Filtering by: “New House Events”
The Art Of Your WOmb: Painting To Reconnect With Your Body
Sept
12

The Art Of Your WOmb: Painting To Reconnect With Your Body

COME AND JOIN A RESTORATIVE PAINTING WORKSHOP TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR CREATIVE INTUITION

Whether you're intimidated, disconnected, or in touch with pleasure when it comes to your womb, this workshop is a way to reconnect to your body through art in an exclusive private space.

This session offers cacao, canvas, and space to feel connected to yourself. You belong in your body exactly as you are - let’s embody that through art.

About your guide theodora

Theodora is an Oil painter and womb art facilitator, based between London & Surrey

“I paint from my womb as the centre of creative and life force energy in my body, the place I spent years ignoring that found increasingly dramatic ways to get my attention.

I used to create ethereal and angelic art of women. When I transitioned into making red and black womb symbols, a lot of the inflammation I had in my body relaxed, including my period pain. There is something about painting with colours and shapes that felt most natural and intimidatingly simple that created the most healing in my body.

Expressing whatever that might be affirms the wombs importance, which is exactly why I hold these sessions.”

Follow Theodora at @theo.dora.art

Limited Early Bird tickets available - book now

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Layla Mccay - The Queer Bookshelf book talk
Sept
24

Layla Mccay - The Queer Bookshelf book talk

Come and join Sarah Wingrove as she hosts an insightful discussion with author Layla McCay about her book, The Queer Bookshelf. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and get your copy of the book signed by the author. We’ve collaborated with Paper Moon Bookshop to offer a special 10% discount on pre-ordered copies (there’s an option to select this when you purchase your ticket), and copies will also be available on the night.

About the author: Layla MCCAY

Layla McCay is a passionate reader, host of queer book clubs from the UK to the US and Japan, and acclaimed performance storyteller with The Moth. She can frequently be found on the BBC and features in The Mortified Guide Netflix miniseries about growing up gay. Layla has won numerous awards for her positive impact on LGBTQ+ culture and inclusion, from Attitude 101 to the Rainbow Honours and Outstanding Executive Role Models. Her book Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling: how LGBTQ+ people can thrive and succeed at work won an Axiom Gold Book Award. Layla lives with her wife in London. 

About The Queer Bookshelf

Layla McCay’s The Queer Bookshelf is a joyful, comprehensive guide to LGBTQ+ literature. Exploring queer literary history and contemporary publications, she offers global recommendations across genres including literary fiction, memoir, fantasy, and romance to help readers navigate and expand their reading lists. Drawing from her own experiences as a book club host and avid reader, McCay’s guide is aimed at helping LGBTQ+ people find themselves on the page and introduces broader audiences to centuries of queer writing.

Add your ticket to your basket to buy a copy of the book with 10% off, courtesy of Paper Moon Book Shop!

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TTRPG one shot
Sept
26

TTRPG one shot

Would you like to try a tabletop rpg? Try a one shot. Run by GM Jakub who has over 10 years experience, for players both completely new and experienced. Play as modern day monster hunters, fighting back against ancient horrors even if no one believes you.

Game system: Hunter the Reckoning 

Players limit: 5

Players must also be over the age of 18.

Fee: £5 (drink from Frida's included)

Dice will be available for you to use on the day. If you would like to bring you own you will need multiple D10's (10 sided dice).

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Candle Making Workshop with House of Mahogany: Autumn Edition
Oct
2

Candle Making Workshop with House of Mahogany: Autumn Edition

House of Mahogany presents an autumnal candle making experience

Create your own hand-poured candle in this 90-minute workshop, inspired by the rich, comforting scents of autumn. This cosy, hands-on workshop is designed for slowing down, getting creative and embracing everything we love about the season.

You’ll explore a selection of autumnal fragrance oils, learn how scent is blended, and discover the natural materials that go into a beautifully made candle, including why eco-conscious waxes are a better choice for your home and the planet.

About House of mahogany

House of Mahogany is a mother and daughter brand, shaped by generational traditions, shared stories and the belief that home is more than where you live. It is where you gather, rest, celebrate and belong.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The classes are designed for those who want to explore scent in a relaxed, creative setting. You’ll be guided through the process of making your own candle, with everything you need included on the day.

You’ll be guided through the candle making process step by step, from choosing your scent to pouring your candle and understanding the key elements that make a candle burn well and smell beautiful. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a candle you’ve made yourself, along with a deeper appreciation for the craft and a piece that brings atmosphere and personality into your home.

Brought to you as part of the Guildford Festival of the Arts 2026 programme.

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Hotch Potch
Oct
3

Hotch Potch

Join local writers Mark Insoll & Cheryl Knight as they deliver an hour of funny and thought-provoking readings.

About Mark Insoll

Mark is a writer of sketches and flash fiction. Funny stuff mostly.
Based in Guildford, Surrey, he also runs a creative writing group and is the producer ofHotch Potch.

Find out more about Mark’s work here.

About Cheryl Knight

Cheryl created ‘Turn Back the Clock’ to celebrate Ode To Joyce's centenary year. Her previous work includes Miss Santiago in ‘Buddy’, various roles in the tour of ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’, Thaisa in James Roose Evans’ production of ‘Pericles’, and numerous television commercials.

