How it all began

It all began in July 2008 with the Independent Booksellers’ Week at Kirkdale Bookshop, a week-long celebration that included book readings, signings and fringe theatre events. This was followed by the highly successful sell-out run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in The Dolphin Pub Garden. Most of those involved in the production lived or worked in the Sydenham area. Since then Jazz & Blues evenings have proved a great success at The Golden Lion, while the Sydenham International Music Festival continues to bring world class classical music to SE26.

Sydenham has for a long time been a very popular place for musicians, actors and other artists to live. Now, at long last, there’s an opportunity for its many arts practitioners and performers to come together and share their talents with the community.

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The SAF Team

The SAF team invite you to take a tour and the fringes of Forest Hill to meet artists in their homes, take part in their workshops and enjoy art in the high street.

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FAMILY

The most important thing in the world is family and love.

DOORSTEP DISCOVERIES

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.

ARTS IN THE PARK/FAMILY FUN DAY

Five hours of live music, dance, drama, street theatre, puppetry, free arts workshops, global food stalls and even a funfair.

THE CARDUCCI QUARTET

Thought String Quartets were not for you?! Not with the Carducci Quartet who perform exciting, interactive concerts for children, introducing them to chamber music and firing them with enthusiasm for the string quartet.

CRAFTY TALES

Join storyteller Becky Truscott as she weaves a tale to delight and enchant parents, carers and pre-school age children alike. Each week the telling will be followed by a themed craft. Bring your enthusiasm and sense of wonder.

ANANSI AND HIS WEB OF STORIES

Family friendly fun! Celebrating multi-cultural heritage through performance and cultural cuisine. An energetic, colourful, and musical storytelling performance bringing to life some of the traditional Anansi stories.

POND LIFE GARDEN SCULPTURES WITH FROGLIFE

Learn about the amazing creatures that live in the garden while you make some weird and wonderful creatures from things that might have been thrown away.  Family-friendly workshop using natural, found, recycled and papier-mache objects.