As the festive season approaches, whether you're after an art exhibition, want to add to your record collection or dive into the history of garage, we've got you covered.

Matty Bovan Exhibition at NOW Gallery

Kicking off on Wednesday 30th November and running through to March 2023, Matty Bovan is putting on an exhibition of some of his finest work at London’s NOW gallery. With ‘Ribbons’, the designer takes guests on a unique experience as he shares a selection of some of his rawest work. You can find out more here.

A Platinum Pictures Production: 25 Years of Garage Documentary

Film directors Terry Stone and Richard Turner have partnered up for a Platinum Pictures production. Celebrating 25 great years of garage music, their documentary ‘25 Years of Garage’ takes on a chronological look at some of the most quintessential moments of the UK garage scene, its biggest innovators, and the music it’s inspired to this day. Officially out on Monday 5th December, you can watch the trailer here. 

Southbank Centre’s Winter Light Festival

Back for another year, Southbank Centre has brought back its Winter Light Festival full of street food and beautifully lit fairy lights. Curated by Southbank site designer Cedar Lewisohn, Winter Light features a range of abstract artwork supporting small, independent businesses. Find out more here.

Oslo Hackney Record Fair

The Oslo Hackney Record Fair will commence on Saturday 3rd December and is another free event to attend this month to discover new artists, top up on merch, bargain hunt and more. The Oslo Record Fair is also open to more stalls, you can find out more here.

Flippers: West London’s Newest Roller Skating Rink 

Flippers Roller Boogie Palace is a brand-new skate rink in London that officially opened its doors this November. Situated in East London, Flippers is famously known for its residency in the US. Whilst their rink is open Tuesdays-Sundays, Flippers have so far run three live music events. To stay updated on their next music event, you can visit their official page here.

Hackney’s Festive Fair

Grow are renowned for their events – having been founded in 2014, the organisation has held over 200 since then. On Saturday 3rd December they’re scheduled to put on a Festive Future Fair, situated at Mainyard, Hackney Wick. Taking place between the hours of 1-5pm (with live music continuing through to the late evening), Grow’s Festive Future Fair is all about the importance of supporting eco-friendly establishments for a more positive future. Throughout the market, guests can shop at small businesses, enjoy live music, and drink plenty of mulled wine.

Guts Gallery Showcase New Exhibition

‘Buffer’ is a brand-new exhibition ran by Guts Gallery and focuses on showcasing the immersive work of UK art graduates. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that offers resourceful talks, workshops and more to young creatives aspiring to pursue careers within the arts. Whilst it can often feel like there is more talent than opportunity out there, ‘Buffer’ will provide students with a source of knowledge into the business side of the arts. To find out more on ‘Buffer’, visit the official Guts Gallery page here.

DIY Art Market at Rich Mix Centre

This December, the DIY Art Market is launching two festive markets. First up is the Christmas Art Market. Commencing on Saturday 10th December, this market is the perfect place to purchase sentimental gifts this Christmas. The other event the DIY Art Market is running this month is the Christmas Ceramic Market. Run by Hackney Flea market, this event encourages guests to support ceramics from established potters, university students, independent artists and graduates. Amplifying the importance of supporting small businesses, The DIY Art Market is a great opportunity for young creatives to discover new artists. You can find out more here.