Find out more about Cheryl’s work here.

Brought to you as part of the Guildford Festival of the Arts 2026 programme.

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Pocket Shrine making drop-in with Gwendolyn Jones
Oct
10

Pocket Shrine making drop-in with Gwendolyn Jones

Farnham Folklore Society PRESENTs: pocket shrine making drop-in afternoon with gwendolyn jones

Make a pocket shrine inspired by folk art

Deeply rooted in folklore, a pocket shrine serves as a way to carry memories, affirmations or symbols with you.

In this workshop we’ll create shrines from reclaimed materials then fill with meaningful words and imagery and even objects and charms.

No experience necessary. All materials provided but feel free to bring your own photos, images or other ephemera if you have a theme you’d like to work with.

About your host Gwendolyn Jones

Gwendolyn Jones is an artist and printmaker based in rural Hampshire. After studying illustration and printmaking at Central Saint Martins, Gwen spent a couple of decades designing children’s magazines for clients including BBC and Disney.

She now makes prints, collages, books and other handcrafted objects at home, using DIY print methods, and shares these techniques in fun, informal workshops for all levels. A large focus of her work is using scrap paper and reclaimed materials to create something new and surprising. Experimentation, discovery and play are at the centre of her practice.

Brought to you as part of the Folk Around & Find Out exhibition programme.

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Mini Copper Grimoire workshop with Hattie Hyder and Thirzah Bragg
Oct
11

Mini Copper Grimoire workshop with Hattie Hyder and Thirzah Bragg

Farnham Folklore Society PRESENTs: Mini Copper Grimoire workshop (copper repousse and bookbinding) with Founders Hattie Hyder and Thirzah Bragg

Join Farnham Folklore Society founders Hattie and Thirzah as they combine their skills for a joint workshop.

Make a copper repousse decorated cover for your very own grimoire notebook with Thirzah, Hattie will then teach you how to Japanese bind it into a book worthy of spells and secrets.

No previous crafting experience necessary. 

About Hattie & Thirzah

Hattie and Thirzah are both artists and printmakers from Farnham, they are inspired by folklore and nature and often work together at markets or putting on exhibitions! 

Instagram - @hattiehyderillustrator /@amongthegorse 

Brought to you as part of the Folk Around & Find Out exhibition programme.

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Folklore DnD One Shot with Cid Koh (Beginner Friendly)
Oct
17

Folklore DnD One Shot with Cid Koh (Beginner Friendly)

Farnham Folklore Society PRESENTs: Folklore DnD One Shot with Cid Koh (Beginner Friendly)

Join professional Gamemaster Cid Koh as he takes you on an adventure through folklore inspired lands in a special folk horror one shot written for Farnham Folklore Society, featuring pre-made character sheets, and paper maps and minis designed by Farnham Folklore Society artists.

For the beginners session no experience is needed, this is a great way to try out dnd with an experienced games master. Adults only!

About your host

Cid Koh has been a Dungeons and Dragons Gamemaster for seven years, three of those a professional. Cid can often be found GMing at RPG Taverns in London. He is passionate about crafting immersive story-driven adventures, with a particular love for horror and psychological storytelling that keeps players questioning their every choice.

Ticket includes a set of DnD dice in a custom Farnham Folklore Society dice bag!

Brought to you as part of the Folk Around & Find Out exhibition programme.

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Folklore DnD One Shot with Cid Koh
Oct
17

Folklore DnD One Shot with Cid Koh

Farnham Folklore Society PRESENTs: Folklore DnD One Shot with Cid Koh

Join professional Gamemaster Cid Koh as he takes you on an adventure through folklore inspired lands in a special folk horror one shot written for Farnham Folklore Society, featuring pre-made character sheets, and paper maps and minis designed by Farnham Folklore Society artists.

For the experienced session a knowledge of dnd and some previous experience is preferred, you don’t have to be an expert you just have to know your d20 from your d12! Adults only.

About your host

Cid Koh has been a Dungeons and Dragons Gamemaster for seven years, three of those a professional. Cid can often be found GMing at RPG Taverns in London. He is passionate about crafting immersive story-driven adventures, with a particular love for horror and psychological storytelling that keeps players questioning their every choice.

Ticket includes a set of DnD dice in a custom Farnham Folklore Society dice bag! 

Brought to you as part of the Folk Around & Find Out exhibition programme.

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Corn Dolly Making Workshop with Two Crooked Ladies (12-2pm)
Oct
28

Corn Dolly Making Workshop with Two Crooked Ladies (12-2pm)

Farnham Folklore Society PRESENTs: Corn dolly making with two crooked ladies

All the way from Dorset Kitty and Rebecca or The Two Crooked ladies will be hosting a beginners’ workshop in the ancient and endangered craft of corn dolly making.

About the Two Crooked Ladies

Kitty and Rebecca, or Two Crooked Ladies, are a queer disabled couple who love rural crafts, traditions and folklore. They began a corn dolly apprenticeship with the wonderful Corn Dollies by Sally in 2024, and with the help of her teaching have now begun to share and teach this red listed craft, to help ensure that it’s kept alive. They’re passionate about folk traditions, and learning from them have begun to create original designs and wearable pieces in the hopes to bring this once popular craft to a wider audience.

