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A woman in a pink top is smiling and chatting with another person in a dimly lit, lively environment.

Creative Encounters

Discover plenty of things to make and do while you meet new people

 

Find a creative home in the heart of the city with our free fortnightly sessions, where everyone is welcome to join us for connection, conversation and making.

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More info for Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana
A simple floral arrangement in a light green vase sits against a wrinkled cream-colored fabric backdrop.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana

This event has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature
Close-up of a round white allium flower in bloom, surrounded by green leaves and smaller white flowers in a garden.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature

Let inspiration bloom as you paint, stamp, layer and stitch materials into plant portraits
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: 2B or not 2B's Life Drawing
A group of seven people recreate Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper in front of a large reproduction of the painting.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: 2B or not 2B's Life Drawing

Capture the form, movement and language of the body at a welcoming drawing session
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Poetry and Ink
Hands with long nails use a tool to carve a butterfly design into a dark block on a wooden table.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Poetry and Ink

Play with words and stamp-making to help create a giant, collaborative visual poem
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Manifesto Library
Rows of books line illuminated white shelving units above tiered wooden seating steps.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Manifesto Library

Craft new book covers for censored texts, inspired by Livraria Lello’s Manifesto Library
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: String Looping
Three pieces of fruit—a melon, a green apple, and a papaya—each sit inside a woven net produce bag on a plain beige surface.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: String Looping

Learn the ancient art of looping and craft your own mini baskets using yarn
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: We Knead to Talk
A hand holds a dumpling keychain decorated with colorful gems alongside similar crafts on a striped cloth.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: We Knead to Talk

Fold your stories of home and food into handmade clay dumpling charms at a playful craft workshop
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Tin Embossing
Three embossed metal ornaments—two golden fish flanking a central silver woman—hang against a white background.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Tin Embossing

Create your own delicate hanging decorations inspired by the Southbank Centre’s iconic architecture
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Matchbox Canvases
A decorated matchbox open to reveal toy gems and coins sits among colorful paper cutouts and markers.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Matchbox Canvases

Design and make your own beautiful keepsake inspired by vintage South Asian matchboxes
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free

While you're with us

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
People enjoying the Jeppe Hein Fountain at the Southbank Centre

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms

A summer favourite returns to our site with water fountains to splash around and cool down in.

Shopping
Wooden displays in the Southbank centre shop, featuring books, plushies, and colourful merchandise

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
Two statues; a green human body with water spouting from its neck and another of human legs with water pouring down from above displayed outdoors

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

Modified Social Benches
Two children eating ice cream on a red cirrcular bench

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest
Bright sunlight bursts through green leaves with a lens flare, set against a blue sky and a textured concrete building.

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.