Channel is Somerset House’s new curated online space for art, ideas and the artistic process.
Monday 1 August –29 August 2022
Free daytime entry to the site Monday –Friday; Pay What You Can entry, Monday –Thursday evenings, Saturday daytimes and all day Sundays
Somerset House invites visitors to step inside the magical world of This Bright Land, a new cultural celebration in the heart of the capital, championing the spirit and strength of community.
Created by Somerset House Studios artists Gareth Pugh and Carson McColl, in collaboration with Somerset House, This Bright Land will transform Somerset House’s magnificent open-air courtyard into a welcoming wonderland, open to all, with joyful day-and-night programming featuring performances, music, dance, talks, workshops and more, platforming both established creatives and grassroots communities. Alongside the daily programme, This Bright Land will feature bold and unexpected installations and interactive experiences to enjoy. From a sensory journey through the Wonder Garden created in partnership with Jo Malone London, complete with curated spaces dedicated to wellness and self-care, to complimentary make-up services in the futuristic custom-built Clubhouse in partnership with M·A·C Cosmetics, and a ride on a 35m Observation Wheel offering breath-taking views of London’s skyline, featuring a new soundscape installation telling stories from Londoners from all walks of life – there is something new to excite each day at This Bright Land.
The festival will put togetherness at its heart, using elements of entertainment and play to encourage connections and collaboration between communities. This Bright Land builds upon Somerset House’s foundation as a central hub for creativity and conversation, creating a new vibrant space for discovery and delight throughout the month of August.
This Bright Land at a glance:
- Weekend takeovers of performance, music and celebration, including themed Saturday night open-air Vogue Balls, staged in collaboration with Vogue Rites, London’s weekly Voguing night; plus Friday night parties hosted by creative collectives Daytimers, Nine Nights, ESEA Sisters and Movimientos designed to kick start the weekend
- Bold attractions including a striking 35m Observation Wheel offering rare, spectacular views of London’s city skyline, accompanied by a new audio commission exploring ideas of family; a scented Wonder Garden in partnership with Jo Malone London featuring floral pathways and unique sensory breakout spaces; and futuristic Clubhouse in partnership with M·A·C Cosmetics sustainably designed by Automated Architecture (AUAR)
- Weekly family-friendly activities for all ages to enjoy - from rollicking Street Parties every Sunday hosted by Drag Syndrome, Tomorrow’s Warriors, Figs in Wigs and Patrick Ziza, to treasure hunts and social play
- Delicious street food curated by Black Eats LDN, championing culinary delights from Black- owned businesses across London, to be enjoyed alongside bright and zesty cocktails from the Bombay Sapphire bar, featuring its newest launch Bombay Citron Pressé
- Innovative designed spaces for people to enjoy and come together, including a custom-built tiered chillout seating overlooking This Bright Land, perfect for catching a performance in the evenings, or family picnics throughout the day
- Pop-up experiential zone powered by Forest Essentials, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Dr.Jart+, Aveda and Origins drawing inspiration from different corners of the globe, featuring immersive installations and complimentary light treatments
Further details about This Bright Land’s daily programme and attractions can be found below.
Friday Night Parties – Music and performance from community collectives
Leading art collectives and creative initiatives take centre stage in Somerset House’s magnificent courtyard every Friday of the month, hosting curated nights of performance, sound and festivity celebrating cultures and communities from across the capital. The first Friday night party on 5 August opens with Nine Nights, a creative initiative for developing and platforming Black creative talent, presenting a combination of live and DJ performances from BRBKO, Chamber 45, Gaika + GLOR1A and Sandra Omari. On 12 August, much-loved Latinx club night hosts Movimientos takes over, with back-to-back sets from the fore fronters of the freshest Latinx party scene in London including DJs Bushbby (Candela Viva) and Ivicore (Popola), Colombian selector Amancai, live percussion and vocals from Witchas, MC and rapper Fedzilla and dance from Somos Chibchas. ESEA Sisters, a platform creating space for women, trans*, non-binary and genderqueer people of East and Southeast Asian heritage, join the line-up on 19 August with a night of performance, art and music from DJs Oh Annie Oh, Shyko, Enxi, Rahel, Lila Yin, Mui Zyu, Nicole Chui and Melissa Kitty. For the final party on 26 August, art collective Daytimers present an evening of music and dance spotlighting the South Asian underground scene, showcasing and celebrating artistry from within the community with DJs Esk, DJ Mimi and Jonny Khan.
