Burgh House & Hampstead Museum - What's On

Springing into April Easter is on the way and the blossoms are out in Hampstead, crossing our fingers that our wisteria blooms by the end of the month. Behind the scenes in the museum this month exciting changes are being planned for a reinterpretation of our collection to create a new display for our museum. Our Lifelines series continues with more exciting guests including renowned actress Gemma Jones, book now to secure your seat! (Cover image: Jean Inglis)

A Collection Unwrapped 29 March - 11 June Burgh House is the proud home of Hampstead Museum, founded by the late Christopher and Diana Wade in 1979. Now holding over 4000 items, we are beginning to fundraise to reinterpret and redisplay the permanent collection.This exhibition offers us the opportunity to involve you in these plans, and find out more about our ideas for a new museum. We also invite you to tell us how you would like to see the collections displayed, and what information you want to see alongside them. Birds of the Heath in Spring - Walk Sunday 2 April, 9:30am A Heath and Hampstead Society organised walk led by John Hunt, former Chairman of Marylebone Birdwatching Society. Meet at Burgh House at 9:30 am and be led through a guided walk focused on the springtime birds on the famous Heath. You will be invited to make a minimum donation of £5 per adult. More information on the walks here Colour and Form 5 to 9 April FREE Laura Fishman’s bold brushstrokes, drips and pours, Maurice Oliphant’s sensuously rounded sculpted creatures, Margaret Thompson’s landscapes hovering between abstraction and representation, and Jo Pethybridge’s dynamic patterned ceramics. A feast for the eyes. International Childrens' Book Day Sunday 9 April FREE A Storytelling, craft and family fun morning designed for the kids.  Come and celebrate International Childrens' Book Day with this exciting event. Suitable for all ages - Book here Kid's Easter Fun Afternoon Good Friday 14 April 1pm-3pm FREE Join us this Easter for games, crafts, storytelling and loads of fun for all the family. Suitable for ages 8 and under. Book here An Introduction to the Piano Method of Alfred Cortot Sunday 23 April, 12pm A lecture by Michael Stembridge-Montavont followed at 1.45pm by a Masterclass demonstration and short piano recital by acclaimed French pianist Frédéric Aguessy, with opportunities to perform. Tickets for the Lecture and Masterclass available on the door or with more information from www.cortotheritage.com or email normandypianocourses@hotmail.com London Piano Circle   Wednesday 26 April, 6:30pm A concert given by members of the London Piano Circle - a club for intermediate to advanced piano amateurs. Lifelines: Gemma Jones NEWLY ANNOUNCED Thursday 4 May Journalist and producer Piers Plowright chats with BAFTA award-winning English character actress Gemma Jones as part of the Burgh House Lifelines series of talks. Gemma graduated from RADA with the Gold Medal and has become a well known face on television, stage and film. Join us for an intimate evening, with a supper including wine available after the talk. Dryads Duo: Intimate Colours Sunday 2 April A choice of colorful and exquisite repertoire, where completely different styles are put together into dialogue. Featuring works of three great composers: Mozart, Szymanowski's beautiful Myths Op.30 and Elgar's Sonata. Free entry, see their website here In Heaven's River Friday 7 April, 7:30pm "In Heaven's River" is a cycle of songs co-written by Judith Charron & Benjamin Kahn, based on Japanese poems from a zen Monk Enku. It will be a poetic evening with a musical union of different influences between Eastern and Western worlds, the creative alliance of two artists, a journey through the emotional and powerful poems of Enku. Book tickets here. Kaleidoscope 12 - 23 April FREE A selection of affordable, accessible artwork by Caroline Smith & Non Worrall. All proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to InterAct Stroke Support, a charity which uses professional actors to read to stroke patients. For more information, visit www.interactstrokesupport.org     Camden History Society: The Search for Eleanor Palmer 20 April 2017 The daughter of Edward Cheeseman, one of Henry VII's 'New Men' who rose to be the Cofferer to the Royal Household, Eleanor Palmer inherited his manors in Kentish Town and Chipping Barnet.  At her death, a charity was established which still provides financial help to those who need it in the parishes of Barnet and St Pancras. CHS President Caroline Barron asks, ‘Is it possible to find out more about Eleanor herself?’ Non-members welcome. £1 on the door. A Minimalist Evening with Peter Lyons and Eugene Feygelson Sunday 23 April, 7pm Peter Lyons (piano) and Eugene Feygelson (violin) come together to showcase a night of contemporary music, focusing on the output of Philip Glass and Arvo Part. The pair strive to strip the silence and courteousness away from the ’classical recital’ and instead focus on how music performance affects us all. They will improvise wholly new works and provide short talks of the social history behind each piece. Tickets on sale soon Connections: Women, Art and Networks 5 April to 9 July FREE Curated by Museum Intern Emily Spary as part of the series of exhibitions on the first-floor landing of the House, Connections: Women, Art & Networks considers how several of the collection’s female artists are tied together through their art, study and neighbourhood. The display looks at two networks through a selection of works from our collection stores including watercolours, sketches and an oil painting. Free. The Linum Trio Sunday 9 April, 2:30pm The Linum Trio, Kiyo Takahashi (Piano), Ayako Yamazaki (Violin), Marina Comas Castiñeira (Cello), presents a varied programme with music by A.Pärt, B.Smetana and B.Martinů. Tickets are £10 (£8 conc.) including a glass of wine, available on the door. Hampstead Music Club Tuesday 11th April An instrumental masterclass tutored by Julie Groves, solo and orchestral flautist. Suggested donation £3, for details contact Peter Wakefield on 020 7435 8458. Needle Felting with Sue Pearl Friday 21 April Come and learn how to create delightful animals in wool. This is sculpting with wool. The animals are not stuffed or sewn and are all unique and original in design. Starting with a sketch of the animal in various poses the body is created. Cost of workshop is £90 to include all materials. Contact sue@feltbetter.com for a booking form. Body Language 26 - 30 April The Wednesday life drawing class at Hampstead Community Centre began way back in 1997. This twentieth anniversary exhibition showcases the varied, vibrant and inventive work produced in the class, inspired by the ever-fascinating theme of the human form. For information about the class contact Tony (07709 938188) or Desmond (07814 306661), or email life-drawing-hampstead@outlook.com   Air de Printemps III Sunday 30 April A brunch recital of beautiful Spring songs selected by acclaimed soprano Masami Suzuki. Including work by Handel, Fauré, Schubert, Strauss, Puccini, Bellini and Mozart. Masami Suzuki (soprano), is accompanied by Jeremy Silver (piano) & guest performer Emma Watkinson (mezzo soprano). Complimentary coffee, juice and croissants will be served. Doors open at 11am, concert will begin at 11:30am. Proceeds in aid of Burgh House.