🎹 Blues, soul and a little bit of striptease come together at Blues and Burlesque tomorrow, Thu 12th Nov, at Hackney Bridge. Featuring live original music from Pete Saunders (of Dexys Midnight Runners) and showgirl striptease from Belle de Beauvoir, this cabaret showcase mixes live piano, soulful vocals and comedy.

🎬 Thu 12th Nov also sees the launch of Vibrant Nights: Hackney Wick at CRATE Brewery, celebrating the area's nightlife scene and looking at how to protect its future - including a film screening, Q&A with Hackney Council, DJs, free pizza and discounted drinks.

🎞️ Four Italian short films exploring youth, identity, desire and tradition are on the programme at Sicily: Hot and Holy on Thu 12th Nov at Eastway Baths. The free screening is followed by a Q&A with writer Nunzio Gringeri and director Davide Vigore.

🧵 Young creatives can get stuck into an evening of making at Make Space on Thu 12th Nov at V&A East Storehouse. This month's free session is all about sculptural rosettes, with opportunities to experiment with materials, share ideas and explore creative practices. These monthly sessions are open to those aged 16-25.

🎥 Head to UCL East Cinema on Thu 12th Nov for a screening of Storm Damage, presented by UCL Community Cinema. Written by Lennie James and directed by Simon Cellan Jones, the 2000 film follows a teacher who returns to the care home where he grew up after witnessing violence among his own students.

♻️ Give old materials a new lease of life at the Creative Reuse Community Event on Sat 14th Nov at Arbeit Studios. Browse a pop-up sale of reclaimed fabrics, leather, paper, wood, rugs and more, or bring along your own unwanted supplies to swap with fellow makers.

🌀 UK and Barcelona-based dance company HUMANHOOD brings its latest production, Vortex, to Sadler's Wells East until Sat 14th Nov. Blending powerful physical movement with a cinematic soundscape, the international cast explores resilience, transformation and finding your way through chaos.

👗 V&A East Museum celebrates the launch of its New Work commissions with The Stories of Clothes Opening on Sat 14th Nov. Bringing together artists, designers and community collaborators, the programme includes talks exploring the stories and cultural significance behind clothing, followed by an evening of drinks and music with a DJ set from Adiba. Free to attend, with activities taking place across the Museum and Storehouse.

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🎧 Thu 12th Nov sees avant classical composer and performance artist RIEKO launch her new EP, Zakuro, with Zakuro Rising at Living Womb, Algha Works. The immersive eve will blend experimental pop, live performance, DJ sets and visual art, alongside an opening meditation session combining improvised sound and reiki.

🎷 Part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, Grow Live returns to Grow on Fri 13th Nov with two live jazz acts. Lisbon pianist Vicente Magalhães brings his new 8-piece ensemble, followed by the experimental Diggory Wood Trio. DJ LAANI takes over afterwards, mixing nu-jazz, neo-soul, Afro rhythms, broken beat and house.

🌍 Get ready for a musical trip around the world at Earth Groove on Fri 13th Nov at Hackney Bridge. Taking over Block C, the night brings together global sounds, from Afro and Latin rhythms to house, breaks and bass, with live visuals and immersive installations.

🪩 plentyppl: A Day with Maurice Fulton is at Colour Factory on Sat 14th Nov, celebrating Black dance music and its roots in jazz, funk and soul. The day party welcomes legendary DJ and producer Maurice Fulton, alongside CasuallyClued and Marvin Jupiter.

🌸 A new electronic music series putting Asian and FLINTA artists centre stage makes its debut with HANA 001: The First Bloom on Sun 15th Nov at Not For Sale Gallery. Founded by DJ Yukari, the inclusive new night takes inspiration from Japanese aesthetics and rave culture, with a line-up including Yukari, EMI (11), nyetochka, SCYLLA, D LAI and Fresh Lov3.

🌿Eastway Baths community garden is welcoming volunteers again, with its next community gardening session taking place on Mon 16th Nov. Get involved with gardening, workshops and community projects, then round things off with a complimentary sauna session. Green-fingered experience not required!

