Arts festival to host pop-up galleries, music, theatre and workshops around Colliers Wood

Jazz, rock, acoustic and blues gigs, creative workshops, dance classes and theatre will be popping up in pubs, bars and community centres for two weeks starting on Saturday, March 21.

More than 40 events are planned for the town's fourth annual festival, with highlights to include a cultural food festival in Merton Abbey Mills on Saturday, March 28 and Music and Marshmallow Friday gigs at the Sound Lounge recording studios.

This year's theme is 'connecting', paying tribute to the multi-million pound council regeneration project, Connecting Colliers Wood, which aims to improve transport links between the historic high street, Tandem Centre and Merton Abbey Mills.

The Sound Lounge recording studio will host Music and Marshmallow gigs during the festival 

Jacqui Cleaves, chair of Colliers Woods Art Festival, said: "The theme of connecting is something that came up because of the council's regeneration project and we want to connect the community with artists to show the diversity of Colliers Wood.

"There's lots of potential artists that we don't discuss. This has been a great platform for them to come out. Residents have shown a lot of interest and as a community we have a lot of activities going on."

The year-on-year expansion of the festival has coincided with a noticeable shift in demographic towards families and young professionals, according to Ms Cleaves.

She said: "I have seen an enormous change from when I first moved here 12 years ago. There's much more community support here now. It's very family-orientated as well as young professionals who get involved in lots of things."

The festival was founded in 2012 by community group Making Colliers Wood Happy, but was taken over by a formal committee last year after it expanded.

It aims to promote the vibrant hidden hubs, venues and open spaces in the area, from much-loved pubs, international restaurants and historic sites.

Here are some of our picks from the exciting line-up: 

POP-UP PORTRAITS: Take pictures of your friends and family in a pop-up portrait studio set up by professional photographer Derek. There will also be a pop-up cafe serving teas and home-made cakes.

Pop-up Portrait Studio; Colliers Wood Community Centre, 66-72 High Street Colliers Wood; Saturday, March 21, 11.30am to 4pm; free

PIZZA FUN: A chance for kids to get creative with pizza toppings at a pizza-making workshop at Italian restaurant Corleone. Children aged four years and above are invited to make and eat their own pizzas. All profits will be donated to Deen City Farm.

The Art of Cooking; Corleone, 186 High Street Colliers Wood; Saturday, March 28, 12pm to 1pm; £3; to book call 020 8543 5151

BLUES MATTERS: A showcase for some of London's best blues musicians, featuring The Dave Bourne Band performing chilled-out and up-beat music that will have you on your feet dancing.

Blues Matters; The Sound Lounge, Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way; Saturday, March 28, 7pm; free

CARIBBEAN CULTURE: Play Caribbean dominoes, listen to the best vinyl music and enjoy heavenly Caribbean-style award-winning food made by Garfield and Des at the Ting n' Ting Restaurant.

Dominos & Vinyls; Ting n' Ting Caribbean Restaurant; Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way; Friday, April 3, 5pm

CREATIVE WRITING: A two-hour workshop that will give aspiring writers a chance to explore life writing themes. Participants will be shown techniques and exercises for initiating their own life writing pieces.

Adults Creative Writing Workshop; Sound Lounge, Merantun Way, Merton Abbey Mills; Wednesday, March 25, 7pm to 9pm; free

JUNGLE BOOK: Join Mowgli on his amazing adventure as he meets all the friendly, dangerous and unusual characters that Rudyard Kipling's much-loved children's classic is known for.

The Jungle Book; Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way; Saturdays and Sundays, March 21 to April 5, 2pm and 4pm; £8-10; colourhousetheatre.co.uk

To find out about other events, visit collywood.org.uk/arts.