The Amelia Scott

Story Time
2026-10-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-02 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-09 11:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | The Amelia Scott – Children’s Library
Listening to stories is a great way to develop and encourage young children to read books. Come and join one of our Story Time sessions for 3 to 4 year olds – it’s great fun!

You can find Kent Libraries online Story time playlist on our You Tube channel.
Research shows that babies and children introduced early to stories and books do better in school in later years. So if you have no time to read tonight, download a free audio story from Storynory or Kent Libraries growing audiobooks collection.
Story Time will be taking place in the Children’s Library (under the beautiful night sky) on Monday Mornings at 11:00 from the 9th May.
No need to book, just drop in.

Rhyme Time
2026-10-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-27 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-29 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-10 10:00 - 12:00 | The Amelia Scott – Children’s Library
Come and join our fun and noisy singing session for children under 4 and their parents and carers.
A free, fun and noisy way for under 4s to develop a love of language and a foundation for learning. Each session lasts about 20 – 30 minutes and includes the opportunity to join in with nursery rhymes and action songs.
Research shows that these activities can help develop literacy and communication skills in babies and children.
These sessions will take place in the Children’s library (under the beautiful night sky) on Tuesdays at 10:00 and 11:00, and Thursdays at 10:00.
No need to book, just drop in!

Come as you are – a group for people affected by bereavement
2026-10-20 12:30 - 14:30, 2026-10-27 12:30 - 14:30, 2026-11-03 12:30 - 14:30 | The Amelia Scott – Residency Studio
Are you affected by bereavement?
Would you like to find:

Creativity
Community
Connection

This programme will offer a range of creative activities to support wellbeing and connection. This might involve art, music, storytelling, playing games – the participants will choose the activities themselves, with no pressure to create and no experience needed.
We will offer a warm, welcoming space with free tea and biscuits and the freedom for people to ‘come as you are’.
To join please self-refer by contacting creativehealth@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or call 01892 554097.

Just Dance at The Amelia Scott - Pre School Ballet, Tap & Modern
2026-10-21 09:45 - 11:15, 2026-10-28 09:45 - 11:15, 2026-11-04 09:45 - 11:15 | The Amelia Scott – The Green Room
Discover the joy of dance!
Our Pre School classes are designed to nurture listening skills, memory, coordination through imaginative dance exercises. Each week, your little one might jump like a frog on the farm, splash at the seaside or soar into outer space, all while exploring our exciting class themes and engaging props.
Every activity has purpose and progression behind it. Our exercises help prepare children for the prestigious ISTD dance syllabus, taught by our fully qualified ISTD teachers. As a school, we also provide classes across Tunbridge Wells and provide the dance provision at Homewood House and Somerhill Schools.
https://www.justdanceuk.co.uk/1-to-4-years
Just Dance is not affiliated to The Amelia Scott, if you have any queries please visit their website above.

Knit & Stitch Club
2026-10-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-10-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-11-04 13:00 - 15:00 | The Amelia Scott – Lower Atrium
Come along to our drop in Knit & Stich club here at The Amelia Scott every Wednesday from 1-3pm.
Enjoy meeting and crafting with like minded makers in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden
2026-10-23 - 2027-02-21 | The Amelia Scott – Exhibition Space
A major print retrospective of one of Britain’s most celebrated artists
In a Public Garden brings together more than forty vibrant and richly worked prints by Howard Hodgkin, shown across the Floor One Gallery. Spanning five decades of his career (from 1966 to 2016), the exhibition offers a vivid introduction to an acclaimed artist celebrated for his extraordinary use of colour and his ability to turn personal moments into powerful visual experiences.
Although Hodgkin is best known as a painter, he was also one of Britain’s most important printmakers. Born in London in 1932, he developed a distinctive approach in which colour, texture, and gesture work together to suggest memory, mood, and feeling. His prints—many of them hand-coloured—are bold, layered, and immersive, filled with intense reds, deep blues, and glowing greens that give the works their emotional charge.
The exhibition includes lyrical cityscapes, works inspired by Hodgkin’s experiences in India, and prints created for the 2012 London Olympics. While these images often feel spontaneous, they were made through a careful and extended process. In printmaking, Hodgkin pushed traditional techniques such as etching and aquatint, combining them with hand-painting to create works of remarkable depth and richness.
Hodgkin’s importance is reflected in the international recognition he received during his lifetime. He won the Turner Prize in 1985, represented Britain at the Venice Biennale, and his work has been shown in major museums including Tate Britain, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Reina Sofía in Madrid. Curated by Richard Calvocoressi and touring from Pitzhanger Manor, In a Public Garden invites visitors to spend time with an artist whose intense colour and expressive language continue to resonate today.