Saturday Night Open-Air Vogue Balls
Headlining the festival’s Saturday nights is London’s weekly Voguing night, Vogue Rites. Bringing Ballroom culture to This Bright Land, each Saturday will take on a different theme as performers and house members compete for trophies and unique prizes in an outdoor extravaganza of dance, fashion and music, supported by M·A·C Cosmetics. Featuring some of the most exciting names in the international Ballroom scene, themes for the weekly Balls include: The Heatwave, a sizzling celebration of summertime with MC Icon Snookie Juicy (6 August); Seeing Red, showcasing the Ballroom community’s combined legacy of artistic excellence and political activism with Holland-based MC Typhoon Prodigy and New York's Ballroom Icon Ashley Icon (13 August); and Butterfly, featuring looks inspired by the symbol for transformation, hope, rebirth and resurrection with New York’s Legendary MC Kevin Jz Prodigy (20 August). The weekly events will culminate in a Finale Queer Icons: Tribute Ball on 27 August in what is set to be the largest open-air Vogue Ball in UK history.
Sunday Street Parties
A series of guest-curated dazzling street parties open to all ages will close the weekends every Sunday. Featuring live art, performance, dance, DJs, games, workshops and relaxed in-conversation events, these day-to-night parties will platform creative collectives, performance groups and artists exploring ideas relating to race, gender, sexuality and disability.
On Sunday 7 August, ground-breaking, internationally acclaimed drag collective Drag Syndrome takeover the courtyard for our first Street Party with a spectacular show from highly addictive drag Queens and Kings with Down Syndrome. Join Nikita Gold, Lady Mercury, Justin Bond, Lady Francesca, Horrora Shebang and Davina Starr for an unmissable party celebrating neurodivergent culture with performances, inspiring talks, tarot card readings and all-round jollity. Special guests include Sarah Gordy MBE, Sharon Le Grand, Alex Box, Miss Sugar Cube and Indoor Goblin, with DJ sets from Chloe Frieda (NTS).
On 14 August, acclaimed talent development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors present the next generation of hot talent coming through London’s vibrant jazz scene at This Bright Land.
For 30 years, Tomorrow’s Warriors have built an incredible reputation as a leading development organisation for young jazz talent and creative producers of an exciting year round programme of concerts and tours, helping to enable a musical movement that is now recognised on the global stage.
Visitors will be able to enjoy performances popping up throughout the day until the evening from an array of entertainment, including the Steppin’ Over calypso tea dance featuring Alexander D Great, plus UK jazz luminaries including Gary Crosby, Mark Kavuma, Denys Baptiste, Camilla George, Dian Gasper, plus the Tomorrow’s Warriors Street Jam Band led by XVNGO.
Figs in Wigs, aficionados of deadpan dancing and pointless party games, join the line-up on 21 August. Bringing their own mix of theatre, live art, interactive dance, comedy, DJ sets and games (complete prizes and tiebreakers), this day-to-night party for the whole family will include weird and wonderful activities, including line dancing masterclasses, pea eating world record attempts, and a showstopper finale fashion show of Figs in Wigs’ wildest costumes throughout the years.
