WORKSHOPS
Register to one of our upcoming workshops, details below. If you have any questions, contact us.
Kindness Through Creativity
We’re hosting a series of workshops with artist Husna Parvin, inspired by this years theme of ‘Kindness’ for A Season of Bangla Drama 2025 festival.
Join us on 30th November at the Brady Arts Centre during A Season of Bangla Drama to create a group based ‘Alpona’ artwork using acrylic paint on fabric at our centre on the Isle of Dogs in Tower Hamlets.
Alpona is a traditional Bengali art form, originating from the Sanskrit word Alimpana meaning 'to plaster' or 'to coat with,' and has been practiced for over a thousand years. Initially used by Hindu women in religious rituals, Alpona has evolved into a secular cultural expression in modern Bangladesh.
Today, you can find Alpona adorning floors, roads, and entryways during various occasions like weddings, Pahela Baishakh, and International Mother Language Day.
Traditionally created with rice flour paste called Pithuli, the motifs include sun, lotus, betel leaf, and creepers, symbolizing abundance, and prosperity.
The art form is known for its intricate patterns, blending nature-inspired designs like flowers and birds with more abstract forms in modern times. The secularization of alpona started during the late 19th century, as part of the movement for independence from British rule, fostering unity among diverse communities. While originally drawn with rice paste, today, artists also use poster colours or even stickers to craft these beautiful patterns, bridging tradition and contemporary art forms.
This project is supported by National Lottery Community Fund.
Date: 30 November 2025
Time: 11:30-13:00
Address: Brady Arts & Community Centre, Hanbury Street, E1 5HU
Black History Month 2025 - Standing Firm in Power and Pride
Black History Month workshop in partnership with Republic London with London based artist Angelica Katumba. We will explore this year's theme of "Standing Firm in Power and Pride" by asking the question "What's Our Story?"
The theme for Black History Month in 2025 is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to progress that defines the Black community. This year, the theme highlights the profound contributions made by Black people be they leaders, activists, or pioneers who have shaped history, while also looking towards a future of continued empowerment, unity, and growth.
The aim of the workshop is to encourage participants from Tower Hamlets to recentre the narrative of Black history and culture by emphasising their personal experiences, working together in a group based environment to create an artwork which represents their own stories and experiences to showcase a broader, shared community narrative.
No registration is required and drop-in welcome on a first come basis, with all materials provided.
About Angelica Katumba
A multi-disciplinary Artist from South London, specialising in vibrant, imaginative and conceptual work.
With a background in graphic design, primarily the work focuses in analogue format, using digital techniques to further research-based practice.
Inspired by the themes of mythology, Afrofuturism and surrealism, Angelica explores social and systemic issues such as mental health, identity, and education. As you unpack her process, you can see the very nature of her influences encourages her to play with the idea of what seems possible. Existing under a multitude of intersectionalities, Angelica weaves her relationship with them in and out of her work.
This event is supported by Tower Hamlets Council as part of the Black History Month in 2025.
Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 17:00-19:00
Address: Republic London, The Common Room, Export Building, 2 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BE
Fun Palace - Creative Workshop, 4th October 2025
To celebrate Fun Palace, we hosted a fun and engaging creative workshop exploring the vibrant tradition of the South Asian artform of Alpona. During this activity you’ll paint beautiful floral designs in a group based environment onto fabric using fast-drying, water-resistant acrylics.
Through creativity we explored the theme of heritage & tradition bringing together this traditional artform in a group-based workshop promoting cultural identity and connecting communities through creativity.
Alpona, also known as Alpana, is a traditional Bengali art form characterised by colourful, hand-drawn motifs and patterns typically made with rice paste on floors and walls, especially during festivals and auspicious occasions. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "alimpan," meaning "to coat" or "plaster," reflecting the process of applying the paste.
With pre-designed patterns to guide you, and space to create your own. The workshop was open to all ages and abilities to come along with family or friends, get creative together, and contribute to a collaborative artwork leaving with happy memories, colourful designs, and a new appreciation for this cultural art form from Bangladesh.