🥂Festive feasting is underway aboard Barge East, with a range of dining packages to suit every occasion. Tuck into seasonal dishes and enjoy warm hospitality aboard the award-winning, 125-year-old Dutch barge. They’re also gearing up for a special New Year’s Eve dining experience, with an £95-per-person feast followed by DJs, music and dancing to welcome in 2027.

🎄 Christmas bookings are also open at The Lord Napier, so whether you're planning a festive get together with friends or a full blown Christmas party, our only local boozer has options for celebrating over the festive season. Head to their website to check out the packages and get your booking enquiry in.

🛝 The QEOP is planning to refurbish the play and gym facilities in South Park, with improvements due to be completed by summer 2027. The team wants to hear from the people who use them, including what works well and what could be better. Have your say by completing the short survey or by emailing [email protected] by Mon 14th Dec.

🌳 Our Parklife is looking to team up with local organisations and community groups on projects that make a positive difference to people and the environment. The Community Collaboration Programme is open to ideas at any stage, from early concepts to existing projects that could benefit from a helping hand. There’s funding available for successful projects, with a focus on community wellbeing, volunteering, inclusion and improving local green spaces. Submit an expression of interest to explore a collaboration.

🏛️ Hackney Museum is offering a paid trainee placement for 18–24 year olds who live, work or study in Hackney. The 100-hour role offers the chance to get involved in researching the history of Bangladeshi communities in the borough, taking part in community engagement activities and developing digital content. The placement is part of the museum’s Reimagining Hackney Museum project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Applicants will receive the London Living Wage (£14.80 per hour). Find out more and apply here by Sat 14th Nov.

🎬 Dalston's Rio Cinema is looking for a Senior Project Manager to lead a major heritage project celebrating the much loved independent cinema's history. The 12-month role will involve community archiving, public consultation, commissioning and coordinating activities, with a particular interest in candidates who have strong connections to Hackney. It's three days a week, paying £45,000 pro rata. Full details and how to apply here. Apply by Fri 4th Dec.

🌱East Bank has opened SEEDED, a part-time paid residency programme for East London artists and creatives to explore and grow ideas relating to their socially-engaged practice. Each ‘Artist in Residence’ will partner with their chosen East Bank host organisation, with places available for 2027 at Sadler's Wells East, UCL East, V&A East and London College of Fashion, UAL. Starting in January 2027, a total of four applicants will be appointed, one at each host institution, and will be immersed into a team made up of expert practitioners, academics and facilitators. The residency aims to offer an accessible and supportive space which fosters mutual learning, collaboration and exchange of ideas within an experimental and inspiring environment. Full info and application details found here. Apply before Mon 16^th Nov. 

📱 Hackney Empire is recruiting a Social Media & Content Creation Trainee to join its Creative Development and Marketing & Communications teams. The part time role averages 21 hours a week at £14.80 an hour, with hands-on experience creating social media content and campaigns, designing flyers and posters, communicating with local communities, and supporting programmes and shows including Alter Ego and the Nannies of Today podcast. This opportunity is specifically for someone with lived experience of forced displacement who has sought asylum or refuge in the UK. Applications close Mon 23rd Nov.

🎨 Royal Docks Originals returns in autumn 2027, and the call is out for local artists, creatives, businesses and community groups to get involved. There are grants available for new projects, including collaborations between artists and local venues, as well as funding for groups of creatives working in the same studio space. The free festival will bring a month of art, installations and performances to the waterfront, so now’s the time to get your ideas moving. Applications close on Mon 23rd Nov.

🎵 The Youth Music Trailblazer Fund is now open for applications, offering grants of £2,000-£30,000 to organisations running projects that help children and young people make, learn and earn in music. The fund is particularly interested in projects that trial a new way of working, help sustain a grassroots programme, disrupt the status quo - or ideally, all three. Applications close on Fri 20th Nov.

📕 The Wick Book is a limited edition 160-page hardback historic record, looking at 15 years of culture, community and change in the neighbourhood through the pages of The Wick. We’re now down to the very last few copies.

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