For the final party of the month on 28 August, Newcastle-based choreographer Patrick Ziza evokes the style of Congolese Sapeurs - outrageously well-dressed men and women, often defying their circumstances in dandyish fashions, sharp suits, hats and canes - in what is set to be a riot of colour, dance, fashion and performance. Visitors will be invited to move, dance and have fun with workshops on how to become a dandy in a day, including accessory and beauty makeovers and tips on how to pose, walk and boogie, to interactive dance performances and talks exploring the history of African Fashion hosted by Fiona Uwamahoro.
Engaging talks every Wednesday evening at This Bright Land
Change-makers and community collectives share critical thoughts on representation, connection and disrupting the status quo at This Bright Land. On Wednesday 3 August, visitors are invited to join a live recording of Oh Annie Oh’s hit podcast Don’t Call Me “Exotic”. Host Annie will be joined by Jason Kwan and Lilly Snatchdragon from the UK's only Pan-Asian Cabaret collective The Bitten Peach, discussing how and why they formed, and the importance of community.
On 17 August, host Oh Annie Oh returns to This Bright Land for a second live recording of her Don’t Call Me “Exotic” podcast, this time with Pxssy Palace, an arts platform rooted in intentional nightlife, providing space to dance, connect and engage, whilst encouraging consent, sexual freedom, pleasure, expression and exploration of our authentic selves. Annie will speak to Nadine Noor, Mya Mehmi & Ryan Lovell about the need to create these spaces, why it's important to uplift underrepresented communities and how they're able to do all of this by throwing the best parties in London. On 10 & 24 August, The Yard, a space for young diverse professionals, creatives, and founders to connect, collaborate and flourish join the evening talks line-up, exploring space-makers and space-takers.
An Observation Wheel offering new perspectives on the city, with a soundscape sharing the stories of Londoners
At the centre of This Bright Land, a spectacular 35m Observation Wheel offers new perspectives on the city, both literally and figuratively. The wheel will rise over Somerset House’s iconic dome to reveal breath-taking, rare views of the capital’s skyline from a new central London viewpoint. Each gondola of the wheel will be home to two new audio commissions, which captures the voices and stories of Londoners from all walks of life. As part of this, Somerset House has worked with seven young people and Audio Producer Harry Murdoch, to record conversations and interviews on the theme of family in Voices of Tomorrow, supported by the Kusuma Trust. The second audio commission, A Story of Us by British-Iranian film director Mina Salimi, sees uncanny conversations between Londoners from all walks of life seamlessly woven together in a soundscape exploring connection and commonality.
Stunning sensory experiences for both mind and body from world-leading beauty and wellness brands
For an experience to delight the senses, visitors are invited to step inside the Wonder Garden created in partnership with Jo Malone London. This family-friendly, sensory garden will feature floral pathways and unique breakout spaces, offering moments of calm, tranquillity and discovery.
Situated opposite the Wonder Garden, visitors will find the Clubhouse in partnership with M·A·C Cosmetics - a futuristic space designed by Automated Architecture (AUAR). The Clubhouse will be home to active beauty stations where visitors can enjoy free make-up services, with the chance to learn the tips and tricks of the trade from professional make-up artists. As the summer sun sets, the Clubhouse becomes the perfect spot to settle in, grab a drink and watch the evening’s entertainment unfold.
Visitors are invited to continue their sensory journey with a series of pop-ups from leading prestige beauty brands Forest Essentials, Clinique, Dr.Jart +, Bobbi Brown, Aveda and Origins, drawing inspiration from different corners of the globe. Adjacent to the Wonder Garden, India’s leading skincare brand Forest Essentials present a sensorial relaxation space. Visitors will have the chance to test and try out a curated selection of products with Ayurvedic beauty experts on hand for personalised recommendations. Across the courtyard, those looking to sit back and soak up the summer rays can do so in the lush oasis of the Clinique Moisture Surge Aloe Garden where they can enjoy shots of delicious Aloe & Orange and Lemon Ginger Kombucha in sustainable, edible packaging by Notpla. Meanwhile, Korean skincare brand Dr.Jart+ presents a giant human-sized pin art installation inspired by their new launch Pore Remedy. Taking inspiration from its NYC roots, Bobbi Brown invites visitors to its ‘Studio Glow’, offering complimentary makeovers and tailored touch-ups. Adjacent to this, Aveda will host a green oasis cabaña. Whilst Origins presents GinZing in an immersive and energising experience.
