Norden Farm's Pinocchio Chill Out space is a wonderful place to relax and play this festive season.

We are working with artist Amelia Pimlott, The Autism Group, Achieving for Children, Care for Calais and local schools; Wessex Primary School, Furze Platt and Cookham Dean Primary School, to create a magical Gallery space at Norden Farm which will bring the story of Pinocchio to life with shadow puppets and animations.  

The exhibition will be open to visit throughout the Christmas holidays, this is a wonderful opportunity to see our local young people's artwork and to explore shadow puppets and animations in this innovative immersive exhibition.

Open Tuesdays - Saturdays

Tues 26 Nov - Sat 28 Dec

Entry is Free

•   3 Dec FREE
•   4 Dec FREE
• 17 more dates...

Led by Jo Hall

For this course we will look at how a line of poetry or piece of prose can suggest a drawing or painting. This may be an illustrative or more abstract interpretation.

Work in any medium or a mixed media approach. Autumn, followed by winter and Christmas themes will feature.

For the first week bring a line of prose, poetry or a song that mentions or describes a season; e.g. 'Now is the winter of our discontent' or 'Spring is in the air'. We’ll think about literal and more abstract ways of encapsulating the words.

Please bring your own materials as detailed below:
Your choice of painting materials
Drawing board plus table easel or block to angle the board,
For wet media paints, brushes, water pots, palette, paper towel
We’ll discuss materials and approaches to this subject at the first session so bring a sketchbook or cartridge paper and drawing materials (pencil or crayon) to work out ideas.

Tue 29 Oct - 3 Dec
12.30pm - 3.30pm

£126 per 6 week course

•   3 Dec

Led by Creative Eye.

Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.

Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.

You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. Come either Tuesday or Wednesday and join in that week's craft. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.

Autumn Season
Tues 8 Oct Leaf Imprint Trinket Dish
Tues 15 Oct Charcoal Drawing
Tues 22 Oct Wooden Pumpkin
Tues 29 Oct Paper Pumpkin Quilling
No Session Tues 5 Nov and Wed 6 Nov
Tues 12 Nov Hoop Weaving
Tues 19 Nov Glass Painting
Tues 26 Nov Block Printed Cards and Tags
Tues 3 Dec Scrap Fabric Baubles
Tues 10 Dec Christmas Stocking
Tues 17 Dec Wire Christmas Tree

Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.

Local transport can be provided as part of the ticket price for those attending on a Wednesday.

If you need transport to Norden Farm for the Wednesday sessions please contact Jess Thompson at jess.thompson@nordenfarm.org / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.

Suitable for ages 60+ years.

2pm - 3pm
£5 per session, including a cup of tea

•   3 Dec from £5

Led by Sue Bridge

These sessions are suitable for those with some prior experience of drawing and painting (either previous study or art course participation).

As with the preceding course 'Transform your Sketchpad' these 3 hour studio sessions will be wide ranging both in terms of media and subject matter. Over the duration of the course you will gain experience in a range of media, acrylic/watercolour, pen and ink and collage. Some sessions will be one off activities other topics may spread over a couple of weeks.

Students to provide their own materials.

Autumn
Wed 23 Oct - 11 Dec (8 weeks)

£200 per 8 week course

Age guidance: 18+ years

•   4 Dec
•  11 Dec

Led by Creative Eye.

Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.

Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.

You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. Come either Tuesday or Wednesday and join in that week's craft. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.

Autumn Season
Wed 9 Oct Leaf Imprint Trinket Dish
Wed 16 Oct Charcoal Drawing
Wed 23 Oct Wooden Pumpkin
Wed 30 Oct Paper Pumpkin Quilling
No Session Tues 5 Nov and Wed 6 Nov
Wed 13 Nov Hoop Weaving
Wed 20 Nov Glass Painting
Wed 27 Nov Block Printed Cards and Tags
Wed 4 Dec Scrap Fabric Baubles
Wed 11 Dec Christmas Stocking
Wed 18 Dec Wire Christmas Tree

Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.

Local transport can be provided as part of the ticket price for those attending on a Wednesday.

If you need transport to Norden Farm for the Wednesday sessions please contact Jess Thompson at jess.thompson@nordenfarm.org / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.

Suitable for ages 60+ years.

2pm - 3pm
£5 per session, including a cup of tea

•   4 Dec from £5

Led by Sophie Keaveney

Do you like to crochet or knit? Join us for a relaxed and creative get together over a drink of your choice.

