Skip to main content

Autumn is here!



Article as seen in Portsmouth View, October 2014, with some modification

Autumn is here with the temperature dropping and days getting darker earlier. The rhythm of the academic year is back in place.

At the university where I work, the public lecture series went off to a good start with the first two lectures being sold out. We do have a good lineup in the next couple of months.

The Portsmouth Chamber Music series sponsored by the university also had a very good start in its new home in the Guildhall. The use of the stage as a concert venue with seats 'in the round' proved popular. Big names such as pianist Melvyn Tan and clarinetist Emma Johnson will grace this year’s series. Check out the Music in the Round website http://www.musicintheround.co.uk/events.php?location=Portsmouth

The Big Screen was relaunched with a new branding and already it saw the successful screening of a couple of films and an opera. You can expect more activities in the Guildhall Square like the recent Funky Town Fest.

I attended the evening the Portsmouth Cathedral launched its five year plan with much talk of outreach and engagement. This brought to mind the role of venues around the city in encouraging concerts and other cultural activities to flourish in the community.

I would like to introduce you to the Holy Spirit Church of Fawcett Road which has undergone refurbishment and now has a concert series. On November 13th there will be a piano recital by Anthony Groves, who also accompanies our University Choir.

St Mary’s Portsea has a music foundation and holds many concerts, especially by the Royal Marines School of Music. Their next concert is on 20th November.

Take a look at the notice board in your local church, chances are there is a concert series, or a group you can join either for music or craft activities.

Speaking of crafts, I am organizing a gifts and crafts festival at work in the run up to Christmas. It was very popular last year. It provides an opportunity for our talented colleagues to show off their handiwork.

We are home to many excellent crafts and gifts market, the prominent one being the Love Southsea Market on the first Saturday of the month. There's many more information on their website http://www.lovesouthsea.co.uk/

The Crafts in the Tower series at the Square Tower features some really talented designers and makers. Check out their website http://www.craftsinthetower.co.uk/

So there is no excuse for anyone to stay at home this autumn!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Indonesian fried spring rolls (Lumpia Goreng)

I don't often make Indonesian food because the ingredients are hard to find, but our local supermarkets are getting better at stocking ethnic ingredients. In the frozen section of Tesco, near the samosas, you can find the spring roll pastry.  Don't bother asking the branch in Chester. I was laughed at by the cashier when I asked for spring roll skin, because 'skin' is what we call the wrapper in Indonesian. Her more helpful colleague offered me filo pastry instead, which can be a good substitute. I'm afraid no one in Chester has yet to taste my amazing spring rolls as a result. Friends in Southsea are luckier!  Here are the ingredients to make 30 spring rolls (the packs come in 30 or 40 pieces) 1 medium head of cabbage, thinly sliced 2 carrots, julienned 1 red or yellow pepper, julienned 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 medium courgette, julienned 1 tablespoon of Oyster sauce (omit if cooking for vegan) 2 tbsp soy sauce salt and pepper to taste 1 tbsp vegetable oil f...
Post a Comment
Read more

‘Southsea dinosaur’ returns

Luna Park 2021, an eagerly anticipated new public artwork for Portsmouth designed by internationally renowned artists Ivan Morison and Heather Peak of Studio Morison will be launched on 2 October 2021 on a celebratory day in Southsea Common.  The 1.4 metres bronze sculpture is a tribute to the original 53-foot high 2010 artwork Luna Park, which tragically burned down on Southsea Common. The artists will unveil a new sculpture that responds to ten years of public demand to ‘bring back the Southsea Dinosaur’.  The new public artwork will be located within a direct sightline to the position of the original Luna Park sculpture. It will sit on top of a fossil Portland stone plinth with a QR code which when scanned with a smartphone will connect to an Augmented Reality experience. People will be transported to a digital rendering of the original artwork, seemingly standing life-size in front of them on Southsea Common. Viewers will also be able to use their mobile devices to visit a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Black History Month celebrations continues

Black History Month (BHM) is held every October with the aim of promoting knowledge of black history, culture and heritage, and positive black contributions to British society. In support of BHM the University of Portsmouth, in conjunction with the Multicultural Staff Network and Student Union and Portsmouth Film Society, is supporting various activities throughout the Month. Events also mark the The Windrush 70th anniversary, celebrating and honouring the pioneering, Windrush generation that came to Britain who have helped to shape British social, cultural and political life. On 31 October, a day of events will be held at the University starting with the launch of the Race Equality Charter. The launch event will give staff an opportunity to learn more about the charter and will be opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith. Dr Deborah Gabriel, Founder and Director of Black British Academics and Co-Chair of Bournemouth University’s Race Equality Charter Steering ...
Post a Comment
Read more