Brought to you as part of the Folk Around & Find Out exhibition programme.

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Corn Dolly Making Workshop with Two Crooked Ladies (3-5pm)
Oct
28

Corn Dolly Making Workshop with Two Crooked Ladies (3-5pm)

Farnham Folklore Society PRESENTs: Corn dolly making with two crooked ladies

All the way from Dorset Kitty and Rebecca or The Two Crooked ladies will be hosting a beginners’ workshop in the ancient and endangered craft of corn dolly making.

About the Two Crooked Ladies

Kitty and Rebecca, or Two Crooked Ladies, are a queer disabled couple who love rural crafts, traditions and folklore. They began a corn dolly apprenticeship with the wonderful Corn Dollies by Sally in 2024, and with the help of her teaching have now begun to share and teach this red listed craft, to help ensure that it’s kept alive. They’re passionate about folk traditions, and learning from them have begun to create original designs and wearable pieces in the hopes to bring this once popular craft to a wider audience.

Brought to you as part of the Folk Around & Find Out exhibition programme.

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TTRPG one shot
Sept
6

TTRPG one shot

Would you like to try a tabletop rpg? Try a one shot. Run by GM Jakub who has over 10 years experience, for players both completely new and experienced. Play as modern day monster hunters, fighting back against ancient horrors even if no one believes you.

Game system: Hunter the Reckoning 

Players limit: 5

Players must also be over the age of 18.

Fee: £5 (drink from Frida's included)

Dice will be available for you to use on the day. If you would like to bring you own you will need multiple D10's (10 sided dice).

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Preview: Ellen Doggett
Sept
3

Preview: Ellen Doggett

Ellen is an artist, designer, and museum geek based in Guildford, working in London. Her practice is shaped by both her professional experience working in museums and galleries, and her academic background studying Fine Art at the Glasgow School of Art and Lancaster University.

Working across a range of disciplines including painting, textile/fibre arts, and upholstery, she explores the richness of everyday life through material and process. She is particularly drawn to moments that might otherwise go unnoticed; fleeting interactions, habitual gestures, and the quiet rhythms of daily routines. Encounters during her commute often inspire her work, where she observes characters and behaviours that reflect the subtle complexity of human experience.

At the heart of Ellen’s practice is a fascination with people: how we present ourselves, how we relate to one another, and how meaning is constructed through seemingly ordinary moments. Her aim is to elevate the mundane, inviting closer attention to what might initially appear banal. This exhibition focuses primarily on her watercolour work. Often underestimated, watercolour is an expressive and unpredictable medium. She is drawn to its fluidity and its capacity for layering, allowing me to build depth, texture, and atmosphere while embracing elements of chance and spontaneity.

Last year Ellen entered the Guildford Festival of the Arts Open Call and was delighted to be accepted and later voted as the public’s favourite with her work ‘100 Days of Lockdown’.

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Northern Wind Community Walk
Aug
30

Northern Wind Community Walk

The Mount Community Walk

📍 Meet-up: The Surrey Scholar Statue (50 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3ES)

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Date: Sunday 30th August

🥾 Walk type: Community hike

📏 Distance: 7.58km / 5 miles

⛰️ Elevation gain: 235 m

⏱️ Estimated time: 2–2.5 hours

Sign-Up & Waiver

Spaces are limited, so please sign up using the link above to secure your place.

Before attending, all participants must also complete the waiver on the Eventbrite ticket.

Walk Highlights

Panoramic views from The Mount

Peaceful woodland trails and country paths

Open green spaces and beautiful scenery

A relaxed, social atmosphere

Coffee and conversation at Frida's Coffee House

Route Overview

Starting from the Surrey Scholar statue in Guildford High Street, we'll make our way to the Chantry Woods, following a mix of woodland trails, country paths, and open green spaces. We’ll enjoy some great forest walks across the surrounding landscape before heading back into Guildford for coffee at Frida’s Coffee House.

As we walk, there'll be plenty of opportunities to chat, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a relaxed pace together. The route includes a few steady climbs but is designed to be sociable rather than challenging, with plenty of time to take in the scenery.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking boots or trail shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a bottle of water, any snacks you'd like along the way, and suncream if the forecast is warm. The route includes uneven woodland terrain, country paths, and a few moderate hills.

Important Information

By taking part in this Northern Wind community hike, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk. Please take care on uneven paths, look after your health and belongings, and be mindful of fellow walkers as we explore together.

Please ensure you are comfortable walking the stated distance and terrain. Dogs are welcome where appropriate but must be kept under control and in accordance with local access restrictions.

We look forward to exploring together. 🌿🥾

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Surrey Sapphics Coffee Morning
Aug
16

Surrey Sapphics Coffee Morning

A coffee morning for all small town sapphics to be together and to stop complaining about not seeing other lesbians. We're an inclusive space so whether you identify as non-binary, trans, or a bisexual woman you are welcome to join!

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Izabella Scott - The Bed Trick
Aug
13

Izabella Scott - The Bed Trick

About Izabella

Izabella Scott is a queer writer from London. She is the author of The Bed Trick: Sex and Deception on Trial (2026); and co-author with Skye Arundhati Thomas of Pleasure Gardens (2024), which was joint winner of the 2025 Bread & Roses Award for Radical Publishing.

