Viewing Chelsea Arts Festival

The latest addition to the Autumn culture calendar is Chelsea Arts Festival, a four-day celebration of “modern storytelling for London”, rooted in the specific local history and heritage of Chelsea, by Country & Townhouse. The inaugural programme takes place across several venues and public spaces, including Sloane Square, Royal Court Theatre Cadogan Hall, the Saatchi Gallery and includes emerging talent, experts and leaders from diverse disciplines, including dance, theatre, music, literature and the visual arts.

Among the highlights is Friday’s Blue Plaques Talk, with Sir Stephen Fry, photographer Dennis Morris, journalist Lyse Doucet OBE and award-winning author Kathryn Hughes in conversation about the legendary figures commemorated in Chelsea’s most iconic Blue Plaques. Meanwhile at Saatchi Gallery, Zandra Rhodes (former Monday Muse at The Wick) will be in conversation with Daniel Lismore about fashion and identity. In addition to talks, live music is taking place all weekend at the Sloane Square bandstand, with plenty of activities and special family friendly performances and screenings, as well as painting workshops hosted by Art Play.

Not to be missed: The Wick’s very own founder Katy Wickremesinghe interviews author curator Ekow Eshun about Black Earth Rising, his latest fascinating publication, a research through more than two hundred artworks that illuminates the intersections between environmental justice, contemporary art and colonialism. The talk takes place at 12.15pm on Saturday, 20th September at the Saatchi Gallery.