Kensington Palace Community Celebration, August 2024
Orangery Lawn, Kensington Palace
We were invited to the annual summer event at Kensington Palace, to celebrate the themes of community, unity and friends. Communities are at the heart of Historic Royal Palaces.
Testimonial from Kim Klug, Community Partnerships Manager.
“Trapped in Zone One delivered two days of collaborative mural making workshops at our annual Community Celebration at Kensington Palace. Throughout the day, they supported people of all ages and abilities to express themselves in paint. The result is three gorgeous artworks, created by people building on others’ ideas and artwork.
We can’t wait to display them in our learning centre!”
Island Point Social - Creative Sunday, July 2024
Presented by Trapped in Zone One, Creative Sunday is a free to access art workshops for families to take part and create alpona art, which is a traditional folk-art form from Bangladesh, with Tower Hamlets based artist Husna Parvin as part of South Asian Heritage Month.
What is Alpana? Alpona (Bengali: আলপনা) is a Bengali folk-art style, traditionally practiced by women, and consisting of coloured motifs, patterns, and symbols that are painted on floors and walls with paints made from rice flour, on religious occasions.
Tuesday Social @ GreatArt, January 2024
A series of workshop in the New Year at GreatArt in Shoreditch in a sociable setting. Using a mindfulness approach with a variety if artistic medium, the workshops explored what constitutes to a meaningful connection to mark The Great Winter Get Together and Great Mental Health Day in London during January 2024.
Winter Watercolour Workshop @ GreatArt, December 2023
Teviot Festival on 8 July 2023 @ Teviot Centre
Festival of Communities with Queen Mary University of London on 20 June 2023 @ Stepney Green Park. Nature inspired creative activity during Great Big Green Week 2023.
St Andrew’s Wharf Youth Centre Mural Project
Date: 19 and 26 January 2023
Venue: St Andrew’s Wharf Youth Centre, E14 3RW
Winter Landscape Workshop at GreatArt, December 2022
Join Luke Smile in creating a design for a new community mural which will be painted in Tower Hamlets in January 2021 with the positive message to welcome in the New Year.
Typography workshop with Luke Smile, creating an artwork with the message 'Hope' themed around raising awareness of isolation to engage with communities in Tower Hamlets and neighbouring boroughs during these uncertain times to promote mindfulness through an artistic approach.
Luke Smile is an artist who specialises in typography, with work spanning across sign painting, large-scale murals, and graphic design. His style consists of clean, precise lettering in bright colours and often embellished with spray textures that take inspiration from his background in graffiti.
In order for you to take part our virtual workshops please register above to receive a invite to Zoom, and you’ll also need the following materials: A4/A3 sheet of paper, pencil, rubber, ruler and varied colour markers (Posca Pens).
Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 - #JustType Zoom Online Workshop
Date: Friday 22 May 2020
Time: 12:00-12:40
Online: Zoom Video Communications
Price: FREE
The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 (18-24 May) is ‘Kindness’ and we’ll be hosting a free virtual workshop on Zoom with Luke Smile, in which our artist will be guiding you virtually through 40 minutes creating your own version of the word ‘Kind’ using the art of typography.
In order for you to take part our the online art session please complete the form below requesting an invite to the Zoom Workshop, and you’ll also need the following materials: A4 sheet of paper, pencil, rubber, ruler and 5 varied colours of markers/pens.
This year the word Kindness was chosen is because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive.
Kindness is defined by doing something towards yourself and others, motivated by genuine desire to make a positive difference. From research conducted by the Mental Health Foundation ‘kindness and our mental health are deeply connected’ it shows that kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective and deepens friendships. Kindness to ourselves can prevent shame from corroding our sense of identity and help boost our self-esteem. Kindness can even improve feelings of confidence and optimism.
During Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re asking you to:
Reflect on an act of kindness. Share your stories and pictures of your kindness artwork on Instagram and Twitter during the week using the hashtag #TrappedinZoneOne, #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
This workshop is funded by Tesco Bags of Help community grant scheme, with support from GreatArt, Posca UK and Love East Magazine.