About the Book

In her riveting and forensic examination of the case of Gayle Newman, a woman accused by her former best friend ofimpersonating a man during sex and convicted of ‘rape by deception’, Izabella Scott interrogates the case from every conceivable angle. Exposing the slippery side of consent law, the many myths and archetypes that crowd the courtroom, and the shifting rules of deceptive sex, Scott questions: Whose narratives are heard? Who is seen as a credible victim and what is considered a credible crime? The Bed Trick: Sex and Deception on Trial is a lucid, vivid story about stories—their limits, their merits—and the ways we lie in love, in life, and in law.

Add your ticket to your basket to buy a copy of the book with 10% off!

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Guildford Coffee Club: Professor Jonathan Morris — The Coffee Historian
Jul
26

Guildford Coffee Club: Professor Jonathan Morris — The Coffee Historian

Coffee Club is a relaxed and thoughtful Sunday gathering centred around coffee, good conversation and discovery. It brings together curious, open people who enjoy learning, conversation, and the simple fun of discovering something new.

Each Coffee Club session focuses on a different aspect of the coffee world, creating space for open dialogue and discovery. The atmosphere is calm, welcoming, and informal, with time to engage at your own pace, share a laugh, and truly connect with fellow coffee lovers.

What can a cup of coffee tell us about the history of the world?

From the forests of Ethiopia to the coffeehouses that helped shape modern society, coffee's journey reveals stories of trade, empire, culture, innovation, and human connection.

Join Guildford Coffee Club for a special morning with Professor Jonathan Morris, one of the world's leading coffee historians, as we explore the remarkable story behind one of humanity's most influential drinks.

Together we'll trace coffee's path across continents and centuries, from its origins in Ethiopia to its role in shaping global trade, social life, and modern coffee culture. Along the way, we'll explore the people, places, and ideas that shaped coffee's journey, and the questions it still raises today about sustainability, production, and the world we share.

In true Guildford Coffee Club fashion, this won't be a formal lecture. We'll begin with coffee and conversation before settling into an interactive session featuring stories, historical imagery, coffee tastings, and plenty of opportunities for discussion and audience participation.

Whether you're interested in history, culture, travel, ideas, sustainability, or simply enjoy a good conversation over coffee, you're warmly invited to join us.

About Professor Jonathan Morris

Professor Jonathan Morris is one of the world's leading coffee historians, author of Coffee: A Global History — translated into nine languages — and co-creator of the A History of Coffee podcast series. His 2024 TED-Ed lesson on how humanity got hooked on coffee has been viewed more than three million times worldwide.

Jonathan has appeared on BBC Radio 4, CNN, The Guardian, and The Sunday Times, and is a regular judge at the Speciality Coffee Association's World of Coffee awards.

As always, expect great coffee, open conversation, and plenty to take home.

First time? Use code FIRSTTIME for a discount.

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Northern Wind Community Walk
Jul
26

Northern Wind Community Walk

The Mount Community Walk

📍 Meet-up: The Surrey Scholar Statue (50 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3ES)

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Date: Sunday 26th July

🥾 Walk type: Community hike

📏 Distance: 7.07 km / 4.4 miles

⛰️ Elevation gain: 228 m

⏱️ Estimated time: 2–2.5 hours

Sign-Up & Waiver

Spaces are limited, so please sign up using the link above to secure your place.

Before attending, all participants must also complete the waiver on the Eventbrite ticket.

Walk Highlights

Panoramic views from The Mount

Peaceful woodland trails and country paths

Open green spaces and beautiful scenery

A relaxed, social atmosphere

Coffee and conversation at Frida's Coffee House

Route Overview

Starting from the Surrey Scholar statue in Guildford High Street, we'll make our way towards The Mount, following a mixture of woodland trails, quiet country paths, and open green spaces. Along the route, we'll enjoy panoramic views across Guildford and the surrounding Surrey Hills before looping back towards the town centre.

As we walk, there'll be plenty of opportunities to chat, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a relaxed pace together. The route includes a few steady climbs but is designed to be sociable rather than challenging, with plenty of time to take in the scenery before finishing with coffee and conversation at Frida's Coffee House.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking boots or trail shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a bottle of water, any snacks you'd like along the way, and suncream if the forecast is warm. The route includes uneven woodland terrain, country paths, and a few moderate hills.

Important Information

By taking part in this Northern Wind community hike, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk. Please take care on uneven paths, look after your health and belongings, and be mindful of fellow walkers as we explore together.

Please ensure you are comfortable walking the stated distance and terrain. Dogs are welcome where appropriate but must be kept under control and in accordance with local access restrictions.

We look forward to exploring together. 🌿🥾

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ListenQueer: LGBTQIA+ History in Guildford
Jul
25

ListenQueer: LGBTQIA+ History in Guildford

Come along on this treasure hunt through Guildford’s queer and trans history to learn about the LGBTQIA+ people that have shaped this town since the 14th century. From kings to composers, from archaeologists to gender anarchists, this event will get up close and personal with all of them. 

