Creative Encounters: Matchbox Canvases
Design and make your own beautiful keepsake inspired by vintage South Asian matchboxes and take home a pocketful of potential.
Join Dhaga, a South Asian collective known for curating critically engaged exhibitions and intimate gatherings, for a reflective end-of-year gathering.
The workshop explores fire’s cyclical nature as a way to mark the close of the year through release, creation and collective liberation.
Dive into a hands-on matchbox design activity inspired by vintage South Asian matchbox aesthetics, transforming an ordinary object into a personal archive and a symbolic spark for renewal.
Creative Encounters is your creative space in the heart of the city, bringing together Londoners old and new for art, making and conversation.
Need to know
Our friendly Creative Encounters sessions are designed for both those attending on their own or with others.
We recommend arriving early to secure a seat. If the event reaches capacity, you may need to queue as we operate a one in, one out system.
Creative Encounters is a fortnightly programme; dates are subject to change, so please check the website.
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
16 Dec 2026, 6pm
Run time
2 hours and 30 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
Free – no ticket required
Concessions
Learn more about concession discounts
Refunds and exchanges
Find out more about our refund and exchange policy
Make a donation
Help us open up the arts to everyone by making a one-off or a recurring donation.
Access
Creative Encounters is a Relaxed event. This means that we have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit throughout.
We have guides available for those who may benefit from preparing for the event.
View the ‘What to expect’ guide
Read about ventilation and socially distanced tables
If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
To discuss any access issues or requirements, call us on 020 3879 9555 or email [email protected]
For your visit
This event is held at the The Clore Ballroom Southbank Centre
The Clore Ballroom is open six days a week.
Tuesday, 10am – 6pm*
Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
*If we’re hosting a performance, the building will stay open until the event ends.
Plan your visit
The Clore Ballroom is located inside our Royal Festival Hall on Level 2.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
There is step-free access to The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, via a ramp.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
Next to The Clore Ballroom is our Ballroom Cafe where you can grab a coffee and a piece of freshly made cake. Also on Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.