Published on
December 1, 2021
This December Nine Elms will once again transform into a giant Advent Calendar featuring 24 unique installations created by local artists and organisations. Visitors can see the Advent installations displayed in windows of cafes, bars, salons, clinics, schools, and churches. The free month-long event is presented by Nine Elms Arts Ministry.
The Nine Elms community is at the heart of the Advent Calendar – many of the installations are collaborations between artists, local schools and community groups, with support from Wandsworth Council and other sponsors.
The 2021 Art Trail includes artists working with a range of media and new locations, such as the open-air forest scene in the pedestrian walkway through New Covent Garden Market, a peace festival on a barge, a contemporary nativity in a London Cab, plus 5,000 LED lights, flowers from the Colombian rainforest, multicultural textiles, brushed aluminium, fine art photography of Antarctica and much more.
Wandsworth Councillor Steffi Sutters, Cabinet Member for Community Services & Open Spaces, said: “The Nine Elms Advent Calendar is always a lovely project that displays the best in our communities and thriving art scene during the festive season. This is a fantastic opportunity for residents and visitors to explore Nine Elms and celebrate our growing neighbourhood, so Wandsworth Council is proud to be supporting the event for its third year.”
Rev Betsy Blatchley, Creative Producer of the Nine Elms Advent Calendar and leader of Nine Elms Arts Ministry, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing the calendar back for its 3rd year. We have exciting locations, incredible artists and fantastic partners involved – it’s going to be such fun and a wonderfully positive way for people to explore Nine Elms. We hope that it will truly give people a chance for moments of peace and joy in this busy season and help people to find new hope after the tough days that we have seen.”
Last year the Nine Elms Advent Calendar followed the theme of ‘Light in the Darkness’ and despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the Art Trail was named in the Top 10 Things to do in London at Christmas by Time Out and enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors.
The theme for this year’s Art Trail is ‘Peace On Earth’ so each of the art installations will explore this message, in unique and creative ways. Starting with WINDOW 1 – a 52m² collage made entirely of hand cut, vintage, recycled paper – made in collaboration with Dominvs Group who are the flagship sponsor of this year’s Advent Calendar and provided the 21 panel section of hoardings on Plot A07, Nine Elms Lane.
Dominvs Group, developer and flagship sponsor, said: “We are delighted to support the Advent Calendar initiative and give a local artist a platform to showcase their art on our unique site in Nine Elms, inspired by the local community. As a developer founded on family and social value, we are committed to community investment activities like this, which create opportunities for talented local people.”
Sarah Banham, Head of Community & Sustainability at Battersea Power Station, said: “The Nine Elms Advent Calendar Trail is a wonderful event for locals and other visitors to visit for free to get into the festive spirit and we are delighted to be hosting six themed illuminated windows across Circus West Village again this year. The installations will add to the festivities we have going on at The Winter Village this December with something for everyone, including a great line-up of family-friendly attractions, gifts and crafts from local artisans in our Christmas market, plus festive treats from our great mix of riverside bars and restaurants.”
Follow the trail on foot to see all 24 window installations via two different walking routes. With the two new Tube stations at Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms it’s even easier to visit!
The Nine Elms Advent Calendar 2021 walking trail
View the windows online each day via the Nine Elms Arts Ministry social media channels from 1-24 December.
Get involved with the art by sharing photos of the Advent Windows via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with #NineElmsAdvent, for a chance to win a Festive hamper from Battersea General Store and other prizes.
Nine Elms Arts Ministry is an emerging community exploring the arts, spirituality, well-being and social justice in the heart of the Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms Development. The Advent Calendar is a project by the Anglican Diocese of Southwark and led by Revd Betsy Blatchley, Pioneer Minister in the Arts.