We will meet at New House Art Space at 2pm and you will receive a brief introduction from your host Dr Lena Mattheis (they/she). You can then decide whether you want to do your queer treasure hunt as a self-guided walking tour or from the comfort of the café at New House. Both versions will use the ListenQueer app, which is audio-based, so please bring headphones!

Come back to New House with the correct answers to all treasure hunt clues at 3:30pm to claim your prize! Afterwards, why not grab a coffee or cake and stay to chat and mingle.

Meet: 2pm at New House Art Space (café area)

Ends: 3:30pm, also at New House

Option: Stay at New House for a queer social till 4:30pm

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Surrey Sapphics Coffee Morning
Jul
19

Surrey Sapphics Coffee Morning

A coffee morning for all small town sapphics to be together and to stop complaining about not seeing other lesbians. We're an inclusive space so whether you identify as non-binary, trans, or a bisexual woman you are welcome to join!

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Liana Fricker In Conversation with Claire Knill & Julian Deane
Jul
17

Liana Fricker In Conversation with Claire Knill & Julian Deane

What if the limits of who we think we are are more flexible than they feel?

Sculpture artist Claire Knill and sound artist Julian Deane join a conversation at New House Art Space exploring what happens when the job titles that once defined us start to loosen their grip.

Hosted by Liana Fricker, this conversation is rooted in a simple observation: many working lives are organised around job titles, roles, and professional labels that become shorthand for identity over time. It explores how earlier roles and experiences are carried forward into new forms of creative practice, beautiful endings and beginnings.

An evening for those with long lists of past selves and a slightly harder-to-explain present one. Rather than treating creative practice as an isolated outcome, the event considers it as evidence of a longer process - where previous roles remain embedded, reconfigured, or transformed within current work.

The format is a live, in-room conversation with audience presence and participation. Small-room format (20–30 seats), closer to a recorded exchange than a panel discussion.

About Claire Knill

Claire Knill is a multidisciplinary British artist based in Hove, working across sculpture, installation, and collage. Her work includes kinetic suspended sculptural forms constructed from materials such as brass, aluminium, wood, acrylic, and glass.

She trained in Multimedia Textiles at Loughborough University.

Her work is exhibited regularly at Artists Open House in Brighton and The Affordable Art Fair in London, where she is represented by Lara Bowen Contemporary.

She has undertaken residencies including A Place To Breathe Slowly at the Regency Townhouse, which combined sculpture, sound, and spatial installation.

Prior to working as a full-time artist, she held senior roles in luxury travel marketing and communications, including Head of Marketing & PR at Black Tomato.

Her current practice reflects the ongoing reconfiguration of earlier professional experience into sculptural form, process, and material decision-making.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/claireknillart/Website:https://www.claireknill.com/

About Julian Deane

Julian Deane is a soundscape artist, writer, and former music industry professional.

He began his career as a musician in Toploader, who released multi-platinum records and achieved multiple UK Top 20 singles.

He later moved into artist management and label operations, working with artists including Bombay Bicycle Club, Reverend and the Makers, and Dream Wife. He most recently served as Managing Director and A&R at Raygun, a Brighton-based management company, record label, and music publisher.

He now works independently as a soundscape artist and writer, focusing on sound as space, attention, and composition.

His current practice emerges from a long history of industry-facing roles, where systems of management, representation, and structure are reworked into sound-based creative output.

He has recently stepped away from full-time artist management after two decades in the industry.

Substack: https://woodchesterpianocompany.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodchesterpianocompany/

About your host: Liana Fricker

Liana Fricker is Founder of The Inspiration Space, a community and business development platform for founders and creatives.

She is a TEDx speaker and has worked as a marketing strategist on campaigns for Bacardi, BMW, and the NHS.

She curates this conversation series, bringing together practitioners to explore how working lives are structured and how those structures evolve over time.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lianafricker/


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Zine making workshop
Jul
15

Zine making workshop

Zines (a self published magazine) have long been a part of LGBTQ+ culture. In this hands on workshop Kai will share some of the history of zines and then guide you through making your own! There will be a wide range of materials provided such as collage, stickers, pens and pencils, pastels and more so you can really express yourself.

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Femme Films: THE WATERMELON WOMAN
Jul
10

Femme Films: THE WATERMELON WOMAN

The Watermelon Woman

The Watermelon Woman stars Dunye, playing a version of herself who works in a video store while searching for a forgotten black actress from the 30s credited only as “The Watermelon Woman”.

What begins as a DIY documentary project slowly becomes something richer: a meditation on who gets remembered, who gets erased, and who has the power to tell stories. Dunye places herself at the centre, not as an authority, but as a participant who is curious, flawed, funny, and openly subjective. The film understands that objectivity has often been the tool of erasure, not truth.

Cheryl Dunye turns absence into inquiry, using humor, warmth, and invention to confront how black queer histories are erased, misfiled, or never recorded in the first place. The Watermelon Woman is a film that feels quietly radical not because it announces its importance, but because it refuses to ask permission to exist The Watermelon Woman not only stands against the erasure of marginalised stories in the face of white patriarchal power, but depicts an abundance of joy too. Friendships unfold with lived-in ease, romance is awkward and sincere, and the film’s low-budget aesthetic becomes a strength rather than a limitation. It feels intimate, handmade and alive. Every choice reinforces the idea that representation isn’t just about visibility, but about control who tells the story and how. Dunye’s film doesn’t just critique that absence it fills it, lovingly and defiantly.

