A look back at our Christmas arts project
Our festive project at art’otel Battersea Power Station explored how arts and community activity can sit within a changing urban landscape
Through a series of events and installations, the programme focused on creativity, wellbeing, and opportunities for people to engage with their local area during the winter period.
The Advent Calendar project was part of this wider work, marking the weeks leading up to Christmas with a shared artistic experience. Previous Advent initiatives have taken the form of community art trails across local venues, encouraging residents and visitors to encounter familiar spaces in new ways. The 2025 Christmas Joy Advent Calendar exhibition at art’otel built on this approach with a dedicated installation. Running from 1 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, the exhibition featured a large-scale Advent Calendar made up of 24 individual artworks by local artists and makers, responding to themes such as hope, celebration, and community.
Installed in The Studio at art’otel, the exhibition invited visitors to spend time with the work at their own pace. The artworks spanned a range of media, including ceramics, textiles, photography, and LEGO, offering a variety of styles and interpretations of the festive season.
Alongside the exhibition, a programme of artist-led workshops and craft activities took place, with sessions designed to be accessible to all ages. Activities included papercutting and Christmas cracker-making, providing practical ways for people to take part.
Rather than focusing solely on display, the project aimed to create a space where people could come together during a busy time of year. By situating the exhibition in a public setting, it offered a place for reflection, conversation, and shared activity, supporting Nine Elms Ministries’ ongoing interest in using creative projects to strengthen connection and wellbeing within the local community.