Create & Connect
2026-10-23 13:30 - 15:30, 2026-10-30 13:30 - 15:30, 2026-11-06 13:30 - 15:30 | The Amelia Scott – Residency Studio
Are you looking to improve your mental health?
Would you like to find –
Creativity? Community? Connection?
Come along to our free, weekly, welcoming and supportive group, where you can use creativity to improve your mental health, emotional wellbeing, and find connection with others.
Together we will explore ways to express ourselves, reduce stress and build confidence.
You will get the chance to experiment with different creative mediums, such as watercolour, photography, and collage, to make space for reflection, self-expression, mindfulness, and connection.
The group is designed to encourage positive mental health in a relaxed, non-judgemental environment. Together, we will create art, build connections, and discover how creativity can be a powerful tool for supporting your mental health.
No previous experience is needed—just bring an open mind and a willingness to explore.
For more information or to book your place, please contact creativehealth@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or visit The Amelia.
Spaces are limited.

Young Creatives - Documentary Making Intensive
2026-10-26 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-10-27 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-10-28 10:00 - 16:00
Calling video journalists of the future! This is your chance to have fun and learn some brilliant skills!
This immersive and exciting 3 day course will take you through the process of creating your own documentary, you will produce and direct your own short documentary on a local issue, giving your voice and work a platform from which to be heard.
From writing a script to filming your documentary, you will have the chance to have your say on a local issue.
This collaborative, ideas-based programme will provide hands-on, practical experience with industry professionals and local experts, building participants technical filmmaking skills, as well as Storytelling and narrative skills, research, Critical Thinking and Critical Reasoning skills, as well as leadership, creative problem-solving and presentation skills.
Limited spaces available. Book early to avoid diappointment.
A documentary film is a filmed story concerning factual topics (i.e. someone or something). These films are created to convey opinions, challenge ideas and to inform your audience.
This course is aimed at young people aged 13-19
Online pre-course info session Thursday 15th October 5pm
Your purchase today helps to support our work and enables The Amelia to continue to provide free access to the arts, culture, learning and creative health programmes for everyone in our community. Thank You!

Sensing Culture: Group for blind & partially sighted adults
2026-10-30 10:30 - 12:30 | The Amelia Scott – Residency Studio
Blind and partially sighted adults are invited to explore The Amelia’s collections through touch, sound and imagination.
Run in collaboration Kent Association for the Blind, Sensing Culture workshops offer a relaxed, creative environment where you can experience objects up close, discover new stories and enjoy making art together.
Sessions take place monthly, on the last Friday of each month, from 10:30am to 12:30pm, in the Artist Residency Studio at The Amelia Scott.
What to expect
• Object Handling: Explore authentic museum objects through guided touch with support from our trained staff.
• Tactile Tours: Take part in sensory-led journeys through our galleries and private tours of temporary exhibitions.
• Creative Making: Try out different materials and create your own artwork inspired by the collection.
No previous art experience needed.
If you’d like to join or want to know more, please contact Wendy Daws:
– wendy.daws@kab.org.uk
– 01622 691357 (Kent Association for the Blind)
Wendy will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Coffee Concert with Ruth Beedham & Marcus Andrews
2026-10-31 11:00 - 12:00 | The Amelia Scott – Upper Atrium
Join us for one of our relaxed Coffee Concerts, delivered in partnership with the Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival.
This informal morning concert features the exceptional talents of cellist Ruth Beedham and pianist Marcus Andrews with pieces from Chopin, Piazzolla, Martinu and many more.
The musicians will introduce each piece, sharing stories and insights in a friendly, conversational style.
Enjoy a coffee before or after the concert and start your weekend with beautiful music in a welcoming setting. Please arrive between 10.30 and 11am
All welcome, whether you are a regular concert goer or a complete newbie.
About the MusiciansRuth Beedham studied at Trinity College of Music with Alison Wells and Natasha Pavlutskaya, winning the Leonard Smith Prize and a postgraduate scholarship. A member of the Backman Trio, she performed across the UK and Finland, recording for YLE 1 and releasing their debut CD Fantasia in 2014.
She has recorded for composer Rachel Portman for Never Let Me Go and appeared as a soloist with Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra and St Paul’s Sinfonia. Since 2018, she has given fundraising recitals with her husband Marcus Andrews for Great Ormond Street Hospital. She also teaches at the City of London School, the Centre for Young Musicians, TWGGS and The Judd School.
Marcus Andrews performs widely as a soloist, chamber musician and concerto pianist. He has performed all the Beethoven concerti with St Paul’s Sinfonia, and his debut CD features works by Beethoven and Medtner.
He studied at Trinity Laban, winning the Keyboard Silver Medal and Jaques Samuel Pianos Prize, and later completed a master’s at the University of Connecticut. He toured with the Backman Trio, whose CD was recommended in Gramophone.
Marcus is a regular accompanist at London conservatoires and the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition, where he won the accompanist prize. He is Head of Keyboard at Tonbridge School and also teaches at Highgate School.

Your Place to Be
2026-11-03 10:30 - 12:30 | The Amelia Scott
Your Place to Be is a monthly group for those who are supporting someone with mental health difficulties. Whether it’s a family member or friend, you live with them or they live far away, helping someone who isn’t feeling their best is hard. You need support too.
Alongside some creative activities to relax and ground you, this group will also provide resources to help with burnout, stress and practising self-care.
A chance for you to reset, recharge and refill your own cup which will help you feel more able to support others.
For more information or to book your place, please contact creativehealth@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or call 01892 554093 or visit The Amelia.