It’s funny, intimate, political, and deeply personal all at once. By the time the film ends, you realize you’ve watched something both historically vital and incredibly charming. The Watermelon Woman looks back in order to create a future archive where people like Dunye are impossible to erase.

Even decades later, it feels fresh. Not just because of its themes, but because of its voice: playful, sharp, and unapologetically queer.

REVIEWS:

“…layered with intelligent ideas about the complexities of power and love…”

Time Out New York

“…everything a first feature should be, fast and loose, breathless and beautiful…”

Philadelphia City Paper

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Collaborative painting for self expression workshop
Jul
9

Collaborative painting for self expression workshop

Getting messy and painting for self expression is something that can be hard to find the time and space to do! Celebrating pride month and community this workshop will give us space to connect and create a large painting together. Starting with a mindfulness activity, we will then use a range of materials which will be all provided, to create an expressive, beautiful piece of art together, with time to chat throughout and reflect at the end. 

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Queer Fashion History Collage hosted by blossom LGBT
Jun
27

Queer Fashion History Collage hosted by blossom LGBT

Blossom LGBT: Cut, Paste, Wear: Queer Fashion History Collage + Clothes Swap

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You Are Art Opening
Jun
25

You Are Art Opening

Opening Night: Thursday 25th June 6-8pm

You Are Art is an exhibition of work from the past 3 years of LGBTQ+ life drawing classes at New House. The pieces featured are a collection of drawings and thoughts from of all those who have participated over the years and made the classes what they are: a welcoming and inclusive space for the queer community to enjoy creating together and celebrate the diversity and beauty of LGBTQ+ bodies.

These classes, run by local artist Kai Kathleen, were started in response to noticing a huge lack of queer spaces in Guildford at the time. Having attended a few standard life drawing classes themselves, Kai noticed a pattern of similar body types and a lack of inclusivity which left them dreaming of creating a space where trans and gender non conforming bodies could be at the forefront. 

Representation is so important for our community, you can’t be what you don’t see, and so seeing a range of body types being admired as the art they are, can be so impactful for people. The classes aim to be a place where people can take some time to rest, knowing who they are is fully welcomed and accepted and have become a wonderful way to connect with queer people in the local community and beyond 

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Guildford's Big Green Day: Collage Workshop with Kirsty Mcnay
Jun
14

Guildford's Big Green Day: Collage Workshop with Kirsty Mcnay

Have you ever noticed all the colours, patterns, words and pictures on different sorts of packaging that we so often throw away or send for recycling?

They can be awesome and if you combine them together, they can create even more awesome works of art!

As part of Guildford’s Big Green Day on Sunday 14th June, local collage artist Kirsty McNay will be at New House Art Space between 11am and 5pm to show you how to create collages from all sorts of packaging. Kirsty will help you combine pieces to create different artistic styles like landscapes, abstract art or even still life. So come along, give some packaging a new purpose and take home your own unique piece of art.

Children and adults are all very welcome. Drop in throughout the day or book ahead at … £8 per person.

You can see Kirsty’s own collage art on Instagram @kirsty.mcnay

This is a drop in events but it is advised that you book your place in advance.

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Northern Wind Community Walk
Jun
14

Northern Wind Community Walk

Newlands Corner Community Walk

📍 Meet-up: The Surrey Scholar Statue (50 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3ES)

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Date: Sunday 14th June

🥾 Walk type: Community hike

📏 Distance: 9.5 km / 5.9 miles

⛰️ Elevation gain: 209 m

⏱️ Estimated time: 2.5–3 hours

Route overview

Starting from the Surrey Scholar statue in Guildford High Street, we'll leave the town behind and make our way towards Newlands Corner. The route follows a mix of woodland paths, countryside trails, and open farmland, offering fantastic views across the Surrey Hills and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the landscape.

As we make our way through the countryside, there'll be time to chat, connect with fellow walkers, and enjoy a relaxed pace together. The route combines gentle climbs, scenic viewpoints, and peaceful trails before returning to Guildford town centre for a well-earned coffee and catch-up.

What to bring

Comfortable walking boots or trail shoes, weather-appropriate layers, snacks, and water. The route includes uneven terrain, woodland paths, and some moderate climbs and descents.

Important information

By taking part in this Northern Wind community hike, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk. Please take care on uneven paths, look after your health and belongings, and be mindful of fellow walkers as we explore together.

Please ensure you are comfortable walking the stated distance and terrain. Dogs are welcome where appropriate but must be kept under control and in accordance with local access restrictions.

We look forward to exploring together. 🌿🥾

Please note that the walk does not start at New House Art Space

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Paper Cutting workshop by Steve xoh
Jun
13

Paper Cutting workshop by Steve xoh

Step into the wonderfully strange world of artist Steve Xoh in this playful, hands-on workshop that blends creativity, curiosity, and a touch of the unexpected.

Known for his bold black-and-white drawings, vibrant paintings, and imaginative conceptual projects like “(Not a) Lost Cat” and the world’s first silent podcast, Steve Xoh invites you to explore your own ideas in a relaxed, experimental setting.