Suitable for those with experience of crochet / knitting.

Please bring your own project along. Some spare needles and wool will be available.

This class will take place both in person and online via Zoom.

If you are taking part online, you will find the link to access the session in your booking confirmation email.

Autumn
Wed 11 Sept, 2 Oct, 6 Nov, 4 Dec
7pm – 8.30pm
£6 including a drink from the bar | £3 online

•   4 Dec from £3

The Lantern Parade returns to illuminate Maidenhead on Saturday 7 December 2024.

This year's theme is Our Animal Neighbours!

The Lantern Parade is free to attend and open to all. You don't need a lantern to take part - just head down and celebrate with the community! The Parade encourages local people to get together, create fantastic artworks, dance and parade their fabulous creations through Maidenhead town centre.

Entertainment starts at 4.30pm and the Parade departs at 5pm. Keep an eye on our website for announcements about this year's line up!

Norden Farm are once again working with SameSky to bring you the Parade and Workshops, an award-winning community arts charity who have been creating fantastic lanterns, costumes and community events since 1987.

Rio Deli at Maidenhead library will be staying open late on the evening of the parade to supply warm drinks and snacks to parade goers.

Lantern Parade Entertainment

Ronak Mela Baja are the UK's premier Bollywood Dhol and Brass Band! Hailing from London, Ronak Mela Baja brings the vibrant sounds of Bollywood and Bhangra to life through their unique blend of brass and dhol.

Mark Burford will join the parade as the Spirit of Norden Farm, Nordenia, walking the route on stilts as our huge, friendly puppet interacts with the crowd.

Babel Brass Band is a diverse group of musicians with a shared appreciation for the vibrant rhythms of contemporary New Orleans brass bands. They are united in this singular love for a more eclectic contemporary brass band sound. They are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community through their music.

Autism Friendly Viewing Space

There will be a peaceful Autism Friendly viewing space in Maidenhead Library managed by The Autism Group. If you would like to make use of this please contact Jess Thompson at jessica.thompson@nordenfarm.org

Get Parade ready and make a Lantern!

Get involved at one of our Lantern Making Workshops. Our expert lantern makers will guide you through the process to create your own lantern to illuminate at the parade.

Join a Drop In Lantern Making Workshop in the town centre or at our Festive Market on Fri 6 Dec. Get parade ready in 20 minutes – drop in any time during the session to make and decorate a simple willow and tissue lantern.

Nicholsons Centre Drop In Workshop

Sun 1 Dec 10.30am - 4pm

Festive Market Drop In Workshop

Fri 6 Dec 6pm - 8pm

Maidenhead Library Drop In Workshop

Sat 7 Dec 10.30am - 2pm

Book your workshop place online here.

With special thanks to our supporters: Spoore Merry Rixman and The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation

•   7 Dec FREE

Join us in our atmospheric 18th century Long Barn for our Festive Night Markets this December.

The perfect opportunity to browse for unique gifts, food and drinks as local artisan stallholders showcase their handmade wares and artisanal produce.

Enjoy all your favourite festive snacks and beverages together with a well stocked bar featuring craft ales, mulled wine and a full food menu (served until 7.45pm).

Free Entry

Festive Night Markets

Fri 6 Dec 6pm -9pm

Sat 7 Dec 6pm - 9pm

If you would like to enquire about a stall at one of our upcoming markets, please email our team at markets@nordenfarm.org

•   6 Dec FREE
•   7 Dec FREE

Led by Lauren Hawkins Artist

Indulge your creativity and embrace your inner artist at our paint and sip evenings!

Feel empowered and join Lauren for a series of themed sessions designed to celebrate strength, beauty and bold confidence.

Whether you're a seasoned artist or picking up a paintbrush for the first time, our welcoming atmosphere invites you to explore your creativity in an intimate setting. Come let loose, have a drink and get inspired with us!

All materials provided.

Acrylic paints will be used and can often stain clothes so please wear clothes with this in mind.

Age guidance: 18 + years

Fri 8 Nov - Regal Radiance: Painting the Peacock
Fri 13 Dec - Festive Fauna: Painting Winter Wildlife

Beneath the Waves: Dive into Painting Sea Life - Jan

Galentines Day: Celebrating the Female Form - Feb

Wings of Wonder: Beautiful Butterflies and Majestic Moths - Mar

Stand Tall, Stand Out: Expressing Your Inner Flamingo - Apr

7pm - 10pm

£39.50 (including 1x 175ml wine or 1x pint of beer)
£37.50 (including 1x soft drink or 1x 0% bottled beer)

To order your drink please show your ticket at the bar when you arrive, ensure you arrive in advance of the class to order your drink as the bar may be busy. Drinks will be served in plastic cups.

