Welcome to Wednesday Wishes.
Summer is definitely in the air now. I have extracted the garden chair cushions from their winter nesting place and the Serpentine have unveiled their summer pavilion. Architects and their houses are the focus of a new exhibition at SirJohn Soane’s Museum. Six exhibitions open at the Centre for British Photography. Museum of London Docklands celebrates 20 years with a street party. Book of the Week is Alchemy by S J Parris, the latest Bruno Giordarno mystery.
We are in the midst of collecting the Cultural Young Men from Uni. We have a policy of breaking the journey somewhere that is not a service station or a chain. On the way down to the West Country we stopped at Stourhead (five minutes away from the A303) which was looking splendid. Whilst there I noticed this coming weekend they are having a sort festival of nature based design with talks and stalls and things. Planted (for that is the festival’s name) is free to National Trust members but you do need to book a ticket.
My wallet bulges with membership cards. National Trust, Art Fund, Southbank and most favourite of all the V&A. This week is members week at the V&A which means a whole host of talks, tours, special cocktails members room and an extra 10% off in the shop. Take a look at my guide to London Museum Membership and maybe sign up to one, it really is an excellent way of supporting your favourite place and often with added benefits.
Diaries out. Tickets go on sale TODAY at 10am for Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto at the V&A which opens in September. This is bound to be popular, of course being member will get you into the show early and as often as you want. Over at the Southbank, Brian Eno is kicking off his first ever solo tour (I know, how is that possible?) at the Royal Festival Hall in October. Tickets go on sale today to members only at 10am and on June 8 to everyone else.
Happy Culturing
Catherine