Across this two-hour session, you’ll begin at NHAS before heading for a short burst of “field work,” gathering inspiration from the world around you, then returning to transform your discoveries into your own unique creations. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just feeling curious, this workshop is all about embracing not quite knowing what you’re doing—and enjoying it.

Steve Xoh has exhibited internationally (even alongside Pablo Picasso and David Shrigley), created work across all seven continents, and authored the brilliantly odd What the February?! 108 weird creative challenges for humans. Now’s your chance to make something equally unexpected.

All materials are provided. Children are very welcome but must be supervised by an adult due to the use of scalpels (scissors will also be available).

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The Wonder of Self-Belief
Jun
11

The Wonder of Self-Belief

A talk and workshop on confidence, self-belief and finding your way back to you.


What if confidence isn't something you find, but something you practise? In this two-hour session, Judy takes you on a journey through her own story of self-belief: the wobbles, the breakthroughs, and the Post-it notes that got her through. Her 30-minute talk is disarmingly honest. The 90-minute interactive workshop that follows gives you space to do what we rarely make time for, a check in with yourself, and reconnect with who you really are, and remember what you're capable of. You'll leave with practical tools, fresh clarity, and the quiet confidence that comes from paying attention to yourself again. No fixing required. Just curiosity. Because you are not lost. You are exactly where you need to be.

You already have what it takes.

Judy Andrews FRSA is a creative director, hand-drawn typographer, writer and self-belief mentor with nearly 25 years of helping people and brands find their voice, and the courage to use it. She is the author of Wonder Journey Joy.




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Guildford Coffee & Culture Festival
Jun
7

Guildford Coffee & Culture Festival

Vision

To create a creative home within the Arts House where the ritual of coffee connects people, celebrates local diversity, and every culture finds a seat at the table.

Mission

We celebrate coffee as more than a beverage — it is a bridge between worlds. By bringing the heritage of global coffee-growing communities into our local arts scene, we create an inviting space where art, music, and conversation meet. Through hands-on workshops and the craft of the brew, we invite people to discover, learn, and connect — creating a place where they don't just visit, they belong.

Brew. Bond. Belong.

A one-day event bringing together the specialty coffee community, local makers, cultural organisations, and curious people from across Guildford and Surrey.

The workshops

The workshops will book up quick so secure you space by booking below.

Workshop sessions are held upstairs and there is no lift. The market hall is on the ground floor and is fully accessible. If you have specific access requirements, please get in touch before booking

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SAOS Opening Reception
Jun
4

SAOS Opening Reception

Surrey Artist Open Studios Opening Reception

The Summer Open Studios 2026 will run from 6 June-21 June, 11am-5pm daily.

Join us for the Opening Reception of the Surrey Artist Open Studios at New House Art Space to celebrate the local artists taking part in this year’s Open Studios. Come meet some of the artists and have the opportunity to talk to them about their work in a relaxed environment.

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Guildford Coffee Club: Surrey Hills
May
31

Guildford Coffee Club: Surrey Hills

Coffee Club is a relaxed and thoughtful Sunday gathering centred around coffee, connection, and mindful exploration. It brings together curious, open people who enjoy learning, conversation, and the simple fun of discovering something new.

Each Coffee Club session focuses on a different aspect of the coffee world, creating space for open dialogue and discovery. This might include exploring the story behind a particular roast, learning about brewing techniques, discussing coffee’s journey from origin to cup, hands-on discoveryor simply tasting and reflecting together. The atmosphere is calm, welcoming, and informal, with time to engage at your own pace, share a laugh and truly connect with fellow coffee lovers.

This month we’re looking at: Surrey Hills roastery

We will be welcoming Monika and Chris  from Surrey Hills Roastery for a morning all about freshness — what it means, why it matters, and how to make the most of every bag you open.

Together, we’ll explore how coffee changes from roast to cup, the best ways to store beans at home, and three very different brewing methods: the Chemex, Clever Dripper, and cold brew — each with its own rhythm, flavour, and character. We’ll also look at iced coffee and how a few simple tweaks can transform your summer cup.

As always, expect good conversation, great coffee, and plenty to take home.

First time? Use code FIRSTTIME for a discount.

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Being Seen and Heard
May
28

Being Seen and Heard

Being Seen and Heard - Without Changing Who You Are

About the workshop

Most people are told that being seen and heard, especially at work, comes down to confidence, personality, or simply speaking up more. In reality, it’s more complex than that.

This session explores why good work is often overlooked, how visibility and influence actually work in practice, and what it takes to show up authentically—without forcing confidence or becoming someone you’re not.

Designed as a taster session, it offers an introduction to some of the key psychological dynamics that shape how we are perceived and recognised at work. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how visibility really works, along with two or three practical ways to communicate your ideas and contributions so they land more effectively—without changing who you are.

About Edel Holliday-Quinn

Edel Holliday-Quinn is a registered occupational psychologist and doctoral researcher specialising in leadership, behaviour, and performance at work. She is the founder of the Centre for Leadership Psychology and WorkMind.