Outdoor film entertainment with Everyman
Everyman will present 21 days of outdoor film entertainment at This Bright Land, presenting a range of family-friendly screenings, documentaries, and award-winning films. Every weekday at 12.30pm, Everyman brings family favourites to the screen, from Moana to Mary Poppins, with fun and games alongside. On Monday and Tuesday nights, visitors can enjoy musical numbers and documentaries from West Side Story and Bohemian Rhapsody, to 20 Feet From Stardom and Summer of Soul. A special screening of award-winning documentary film, Kiki, which focuses on the challenges of honouring identity and heritage across various art forms, from masquerade, to drag and voguing, will be shown on Thursday 4 August. A talk hosted by Vogue Rites in-conversation with members of the UK Kiki scene will accompany the screening. Visitors to all screenings will receive complimentary popcorn courtesy of Everyman. All daytime screenings are free of charge and visitors can register online to sign-up for free tickets. Pay What You Can tickets are available for evenings Monday to Thursday.
Free daily daytime activities for all ages from garden games to treasure hunts
A rolling programme of free weekday activities will take place throughout the month for visitors of all ages to enjoy, from a site-wide treasure hunt with colourful mascots to guide visitors along the way, to more traditional means of group play, including outdoor games and a story trail. Somerset House’s famous fountains will also be dancing up and down for children to splash about in the summer holiday sunshine. Pop-up activations inspiring creativity include the creation of ‘scent maps’ in the Wonder Garden and a fashion customisation hub.
Global street food market and Bombay Citron Pressé bar
Those in search of delicious street food and vibrant flavours in the capital this August need look no further than This Bright Land. The festival will be home to a daily outdoor food market curated by Black Eats LDN, serving up unbeatable dishes to enjoy in the surroundings of the festival, as well as on the go. Championing culinary delights from independent Black-owned businesses across London, the market will include some of the most exciting food traders the capital has to offer, serving up East African, West African, Caribbean, American and South American cuisine, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets catered for.
To complement the balmy summer days, This Bright Land’s official drinks partner Bombay Sapphire will be on hand serving up delicious gin cocktails from the Bombay Sapphire bar. Featuring its newly launched Bombay Citron Pressé, a vibrant gin bursting with the taste of freshly squeezed Mediterranean lemons inspired by the Tom Collins cocktail, visitors can enjoy the familiar with a twist, including new takes on classic cocktails and naturally refreshing creations, from the Ultimate Tom Collins, made over ice and complete with fresh, juicy lemon and a splash of soda water, to Bombay Citron Pressé over cloudy lemonade. With its long-standing commitment to supporting creativity, Bombay Sapphire will invite everyone to engage with their creativity and unlock their creative potential. Every Saturday afternoon, those looking to stir creativity can do so with a Fashion Refresh Workshop, inviting visitors to remix and rework garments, with badge-making stations, heat press-on designs and garment painting, all while served a complimentary Bombay Citron Pressé cocktail.
Visitors to This Bright Land during the daytime can also enjoy the free exhibition Eternally Yours over the summer at Somerset House. The exhibition showcases diverse examples of creative reuse, from historical artefacts that embraced upcycling and repurposing, to recent work from leading artists and designers that have repair at the heart of their practice.
