Jools Holland Concert: Rhythm and Hues
Come and discover Jools’ enthusiasm for art and his connection with the National Gallery.
Image: Detail from Jools Holland. Photo Michael Leckie
Jools takes us on a musical journey through the centuries, spotlighting his handpicked selection of the National Gallery’s masterpieces.
Jools will be joined by acclaimed singers Ruby Turner MBE, Louise Marshall and Sumudu, plus very special guest poet and author, Sir Ben Okri.
All ticket holders will be automatically entered into a ballot for this performance. Successful ticket holders will be notified via email no later than one week before the concert.
Jools Introduces
Sir Ben Okri
Jools welcomes poet and author Sir Ben Okri to join him for the Bicentenary festivities and to share Ben's poetry.
This performance is part of the ballot ticketed concert with Jools.
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Jools Introduces
Invited by music legend Jools Holland, Anna Phoebe and London Contemporary Voices will perform surrounded by masterpieces from the collection.
Image: Detail from Anna Phoebe. Photo Rob Blackham
Image: Detail from London Contemporary Voices. Photo: Carsten Windhorst
Jools Introduces
Anna Phoebe: Soundscape
Jools invites award-winning violinist and composer Anna Phoebe to celebrate 200 years of the National Gallery with a soul-stirring soundscape amongst celebrated Flemish artist Rubens' paintings, in Room 18.
Jools Introduces
London Contemporary Voices
Come and hear world-leading alternative choir London Contemporary Voices, specially chosen by Jools to perform a joyous concert in Room 34, surrounded by the works of Constable, Gainsborough and Turner. Stubbs’ heroic racehorse Whistlejacket sets the backdrop to this special celebration for our 200th birthday.
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Music throughout the night
Explore the Gallery throughout the evening and enjoy a range of free musical performances including Bach sonatas, soundscapes and DJ sets.
Thank you to Beatport for providing the DJ equipment and Sofia Ilyas, Chief Community Officer at Beatport, who presents three female London-based artists, each showcasing the diverse electronic music spectrum with unique DJ sets.
Hinako Omori
Hinako Omori showcases an ambient DJ set that will immerse the audience with subtle sonic textures and delicate melodies.
Charisse C
Charisse C's set combines soulful cuts and rhythms, drawing from her Zimbabwean and South African heritage.
Madam X
Madam X will infuse the Gallery with pulsating energy, delivering a special set adapted for this unique atmosphere. Prepare to experience her signature sound in a new light.
London Obbligato Collective: Bach Sonatas for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord
Harpsichordist Masumi Yamamoto and violinist Sara Deborah perform a selection of Bach sonatas on period instruments – music that was introduced to the British public by Samuel Wesley (1766–1837) in the first two decades of the 19th century.
The harpsichord has been generously donated by The Matthiesen Foundation.
Sounds by Southeast
Come and experience The Awakening of the Music: a sound mosaic to celebrate 200 years of art, free for all, curated by Sound by Southeast.
Marysia Osu and Mit Hiss will create an abstract painting of sound, exploring ambient soundscapes, blending acoustic and electronic instruments to portray the dreamlike qualities of art and pay tribute to the Gallery’s collection.
Resonate: Sounds in the Gallery
Join award-winning music video director and filmmaker Roony ‘RiskyRoadz’ Keefe as he invites musicians to develop a performance in response to one painting from the collection.
Hak Baker
Join celebrated poet, musician and community spokesman Hak Baker as he joins RiskyRoadz and Gallery Educator Fiona Alderton to share his connection with Rubens’ 'The Miraculous Draught of Fishes’ in Room 18.
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Creative workshops and tours
Take part in free, drop-in creative sessions, tours, and mindful looks at our collection.
Image: Detail from Renaissance selfies. Photo London Drawing
Image: Detail from Fiona Alderton in front of Bridget Riley's 'Messengers' © 2019 Bridget Riley. All rights reserved. Photo: The National Gallery
Renaissance selfies with London Drawing
Join London Drawing for the makeover of another lifetime as they weave their Renaissance magic and use everyday objects, such as pillowcases, travel pillows and paper napkins, to create beautiful Renaissance-style portraits for you to keep.
Take a step back in time and discover your Renaissance self.
Messengers: Collect, wear and send
Using the theme of ‘Messengers’ that inspired Bridget Riley’s wall painting at the National Gallery, collect, wear and send out pieces of creative joy. Be inspired by some of the responses by contemporary artists to the collection to create work that is your own.
A mindful pause with your National Gallery paintings
Take a mindful pause from the social and sensory busyness of the night by joining Karly Allen and Lucia van der Drift from Limina Collective to spend some time in close connection with National Gallery paintings. Learn how to use mindfulness principles for observation, appreciation, and reflection.
Gallery talks
The National Gallery is home to one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world. Join members of staff for a series of short talks and tours highlighting just some of the remarkable paintings that we have collected on behalf of the nation over the past 200 years.
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Big Birthday Light Show
From 9pm on 10 and 11 May, make sure you're outside the National Gallery, in Trafalgar Square, to witness a light show projected onto the front of our building, to celebrate our birthday.
Featuring highlights from the Gallery's history and paintings brought to life, watch in awe as our building is transformed, bringing the inside out.
Produced by Nvisible Productions [external link], designed in collaboration with Visual Edge [external link] and Creative Technology [external link].
Featured in the Light Show:
- Room 34, National Gallery, Photographed by Scanderbeg Sauer
- Narrations from Gallery staff, interviews with members of the public and extracts courtesy of Exhibition on Screen from the ‘My National Gallery’ film, available to watch in cinemas from the 4 June 2024.
- Artwork from the following three schools as part of our Take One Picture Programme:
- Trinity Primary Academy, London
- Blackthorn Primary School, Northampton
- RGS The Grange, Worcester
Take One Picture is generously supported by Columbia Threadneedle Foundation
Sponsored by
With additional support from the John Armitage Charitable Trust
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More events to enjoy across the weekend
Extend the celebrations with special Members' events on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 May and drop-in family activities on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May.