacher at Ellen Wilkinson School has recorded for her pupils. Do not forget to enter the competition from our fourth Stuff in the series either.
Arty Acton
Acton Notebook is a new magazine website set up and run by local residents. Since lockdown began, they have created an array of arts projects for young and old alike.
There is the W3 Doorstep Portraits Project, designed to capture Acton residents during the coronavirus. Photos will be displayed online to start with, and when lockdown is over, they are planning to launch a live exhibition of all the photos.
If drawing and painting are more your thing, there is an art competition for children and teenagers. JG Contemporary Gallery in Acton is encouraging anyone aged between four and 17 to create some artwork and drop it into their studio in Churchfield Road, W3. They will display them in the studio for all to see. Eventually, they plan to have the entries judged by world-renowned artist Fin DAC, with the winner receiving a bag of art materials and a limited-edition print from one of their galleries.
For all the copiers and pasters, there is a collage poster activity to try too.
Little angels
Little Voices of Ealing teach both singing a drama to four-18 year-olds through fun and engaging activities. They are currently offering one free workshop in May to anyone who would like to participate. Each workshop takes children on an adventure through the scenes and songs of their favourite musicals, with the opportunity to perform some of them too.
They have three productions in three days to explore at the end of May, starting on 26 May, when they will be enjoying all things Matilda. The day after is A Midsummer Night’s Dream and, on 28 May, they will take a trip with Trolls.
Sign up here if you would like to take advantage of their free offer.
Competition callback
While we are on the subject of music, do not forget to enter the competition in Stuff To Do #4, to win the Suburban Steps to Rockland DVD and limited-edition prints of famous musicians who have graced the stage at the Ealing Club.
Pack activities
Wolf Cub-Ed was originally set up in 2019 by a local assistant headteacher to provide a few extra home-learning ideas for tiny members of her friends’ families, zero-five year-olds to be exact. Now, with lockdown providing us with a lot of extra time indoors, it’s been expanded to help everyone who needs it.
All the lessons are free and easy to follow. You can find them on Wolf Cub-Ed’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Pitzhanger creatives
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery is inviting you to get creative and learn new skills with Welcome Create Studio. Each month there is a new art task inspired by the history of Pitzhanger, or one of the Gallery’s exhibitions. Although the activities normally take place in the Rickyard Studio, in Walpole Park, Pitzhanger is now sharing the monthly art tasks online and on social media for participants to complete in their own time.
April’s task ‘snapshot’ was to use collage to create a series of ‘Polaroids’ documenting your thoughts, and submissions received reveal some relatable lockdown frustrations and fears.
If you are bold enough, you can share your creations on social media using the hashtag #WelcomeCreate. You can even suggest ideas for future tasks.
Visit the website for more details and to see examples of previous entries.
And finally…
Ellen Wilkinson School recently set up their own Youtube channel with a video of their headteacher singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow, live, to reach out to their 1,400 students. We are sure you will agree it’s an incredibly moving and powerful performance, set against the background of the empty school. We do not think the head would mind if you wanted to sing along as well.
