A contemporary Exhibition Space showcasing new and experimental work from established and emerging artists. SVAF also actively promotes and engages with artists’ collaboration projects and formulate interactive community, school and University projects in the Gallery.
Rosalind Barker MA and Susan Evans MFA with the members of the Sevenoaks Visual Arts Forum, run The KCC Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Art Gallery as an artist led space.The forum is based at the Gallery.
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IMMEDIACY
Fine Art Practice Development FAPD 2025/6
10 – 20 June 2026
INVITATION to the PREVIEW
THURSDAY 11 JUNE 6-8
All welcome to join us for drinks and view the exhibition Course leader and curator Sam Herbert will be in the Gallery for this event
The Bridge Art School and SVAF Fine Art Practice Development Year Final Show 2025/6 The title for this year’s Fine Art Practice Development (FAPD) Course summer show is ‘Immediacy’. Every academic year course leader Sam Herbert suggests a title and the member artists are free to respond to it in any way they wish. It’s neither a brief, nor is it a theme, but rather an entry point to a set of ideas they can consider in relation to their art practice over the academic year. In some cases their visual response is heavily informed by the title, in other cases it’s not. Both responses are fine. Therefore, the title should be taken as something to consider rather than as an explanation of this exhibition.
IMMEDIACY Exhibiting artists: Ally Sweidan, Amanda Hopkins, Anna Jury, Birgitta Wilson, Cathy Gough, Chrissie Hunt, Christine Highland, Clare Summons, Cliona Murphy, Deb Pugh, Di Drummond, Elaine Almond, Elaine Leslie, Frances Rae, Franny Swann, Ginny Legg, Hildegard Pax, Irene Simmons, Jan Steadman, Jane Cordery, Jenny Dalton, Jo Di Maggio, Kate Hasted, Katie Whitbread, Leila Godden, Louisa Crispin, Louisa Donovan, Maria Turner, Marie Pearson, Mike Flight, Mimi Saboya, Nicole Morrigan, Paula Morgan, Peps Barkhan, Rosalind Pearson, Rowena McWilliams, Sally Hamilton, Sam King, Sarah Cliff, Sarah Pointon, Sheila Nash, Siana Kohler, Sonia Griffin, Sue Evans, Wendy Steyn.
About FAPD
The Fine Art Practice Development Course (Called FAPD) is a different kind of art course. It’s a structured meeting place for artists to discuss, develop and progress their art practice alongside a supportive group of peers who offer constructive feedback. The course itself is made up of fortnightly sessions focussed on helping each member artist achieve their goals and improve their studio practice. The sessions are led by myself, Samuel Herbert (I was course leader for the University of Kent Fine Art courses run at Tonbridge for over thirteen years), and my role is to guide the discussions as well as providing my own insights and expertise developed from my 25 years of experience as an exhibiting professional artist and academic. Now in its 14th year, many SVAF members have benefitted from the supportive environment of this course, there are only a few places left for starting in September, so don’t delay in taking this opportunity to discover more. If you’d like to talk to me or get more information, simply email me (Samuel Herbert) thebridgeartschool@gmail.com
The SVAF Community Art Project 2026 Horsing Around Sevenoaks
Why Horses and ponies?
It will weave together that 2026 is the Year of the Horse. The Kent County Council logo is a white horse. The relaunch of Explore your Kaleidoscope, a joyous fold out interactive leaflet aimed at guiding visitors of all ages around the 4 different levels of the building in an art treasure hunt. Including find the mischievous Kaleidoscope pony who is covered in your children’s drawings and the ‘hidden’ artworks commissioned by KCC at the 2007 opening of the new Kaleidoscope Library, Gallery and Museum. 2027 will be the 20th anniversary.
SVAF Artist led Drop in Free Family Art Workshops
The Horsing Around Sevenoaks herd needs to grow. Join in our Pony and Horse themed free artist led workshops
Thank you to all the families who horsed around at the April, Easter holiday and May artist led workshops.
Saturday 6 June Painting Ponies with Susanne Beard
All Family workshops are 10:30 – 12:30
Drop in or stay Children must be accompanied
ALL materials provided
Dress for mess
Thank you to all the SVAF artist for their Pony themed workshops on Saturdays and across the Easter break. Susanne Beard – horse painting, Christine Highlane– collage, Sarah Cliff- drawing and collage, Sue Evans- for her multiple pony surprise mornings, Wendy Steryn and Cliona Murphy for our May Day workshop Saturday May 2nd.
JOIN IN Horsing Around Sevenoaks
Your pony or horse can be any shape or type of horse, not just the head. It can be multiples of small horses.
We can provide paper and templates, or you do your own thing.
Email Ros and Sue at sevenoakskaleidoscope@gmail.com if you have a group aged 2 – 92 who would like to be involved.
We will be inviting everyone to join in and make your own pony or horse at home. Materials and instructions will be an available on the Mezzanine at the beginning of June.
Thank you to Susanne Beard who ran the first off site workshop for Horsing Around Sevenoaks working with Forget-me-Not-Café. Thank you to other community contributors who have also worked with Susanne The Embroidery Club Otford, Sevenoaks Adult Social Services, Sevenoaks Town Council as part of their Vine Theatre Event, Sevenoaks Adult social services.
Sevenoaks Library Knit and Natter group are already Horsing Around Sevenoaks
If you run a group of any age 2 – 92 and would like to join in the fun. Email us: sevenoakskaleidoscope@gmail.com
NOT JUST 7 OAKS the KALEIDOSCOPE FOREST of the IMAGINATION
The SVAF Community Art Project 2025
The Forrest is slowly being cleared this May, it has been a joyous project enjoyed by hundreds of visitors.
Thank you for all your arty Trees in every sort of media for our Forest of the Imagination on the Mezzanine outside the Gallery.
Thank you to The Otford Embroidery Group, The Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Knit and Natter Group, EPIC St Barts Youth Club, Sevenoaks Adult Social Services, Otford Library children’s craft morning and Forget-me-Not-Cafe for many stunning fun trees.
Every Saturday in June and July the drop-in workshops at Kaleidoscope were enthusiastically attended by many families. The inventiveness and pleasure expressed in making by all the family members has made this a joyful project. We owe a big thank you to lead artists Sarah Cliff, Susanne Beard, Sue Evans, Amanda Hopkins and Irene Vaughan who volunteered to run them.
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