London SE1 > News & Features > September 2000
Friday is Faraday at the Elephant
"An electric celebration of the people of the Elephant & Castle past, present and future" is how the week-long Friday is Faraday festival is being described by the Southwark Arts Forum.The discoverer of electricity Michael Faraday was born at the Elephant & Castle in 1791 when the Elephant & Castle Inn was an important coach stop outside London on the way to Kent and Sussex. Friday is Faraday is being devised and produced by the Southwark Arts Forum as an inventive series of arts, heritage and science projects with the Elephant & Castle community.
Michael Faraday's birthday is on Friday 22 September when a public artwork will be unveiled in the Elephant's shopping centre at 4.30pm - after the school day has finished.
There will be events all week from Monday 18 September in the centre and at South Bank University, the London College of Printing's Eckersley Gallery, the Cuming Museum and the Blue Elephant Theatre.
Saturday is Family Fun Day, in association with Child & Sound, at both the shopping centre and nearby St Mary's Newington Butts with bouncy castles, workshops, face painting, music and puppets.
Monday 18 to Saturday 23 September
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
10am-6pm; free; Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre
Throughout the week a mobile Michael Faraday generates his own electricity to make pancakes while you can produce your own power at a Victorian Fairground interactive display. You can also make your own blue plaque and check out environmental energy display by Southwark Energy Agency. There's a daily programme of other entertainment, including dance, magic, line dancing, theatre improvisation and Roman lamp making - call the hotline or visit the website for details.Monday 18 to Saturday 23 September
EXHIBITION
10am-5pm; free; Eckersley Gallery, London College of Printing
Magnetic Art from Alom Shaha, David Manley's Famous Local People, Art Wall digital projection with work from Southwark's Summer University and Dorothea Smartt and Sinead Codd with words and images generated from workshops with groups includes Michael Faraday School, Charles Dickens School, Draper TA, Rockingham Estate Play Association, Rockingham Somali Support Group, Feminist Library and the Cuming Museum.Tuesday 19 September to Saturday 21 October
MICHAEL FARADAY: MAN OF SCIENCE
Tue-Sat 10am-6pm; free; Cuming Museum, Walworth Road
The life and work of Michael Faraday.Friday 22 September
PROJECTA ELECTRA
4.30pm; free; Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre
Installation of a public artwork for Faraday's birthday.Friday 22 September
FARADAY BIRTHDAY LECTURE
6.30pm; call 020 7701 1342 to book your place
Dr Frank James of the Royal Institution.Saturday 23 September
FAMILY FUNDAY
11am-6pm; free; Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre & St Mary's Churchyard.
Entertainment, bouncy castles, workshops, face painting, circus, music, shows, puppets and more.Michael Faraday died in 1876 at Hampton Court in a house given to him by Queen Victoria. www.fridayisfaraday.org