•  13 Dec from £3750
•  10 Jan from £3750
• 3 more dates...

Enjoy a fun and relaxing afternoon learning the craft of macrame.

Join our informal workshop, learn the basics of macrame and make a beautiful piece to take home.

David from But One String will guide you through various knots and techniques. Suitable for the complete beginner or those with some experience, this workshop is perfect for all skill levels.

We provide all the necessary materials, so just bring your creativity and eagerness to learn!

Autumn
Thur 14 Nov, Sat 14 Dec
11am – 3pm
£45 per workshop

•  14 Dec from £45

Led by Jo Hall

For this workshop we will make a small concertina book with a winter or Christmas theme.

We will look at how a narrow strip of paper can be filled with a panoramic composition and folded such that each little spread (two open pages) is interesting independent of the whole. Elements of pattern and repetition will be explored.

Paper supplied but please bring your own materials: any drawing media, watercolour or gouache would be suitable. Drawing media can include acrylic paint pens and/or acrylic inks.

Please also bring: newspaper to protect the table, paper towel, brushes, water pots, palette.

Bring ideas/reference, some references will be supplied. You may like to take inspiration from doves, Christmas decorations, the Christmas story, snowflakes holly or a winter scene etc.

11am - 4pm
£42

•  14 Dec from £42

Led by Amanda Schenk

Amanda Schenk is the visual artist behind Norden Farm's much-loved (and Instagrammed) glass corridor artwork in the school holidays. Join Amanda for this new drawing course, aimed at helping to create a sense of calm and relaxation through drawing patterns.

Suitable for all abilities, the workshops will focus on building confidence in your drawing abilities - concentrating on the soothing journey of the drawing experience, rather than the finished drawing.

In each session you'll explore how to produce different types of patterns in abstract drawings - looking at different designs each week.

You will need: paper (plain, no smaller than A5), lead pencil, eraser, sharpener, black fine liner or a pen. Optional is a black marker.

Autumn
11 Nov, 16 Dec
7.30pm - 8.45pm
£8 per class | £28 for all 4 sessions
Online only

Suitable for ages 18+ years.

•  16 Dec from £8

Led by Dawn Carroll

Design and make a bird up to 20cm in this one day workshop.

A variety of images and ideas will supplied, you decide whether it will be abstract or realistic. Once the piece is made slips and underglazes will be used to decorate your piece.

The bird sculptures will then be taken for an earthenware kiln firing and a date will be set to collect your work.

Cost includes clay, slip or underglaze, use of tools and one finished piece to be earthenware fired.

Please bring along:
An apron
Sketchbook/notebook & pencil

A date will be arranged to collect work from Norden Farm approximately 4-6 weeks later.

Thu 19 Dec
11am - 4pm
£80

•  19 Dec from £80

Led by Mick McNicholas

Learn about the stages of portraiture, drawing with charcoal from a live model.

Suitable for all levels of experience.

Age guidance: 18+ years

Autumn

Sat 21 Dec

11am – 4pm
£34

•  21 Dec from £34
•   1 Mar from £34
• 1 more dates...

Come along to Norden Farm for 45 minutes of Arts and Crafts.

Sat 21 Dec 12.30pm
Led by Jess Thompson

Come along and create a beautiful glowing trinket box house using collage and decoupage techniques.

Sat 28 Dec 12.30pm
Led by Kayleigh Robinson

Get creative in our Pinocchio puppet themed arts and crafts workshop.

Sessions are 45 minutes | Suitable for ages 5 - 11 years | All materials provided.

£5 per person

Please note that children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

•  21 Dec from £5
•  28 Dec from £5

Led by Mick McNicholas

Explore the complexities of the human form by working from a professional life model. With a variety of short and long poses. Learn both traditional charcoal drawing methods and new experimental techniques.

Half day sessions comprise of a variety of short and long poses.

Any mediums can be used in these sessions. Materials will be provided, although participants are very welcome to bring their own if you have something you like to work with.

Autumn
Sat 16 Nov
11am - 2pm
£25 per session

Age guidance: 18+ years

•  25 Jan from £25
•  15 Mar from £25