4 brilliant things to do this January

View works by emerging artists, get inspired by Hockney and enjoy a new film: here are four great ways to spend a day in the month ahead 

Image: courtesy of the London Art Fair 

1. Support fresh talent

Enjoy a visit to the London Art Fair as it returns to Islington for its 10th edition with over 120 galleries exhibiting the best in contemporary art. Highlights include a collaboration with Charleston in Sussex, with a focus on the ongoing legacy of the Bloomsbury Group. Don’t miss, too, a curated section showcasing emerging talent, and presenting Manchester-based Saul Hay Gallery for the first time. The gallery will be showing works by key emerging artists, including Mandy Payne, Jen Orpin and Harriet Mena Hill.

London Art Fair, 17­–21 January

londonartfair.co.uk

Lucie-Lune Lambouley and Louis-Martin Lambouley, 8th January 2022 by David Hockney. Image: © David Hockney. Photo: Jonathan Wilkinson, Collection of the artist   

2. Make like Hockney

The National Portrait Gallery is running a two-day portrait workshop inspired by the exhibition David Hockney: Drawing from Life. Led by award-winning artist Charlie Schaffer, whose portrait by Hockney features in the exhibition, this will be an exceptional opportunity to hone your skills and work in a wide range of media, from pen and ink to iPad. 

‘The geography of the face: self-portraiture in a range of media', National Portrait Gallery, 20 and 21 January, 11am–5pm

npg.org.uk

The Scala building today ​

3. Discover the story of an iconic cinema 

A new documentary titled Scala!!! reveals the tale of a famous, and often infamous, cinema. The Scala, on the edge of London’s King’s Cross, became a cultural hub during the 1980s and early 1990s. Along with showing independent films of all kinds (from art house to schlock horror), this venue was an important tool for social justice, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, holding benefits for striking workers, and offering a much-needed sense of community. This film by Jane Giles and Ali Catterall features archive footage, an original soundtrack by New Wave musician Barry Adamson, and interviews from some 50 figures, including artist, writer and film-maker John Akomfrah.

Scala!!! is in cinemas from 5 January and will be available digitally on BFI Player and released on BFI Blu-ray on 22 January

bfi.org.uk

Image: courtesy of The Gallery Companion/isaw Company  

4. Tune in to a great podcast

The host of The Gallery Companion is Dr Victoria Powell, a writer and historian, who has now launched the second series of her popular podcast. In each she takes a bite-sized look at contemporary art and examines how it reflects what is going on in the world today. She explores art’s intersection with pop culture, politics and justice, with this new series focusing on topics including mental health, motherhood, technology and social inequality. She also publishes an accompanying newsletter, available via Substack. 

The Gallery Companion is available on all major podcasting platforms.

Find out more

For more inspiring arts activities, see The Arts Society Magazine, available exclusively to members and supporters of The Arts Society (to join, see theartssociety.org/member-benefits). And for more online, sign up at theartssociety.org/signup