Further programming highlights to be announced. Please visit somersethouse.org.uk for more information.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Dates & Times
Monday 1 - 29 August 2022
12.00 - 22.30 daily
Listings
Free entry to the site: Mondays – Fridays, 12.00 - 18.00
Pay What You Can entry: Mondays – Thursdays, 19.00 - 22.30 & Saturdays, 12.00 - 18.00
Friday Night Parties
Friday 5, 12, 19 & 26 August, 19.30 - 22.30, tickets from £5.00 - £22.50
Saturday Night Vogue Balls with Vogue Rites
Saturday 6, 13, & 20 August, 18.00 - 22.30, Saturday 27 August 17.00 – 22.30, tickets from £5.00 - £15.00
Sunday Street Parties
Sunday 7, 14, 21 & 28 August, 12.00 – 22.30, Pay What You Can entry
Full pricing details to be released on 21 June. Tickets on sale 22 June 2022, 10am.
ABOUT SOMERSET HOUSE
London’s working arts centre
Somerset House is London’s working arts centre and home to the UK’s largest creative community. Built on historic foundations, we are situated in the very heart of the capital.
Dedicated to backing progress, championing openness, nurturing creativity and empowering ideas, our cultural programme is ambitious in scope. We insist on relevance, but aren’t afraid of irreverence, and are as keen on entertainment as enrichment. We embrace the biggest issues of our times and are committed to oxygenating new work by emerging artists. Where else can you spend an hour ice-skating while listening to a specially commissioned sound piece by a cutting edge artist?
It is this creative tension – the way we harness our heritage, put the too-often overlooked on our central stage and use our neo-classical backdrop to showcase ground-breaking contemporary culture – that inspires our programme. Old and new, history and disruption, art and entertainment, high-tech and homemade, combined with the fact that we are home to a constantly shape-shifting working creative community: this is our point of difference. It is what we are proud of. And it is what makes the experience of visiting or working in Somerset House inspiring and energizing, urgent and exciting.
ABOUT GARETH PUGH & CARSON MCCOLL
Gareth Pugh is a globally renowned fashion designer and image-maker, described by The Sunday Times as “Britain’s most exciting designer.” Carson McColl is writer, artist and activist, and co-directed the award winning 2019 documentary ‘Soul of a Movement: Four Days in June.’ Both Pugh and McColl are resident artists at Somerset House Studios and are co-founders of HARD + SHINY, an independent creative studio specialising in fashion, film, stage design and experiential entertainment. As a team they have worked with some of the most popular artists of our time – including Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Rihanna – and have collaborated with some of the world’s most important cultural institutions, designing shows for the New York City Ballet, the Opéra Garnier in Paris and for The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Their client portfolio includes Virgin Voyages, Rolls Royce Motor Cars, Madison Square Garden, Selfridges and The Estée Lauder Companies.
ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is the world's number one premium gin by value and volume (IWSR). Based on a 1761 recipe, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin is created by perfectly balancing a unique combination of 10 hand-selected exotic botanicals from around the world. The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE distillery at Laverstoke Mill has won a BREEAM award for sustainability and is the home of the unique Vapour Infusion process, where the natural flavours of the botanicals are skilfully captured, resulting in the fresh and vibrant taste with which BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is synonymous.
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has recently been awarded the prestigious Double Gold and Gold medal at the 17th San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).
The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.
Enjoy BOMBAY SAPPHIRE responsibly
For the facts: Drinkaware.co.uk
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AND BOMBAY BRAMBLE ARE TRADEMARKS
ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® AND CREATIVITY
Launching the ‘Stir Creativity’ campaign in 2018, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is leading a global mission - a call to arms for everyone to engage with their creativity and unlock their creative potential. From advocacy programmes including World's Most Imaginative Bartender competition running in the US for the last 11 years to hosting The Glasshouse Project, a global advocacy programme bringing together the world's top bartenders in a series of creative workshops designed to push the boundaries of cocktail creativity.
For eight years, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has run The Artisan Series, an art competition created by the brand to provide emerging artists with an international platform. The brand has also partnered with well-known artists and creators such as Tracey Emin, Thomas Heatherwick and Tom Dixon for the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Designer Glassware Competition.