Walpole Park Area Guide

This interactive panel discussion brings together two artists (Ania Ruszkowski [https://www.aniaruszkowski.com/] andZofia Wyszomirska-Noga [https://wyszomirska-noga.com/]) whose work is shaped by Polish heritage and the lived realities of Anglo-Polish identity. Olga Topol, curator of Slavonic and East European Collections at The British Library, will facilitate the discussions and contribute her experiences alongside Ania and Zofia. Through storytelling, artworks, and shared reflections, the panel explores how cultural memory, displacement, hybrid belonging, and language are expressed visually. More than a traditional talk, this session invites audience participation, live questions, and mini reflection activities to build dialogue and deepen mutual understanding.

An opportunity to celebrate the life and music of Dick Esmond - drummer, band leader and charter member of Ealing Jazz Festival - who passed away earlier this year. Dick's big band, Sound of Seventeen, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 at Drayton Court, and this event follows on from the hugely enjoyable memorial here in the summer.

This October, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery unveils Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden — the largest institutional exhibition of original prints by the acclaimed British artist to date. Curated by renowned art historian Richard Calvocoressi, this landmark show features around 60 vibrant, emotionally charged prints that span five decades of Hodgkin’s career, from 1966 to 2016. Installed throughout Pitzhanger’s contemporary gallery and the atmospheric rooms of the historic Manor itself, this retrospective-in-print immerses visitors in Hodgkin’s world of colour, memory, and abstraction. His bold, gestural works — full of nuance and feeling — transform the building into a living canvas of moments remembered and reimagined. As curator Richard Calvocoressi notes, “In the case of Howard Hodgkin, the term ‘prints’ is perhaps misleading. Many of them were hand-coloured by the artist or his collaborators and come close to being one-offs, like paintings; and as such, they make a powerful impact on their environment. Working from memory and imagination, Hodgkin created images of transience, in which ambiguous, dissolving forms are the pictorial equivalent of an autobiographical sensation or perception. I hope visitors will be both moved and exhilarated by this exhibition.” Highlights include Venetian Views (1995), a rarely united series of lyrical cityscapes, and Swimming (2011), created for the London 2012 Olympics. This marks the second time Hodgkin’s work has been exhibited at Pitzhanger. He was drawn to the building’s distinctive light and architecture for a 2009 exhibition — before the major restoration and reopening in 2019 — establishing a meaningful connection with the site that continues today. A setting steeped in art and architecture, Pitzhanger Manor was the country home of visionary architect Sir John Soane, built between 1800 and 1804. Designed as a showcase for his most experimental ideas, the Manor also has a rich artistic legacy – Soane often welcomed leading artists of the day, including frequent guest and kindred spirit J.M.W. Turner. Further details about the exhibition will be released closer to the opening date—subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on this exhibition.

Marley was dead... to begin with... It’s Christmas Eve, and Ebenezer Scrooge is alone in his room, dreaming of money. Except... he’s not alone. As the night draws on, spirits come to him; spirits of his past, his present, and his future. With each toll of the clock, Scrooge is forced to confront the idea that there is more to life than money... but can he change his ways before it is too late? Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale comes to the beautiful Boston Manor House this December, presented by The Arts Centre Hounslow, reimagined as a live radio play.

Step into the journey of migration, memory, and belonging through the eyes of the Anglo-Polish community. In this immersive workshop, participants will explore what home meansacross borders and generationsby creating their own "suitcase story." Led by artist,Ania Ruszkowski, and inspired by real-life stories from the exhibitionMy Country is My Home, the workshop invites participants to reflect on objects, memories, and cultural identities that shape our sense of place and belonging. Participants are encouraged to bring along photographs, images or items that are important to their own "suitcase story", for inclusion in their creations (please note, we will take copies of photographs, so that they can be used without damage to originals.)

Dvoák - In Nature's Realm Ethel Smyth - Concerto for Violin, Horn and Orchestra Kalinnikov - Symphony No. 1