WorkMind is a platform designed to support individuals navigating their careers using evidence-based psychological approaches. It focuses on how people actually think, behave, and progress in real-world work environments—offering coaching, workshops, and tools that help individuals build clarity, confidence, and visibility, and ultimately thrive at work.

This is one of our free events for Mental Health Awareness Month. (Although if you can a donation would be appreciated.)

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Cups and Conversation with Oakleaf
May
28

Cups and Conversation with Oakleaf

Come and have a coffee and a chat with the Oakleaf Enterprise team to hear about their work supporting wellbeing and mental health in the community. The team will also share their Cups & Conversations toolkit with you to take back to the office so you can run your own workplace wellbeing events: This toolkit includes discussion prompts, mental health tips, activities and stories from Oakleaf clients to inspire meaningful conversations.

Guests are welcome to enjoy a guided 10 mins recorded session by Aryanisha Lawes part of her ‘Less Stress, More Impact in 30 days’ too to help de-stress and relax.

This is a drop in event so no sign up required but those who book a space will have first access to the 10 mins recorded session by Aryanisha Lawes.

This is one of our free events for Mental Health Awareness Month. (Although if you can a donation would be appreciated.)

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Femme Films: Daisies
May
27

Femme Films: Daisies

About Daisies

Věra Chytilová’s classic of surrealist cinema is the most adventurous and anarchic Czech movie of the 1960s. Two young women, both named Marie, revolt against a degenerate, decayed and oppressive society, attacking symbols of wealth and bourgeois culture. The Maries’ engage in a series of anarchic pranks and indulgent behavior as a form of rebellion against the conformist, patriarchal society they live in. The films narrative is loose and fragmented, with the characters gleefully defying logic and convention as they wreak havoc on social order, playing with food, men, and societal rules with reckless abandon.

Daisies is celebrated for its avant-garde style, characterized by bold visual experimentation, rapid editing, and surrealist imagery. Chytilová employed a wide range of cinematic techniques, including colour filters, collage effects, and abrupt changes in tone and style, to create a playful yet subversive critique of the emptiness and absurdity of consumerism and authoritarianism. The film also contains a strong feminist undercurrent, with the Maries refusal to conform to traditional female roles challenging the objectification and control of women in society. Instead of “realistically” portraying the female experience, the director moves into a surreal space in order to confront the absurd patriarchal fantasies that shape the surrounding reality. Marie and Marie are presented as hyperbolised images of femininity, dismantling the integrity of such representations.

Defiant feminist statement? Nihilistic, avant-garde comedy? Daisies remains a fascinating cinematic rollercoaster. Remarkable and refreshingly uncompromising, it continues to provoke, stimulate and entertain. Daisies is a riotous, punk-poem of a film that is both hilarious and mind-warpingly innovative, it has and continues to influence generations of filmmakers.

Reviews -

‘One of the Czech New Waves most revellious, irreverent and boundary-breaking talents... a vibrant innovator, whose uncompromising vision in a decidedly male-run industry made her known as the First Lady of Czech Cinema’ - Carmen Gray, BFI.

‘An amazing explosion of pop-art colours, absurdist humour and proto-feminist politics... It’s a trip, a surreal manifesto, a joy to behold’ - Sukhdev Sandhu, The Telegraph

‘My favourite Czech film and one of the most exhilarating stylistic and psychedelic eruptions of the 60s’ - Jonathan Rosenbaum

‘Freshly humorous and accessible… A surrealist comedy way ahead of its time’ - All Movie Guide

‘The film is as timeless as it is beautiful’ - About World Film

‘Chytilovás incendiary, surrealistic melée [...] remains one of the key films of the Czech New Wave and it does stand up rather well as a withering, form-bending critique of materialism, patriarchy and human annihilation’ - David Jenkins, Time Out

‘Extremely funny, witty and expertly-fashioned film… displays a remarkable control of filmic language, special effects, rhythm and sight gags’ - Variety

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Mosaic Clubhouse - Exhibition by Sam Ivin
May
22

Mosaic Clubhouse - Exhibition by Sam Ivin

Private View: Friday 22nd May 6-8pm

Part One: Quickly Collage, 1st May to 10th May 

Audiences are invited to create and display their own collaging artwork, reflecting on their own interests and wellbeing. Prompted by a few questions, the general public have the opportunity to fill the Newhouse Art Space walls with their own colourful creations. Selected artwork will be featured later in month alongside the Mosaic Clubhouse exhibition. 

Part Two: Mosaic Clubhouse, 20th May to 5th June

In 2018 Ivin created a series of collaborative portraits with members of Mosaic Clubhouse, a mental health service in Brixton, South London. Thanks to support from Guildford Philanthropy this work is now being exhibited for the first time at New House Art Space.

Mosaic Clubhouse aims to bring people with mental health issues out of isolation. The clubhouse approach to recovery emphasises community and co-production; it is deliberately understaffed so its members are encouraged to take part in the day-to-day running of the centre, enabling them to meet new people and build their confidence. 

Through numerous visits, Ivin has created a series of collaborative collage portraits exploring members’ identities. Each person decorates their own portrait using images they feel best represent themselves, giving us an insight into their lives and time at Mosaic.

Sam Ivin is also hosting an event on the 7th May - Collage Portrait Workshop

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