Calling all secondary school art students!
Sydenham Library is delighted to offer a programme of free classes with our artist in residence, Anna Arianova. You’ll be covering a broad range of techniques, materials and subjects: pencils, pastels, oil paints; portrait and still life.
Anna has been living, working, exhibiting and teaching in south-east London for the past 20 years. Through her career she has explored a wide range of styles and techniques, but her main focus remains on representing reality through visual art in ways that evoke emotion. She believes that art can help us understand ourselves more deeply and connect meaningfully with the world around us. A strong believer in the power of libraries as spaces for connection and creativity, Anna is excited to share her passion for art through these regular sessions.
Classes will be held on Monday evenings at Sydenham Library, 5-6pm, in term time only. Classes are free and all materials will be provided, but advance booking is required: see Ticket Tailor (https://www.tickettailor.com/events/calico/1826930) to reserve your place. If you have any questions, please email sydenham@calicoli
Pilates General levelMeritxell teaches a fluid and well balanced Pilates based class to promote strength, stability, flexibility, balance and body awareness. Beginners are welcome.Tuesdays 9.30 – 10.30 am£11 per class or £40 for a group of 4 consecutive classes.Call 07963113932 or email meritxellpan@gmail.com to book or enquire- Spaces are limited
Join Anita for songs and stories at our Rhyme Time Session for ages 5 & Under!
Join us on Tuesday mornings for Rhyme Time in the children’s library.Expect to hear old classics alongside new favourites, and be prepared to have a bit of a dance as well. If you’re lucky you might even get to hear Sydenham’s finest kookaburra impression.Our Rhyme Time sessions are free to all and there is no need to book. Please note that Rhyme Time only runs during term time – if you’re unsure, please contact the library on 020 8778 1753 to check.
“I learnt about aspects of writing that I’d never considered before – as someone who has taken a lot of writing courses, I didn’t expect so much that was new. It was just what I needed.” – Liz BarnesFour creative writing courses, each with 6 weekly 2-hour classes. Sessions feature author excerpts, 20–25 minute writing exercises, discussion, and time to share work. Writers with or without current projects will benefit. Weekly homework set. Suitable for prose writers and poets alike.Authors include Kei Miller, Tim Winton, Margaret Atwood, Jeanette Winterson, Andrea Levy, Helen MacDonald, Jo Shapcott, Tim O’Brien, Tracey Emin, and more.Course 1: Creative Writing Essentials – fantasy, imagery, dialogue, theme & voice.Course 2: Character & Fiction – characterisation, backstory, structure, setting.Courses 3 & 4: Tailored Topics – chosen by the group, such as memoir, poetry, suspense, endings, and more.£135 per course. Some concessions available.https://beccaleathlean.co.uk/product/approaches-to-creative-writing-forest-hill-2/https://beccaleathlean.co.
Historian and Women Of London walking tours founder Becky Laxton-Bass explores the lives and contributions of some of the women living in the borough during the 19th & 20th centuries.
From pioneering social reformers and local politicians, to world-renowned authors and actors, discover and celebrate legacies built by the Women of Lewisham.
Refreshments provided.
Therapeutic yoga classes – accessible to all. Cathy offers the full range of yoga techniques- posture,pranayama ( breathing practices), mantra , mudra and yoga nidra.All equipment provided.6 classes for £80 FREE TRIAL CLASSOr £15 drop in ( if there are spaces )This includes access to zoom classes in addition to live classes.Thursday mornings9.30 – 11amTerm time onlyTo book your space please contact cathynewsam@googlemail.com
Come join us at Manor House Library on Wednesday’s at 11am for a morning of songs and rhymes for you and your baby to enjoy!Cost: Free, but donations are welcome if you are ableWhere: Children’s LibraryTime: 11amWhen: Wednesday, term time only.
About Rosana FioreRosana Fiore, Argentina-born and Italian-raised, is a London-based yoga teacher with a deep passion for conscious living. A long-term BKS Iyengar Yoga practitioner, she blends clear instruction, intelligent alignment, and warm humour, creating a welcoming space for all levels. Her classes help students connect, learn, and grow on the mat.
In-Person ClassesGrounded in Iyengar Yoga, Rosana’s sessions focus on strength, calm, and overall wellbeing. Using props and thoughtful sequencing, her classes are inclusive and adaptable for beginners to advanced practitioners. Expect a balanced practice combining alignment, strength, restorative poses, and breathwork, all within a supportive, encouraging environment that fosters growth and community.
Book your space here: Iyengar Yoga Classes (https://www.rosanafioreyoga.com/classes)
Get writing. Make friends. Bring the Baby. Mummy Writes baby-friendly workshops explore the basics of writing fiction, with plenty of time for writing. They are designed with parents in mind to provide a safe space to embrace the chaos of parenthood and all it involves, while parents take a moment to stretch their tired brains and explore something new.
Meet Nici West in the community room at Sydenham Library on Wednesdays, 1-2pm during term-time for baby-friendly writing workshops. The workshops can be booked individually or as half-term blocks.
Mummy Writes baby-friendly writing workshops aim to not only provide a creative and intellectual challenge for parents, but to help them process experiences, and find new self-confidence and identity through creative exploration.
Tickets are available via Happity. (https://www.happity.co.uk/schedules/mummy-writes-london-sydenham-library-baby-friendly-creative-writing-workshops-for-parents) A discounted trial session is available, and there is a free ticket reserved at each session for a parent experiencing financial hardship.
