Essential Information Type Talks and tours Location National Maritime Museum Date and Times CANCELLED Unfortunately this event has been cancelled. We will instead be recording a podcast episode with Sharon Walters and Rudy Loewe that will be released on the National Maritime Museum Spotify platform. How does it feel to see 'yourself' represented - or misrepresented - in museum spaces? Join artist Sharon Walters and special guests for a live in-conversation event as they delve into the National Maritime Museum collections to look at depictions of people of African descent and their significance today. In this talk, queer visual artist, Rudy Loewe, will discuss the disruption of spaces and queering of archives. Rudy and Sharon will explore their responses to navigating heritage spaces in their practice, the challenges they experience and how they fully insert their identity into the archive. This talk will take place in the Lecture Theatre at the National Maritime Museum. This event is an extension of the 'Seeing Ourselves' podcast, developed by Sharon in collaboration with historians and artists. The project is supported by the National Maritime Museum through the Migration, Heritage and Belonging project. About the speakers Image Rudy Loewe Rudy Loewe is an artist visualising Black histories and social politics through mediums such as painting, drawing and text. They began a Techne funded practice-based PhD at the University of the Arts London in 2021. This research critiques Britain’s role in suppressing Black Power in the English-speaking Caribbean, during the 60s and 70s. Their work has recently been exhibited at the Liverpool Biennial, VITRINE Fitzrovia and Orleans House Gallery. In 2024 Loewe will participate in the Toronto Biennial. They are represented by VITRINE London/Basel. Image Sharon Walters Sharon Walters is a London-based artist with a fine art degree from Central St Martins. Her current series entitled, 'Seeing Ourselves' is a multi-disciplinary project celebrating Black women, their histories and futures. The work encompasses papercuts, collage works, mixed media works and events in collaboration with various organisations. The intention of her practice is to empower those who are marginalised to take up space, create our own spaces and develop opportunities to be seen, heard and instigate change. Discover more Event Seeing Ourselves: In conversation with... Ekow Eshun Join artist Sharon Walters and journalist Ekow Eshun for a discussion exploring representation in museum spaces Find out more Podcast Seeing Ourselves podcast How does feels to see 'yourself’ represented – or misrepresented – in museum spaces? Listen here What’s On Workshops | Talks & courses Saturday Art Club Join the weekly creative drop-in for young people aged 13-16 Saturdays from October - April | 10am-1pm Free National Maritime Museum Free displays Sea creatures: real and imagined See this beautiful banner created by Willow Dene School, inspired by maps and monsters in the National Maritime Museum Open daily | 10am-5pm Free National Maritime Museum Exhibitions Our Connection to Water Life source, sacred ritual, scarce commodity? Seven artists share what water means to them at the National Maritime Museum Open daily | 10am-5pm Free National Maritime Museum Talks and tours Character Encounters Visit the National Maritime Museum every Saturday to discover a different character from history with their own fascinating story to tell Saturdays Free Entry National Maritime Museum Exhibitions Astronomy Photographer of the Year See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum Open daily | 10am-5pm Adults £10 | Concessions £6.50 | Children £5 National Maritime Museum Free displays | Identity Pioneers: A Renaissance in South Asian Creativity A series of portraits of South Asian creative individuals, on display at the National Maritime Museum. Are you ready to meet the pioneers? Open daily | 10am-5pm Free National Maritime Museum Talks and tours | Identity Open Mic Poetry: This is Who We Are Whether you are an experienced writer, an aspiring poet or want to hear Jenny Mitchell launch her new collection, come along to our Open Mic event Cancelled Pay what you can: £3, £5 or £8 National Maritime Museum Family fun Play Tuesdays Bring your under 5 on a different adventure every week! Explore the Museum together through song, dance and stories Term time Tuesdays | 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm £4 per child and accompanying adult | Under 6 months free National Maritime Museum Workshops | Identity Writing Workshop: Poetry and Freedom A relaxed workshop themed around freedom and identity Thursday 7 December | 10.30am to 12.30pm Free National Maritime Museum Family fun SENsory Sailors Come along and enjoy this brand new sensory play session for children with special educational needs Once a month on Saturdays | 11am-12.30pm Free, pre-booking required National Maritime Museum Talks and tours | Member events Flamsteed lecture: Are We Alone? Are we the only technologically advanced beings in the Universe? Find out in this talk by Dr Robin Catchpole. Monday 11 December 2023 | Doors at 6.30pm, event starts at 7.15pm Free | Flamsteed Astronomy Society Members only National Maritime Museum Talks and tours | Identity Seeing Ourselves: Sharon Walters in conversation with... Ekow Eshun Join artist Sharon Walters and journalist Ekow Eshun for a discussion exploring representation in museum spaces Wednesday 13 December 2023 | 6pm-8pm Pay what you can National Maritime Museum Family fun | LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+ Family Network A safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another, get involved in creative activities for all ages and explore the stories within the collection 20 January 2024 | 10am-12pm Free National Maritime Museum Family fun | Christmas Members' crafting: Christmas stars Join us for a special Christmas themed craft workshop Sunday 17 December 2023 | 11am-11.45am, 12.15pm-1pm, 1.30pm-2.15pm, 2.45pm-3.30pm Free for Members – booking required National Maritime Museum Family fun Safe Harbour A programme for foster and adoptive families. Monthly: Next date 30 December| 12.30pm - 2.30pm Ticketed | Free National Maritime Museum Talks and tours | Member events New Members' Tour Embark on a voyage of discovery around the Museum in the company of one of our volunteer guides Various dates | 11am - 12pm Free | Booking essential National Maritime Museum Conferences Weaving Waves: The History and Conservation of Maritime Tapestries Join us for 'Weaving Waves', a symposium welcoming speakers and attendees interested in the curation and conservation of maritime tapestries. 12 January 2024 Adults £30 | Members, online, students, unemployed or underemployed, retired, early career researchers £20 National Maritime Museum Talks and tours | Member events Finding horror in the white spaces with Ally Wilkes Find out about the real-life - and terrifying - Antarctic expeditions and tales of the supernatural which inspired author Ally Wilkes Thursday 25 January 2024 | 6.30pm - 7.30pm Free for Members – booking required National Maritime Museum Events and festivals | Identity Lunar New Year Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a whole host of Lunar New Year activities, videos and performances Saturday 3 February 2024 Free National Maritime Museum Family fun Discover Sundays Each Sunday come and explore the Museum's collection through hands on creative activities Term time Sundays | 11am - 1pm | 2pm - 4pm Free | Drop-in National Maritime Museum Events and festivals | Identity Women's History Month 2024 From fearless fighters to female activists, join us to celebrate the contributions and resilience of women throughout history Throughout March Free Entry National Maritime Museum Events and festivals World Oceans Day A family-friendly celebration of our ocean hosted at the National Maritime Museum Returning in 2024 Free National Maritime Museum Events and festivals Windrush 75 Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush's arrival in Britain, and find your own Windrush connection at the National Maritime Museum Throughout 2023 Free National Maritime Museum Events and festivals International Slavery Remembrance Day Explore the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade and its abolition at the National Maritime Museum Returning in 2024 Free National Maritime Museum