Join us for a free Art Cafe every second Tuesday of the month in the Gallery Cafe!
Once a month, our cafe becomes a space for our community to come together in an evening experience of collaborative drawing and creating. Whether you love to draw and make or you just love hanging out with new people and doodling while you do, this is a space to come together and be creative. It will hopefully also offer some calm and relaxation to your week.
Come with friends or come solo — whatever feels right. The atmosphere is warm, relaxed and open to everyone. Although the sessions are aimed at adults, you’re welcome to bring your children if that’s the only way you can attend. You’re also encouraged to bring your own projects if you’d like a cosy space to create alongside others.
The Art Cafe runs from 6-8pm but feel free to drop in when you can and stay for just a short while if that’s the time you have.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Art Café – July: South Asian Heritage Month
This month, we’ll be drawing inspiration from the Mughal Empire, which ruled large parts of South Asia from the 15th to 17th centuries. At their height, the Mughals were known for their opulence, their love of grand architecture, miniature watercolours, calligraphy, storytelling, and so much more. Their legacy includes world‑famous UNESCO heritage sites — most iconically, the Taj Mahal.
Why the Mughal Empire as Inspiration?
Shahena, our Art Cafe facilitator, is from a Bengali heritage. Growing up, she never questioned the embellished clothes and jewellery she wore to celebrations, or the heavily embroidered blankets she slept under. It wasn’t until a curious visit to the V&A that she had her light‑bulb moment: Why does all of this feel so familiar?
This session is her way of learning a little history alongside you — and sharing her love for heritage, creativity, and cultural storytelling.
What We’ll Be Making
In this session, we’ll explore how to create our own Mughal‑inspired artworks using mixed media. You can try your hand at:
● Side‑profile portraits in the Mughal style
● Elaborate pattern‑making
● Storytelling pieces inspired by miniature paintings
Along the way, you’ll pick up a few fascinating facts and leave with something beautifully opulent, just like the Mughals themselves.
Contact: If you have any questions regarding this session, please email programming@stmargaretshouse.org.uk
Venue: The Gallery Cafe at St Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road — E2 9PL
Access: Step-free entry to The Gallery Cafe is at the rear, through the garden. It is accessible through the gate located two doors to the left of the cafe’s main entrance. If you require access to an accessible toilet, please get in touch with us on 020 8980 2092 or email programming@stmargaretshouse.org.uk so we can arrange this for you.
Food and Drink: Please be aware that the Cafe will not be serving everything it does during the day. No coffees, but you can buy teas, beer, wine and soft drinks and a selection of salads from the menu or crisps.
Time: 6-8pm (stay for just ten minutes or the whole two hours)
Date: Second Tuesday of every month
Tickets: FREE
So we have a rough idea of numbers to prepare materials, it would be great if you could book your free ticket using the link below: