We've launched an events hub on The Dots, full to the brim with cultural, creative, digital & professional events! Now it’s super easy to access panels, exhibitions and workshops all in one place and it’s a breeze to connect and network with attendees and speakers pre- and post-event.
If you’re somebody who’s hungry to learn more, upskill and get networking, we want to make it even easier for you – so we’ve put together this list of 25 brilliant companies to follow to ensure that you get a nifty notification when an event they’re hosting is announced.
Simply follow the ones that you’re interested in and start filling that fresh calendar up!
Image: Protein x Polyester x Melissa Shoes
30. Creative Access
Creative Access are here to challenge the lack of diversity in the creative sector, explaining that not only is it bad for society, but for business too. Creative access host a number of events throughout the year helping young people from under-represented communities (including black, asian, ethnic, bame and lower socioeconomic backgrounds) to secure jobs and training opportunities in creative companies. Keep track of their events by following their page.
29. A Studio of Our Own
A Studio of Our Own is an independent creative marketing agency – believing in the power of being brave, being nice and being honest, in all that they do. The team also work with the fierce, fantastic charity that is A Bloody Good Period, helping them to put on their flagship comedy event Bloody Funny. Keep an eye on both their page so you can snap up tickets to their hilarious, leak out loud events.
28. Holly & Co
Founded by Holly Tucker MBE, Holly & Co are cheerleaders for small businesses in the UK. On noticing that the landscape for small businesses was grey and uninspiring, Holly and the team set about building a tribe of like-minded people, to help small businesses for the better and the makers at the heart of it all. Stay ahead of the game by following their page so you don’t miss out on their flagship events such as The Congregation of Inspiration.
27. Ace Hotel
Absorbing the culture of local communities, Ace Hotel are a chain of establishments that have innovated the way that hotels engage a contemporary audience - with opportunities spanning America, London and in 2020, Kyoto, Japan. Events are at the core of this community first approach, so expect a constant flow of workshops, events and exhibitions. Top tip: Look out for their infamous lobby events ‘Bingo Wings’ where you can expect a hilarious drag take on bingo with two local London queens. Follow Ace Hotel here.
26. The Hoxton
A series of open-house hotels inspired by the diversity and originality of the streets and scenes surrounding them, The Hoxton offers a dynamic calendar of events throughout the year. From movie screenings to comedy nights and cooking classes, it’s a good shout to follow their page on The Dots so you’re first to know about upcoming happenings, whether that’s in Shoreditch, Paris or Downtown LA.
Image: Liberty Lodnon
25. Liberty
Liberty London is recognised for its cultural collaborations, inspiring curation and directional design. As we move into the new year, expect to see our events hub star-spangled with events surrounding beauty, jewellery, sustainability and craft. Follow Liberty on The Dots to make sure you get the event memos, head to their page.
24. Creative Mentor Network
On a mission to make the creative world of work more diverse and inclusive through mentoring, Creative Mentor Network often hold open days for all those interested in either mentoring or being mentored. So whatever your creative level, if you want to give back or upskill, then these events are for you – simply follow their page for alerts. With such a lovely team and wonderful results from past years, it’s a no brainer.
23. Warm Street
A global music network, Warm Street sidestep traditional agency models to create brands with cultural capital through insight, cultural strategy, activation and artist partnerships. In 2019, the agency put together a sold-out show at the legendary venue Fabric, curated around rave culture. The team often hold meet-ups surrounding cultural insights, so make sure to give them a follow keep your eyes peeled for alerts.
22. Serpentine
The Serpentine comprises two galleries situated on either side of The Serpentine lake in the heart of the Royal Park of Kensington Gardens in central London. Sprinkled with a constant supply of exhibitions and talks, events to look ahead to 2020 for include Future Contemporaries Mystery Nights as well as Cao Fei’s Blueprints. Follow them here.
21. Paradise Row
With events for those interested in fashion design, Paradise Row is an East London brand with social impact crafting handmade leather bags manufactured in a small artisan workshop, the team there value community as well as design, often curating events to engage their community and beyond. Highlights from 2019 include panels like How to Start a Successful Start-Up from your Living Room and ‘Slow Fashion as Future Industry’. Follow their page here.
20. Stack
Searching out the most interesting and exciting independent magazines and delivering them direct to your door. Stack surprise their subscribers with a different magazine every month. On top of that, their events span charity sales to discussion panels, launch parties and their big annual awards blow out. This is the one to follow if you’re into writing, publishing or art direction.
Image: Stack Magazines
19. It’s Nice That
It’s Nice That believe in creative inspiration for everybody and championing great work. Through their website, in print and events programme, the company open their opportunities up to the widest possible audience. Their monthly Nicer Tuesdays Talks series sees four speakers take to the podium to share insights from a recent landmark project. Fun, candid and ever-eclectic, the talks are a source of inspiration for creative people of all types. Don’t miss a beat, follow their page here.
18. Saatchi
The Saatchi Gallery aims to provide an innovative forum for contemporary art, presenting work by largely unseen young artists or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. Their spring calendar is full up with the phenomenal TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh exhibition, but there’s more to be announced shortly. Make sure to follow Saatchi to get updates.
17.She Says
SheSays is an award-winning global network organisation focused on the engagement, education and advancement of women in the creative industries. If you are a woman in the industry, or want to see more women at the top, then these events are perfect for you! Follow here.
16. Glug
Based around a series of talks and informal networking, Glug has become one of the most exciting, credible and well-attended creative events around. Starting in 2007 as a handful of mates talking shop in an East London pub, nine years have seen Glug take on 13 cities internationally. Glug have already announced their Fashion Illustration Doodle Social in collaboration with the prestigious London College of Fashion, and there are plenty more events to come! Keep up to date by following their page.
15. Bompas & Parr
Practically a pair of contemporary Willy Wonkas, Bompas & Parr are the duo behind the studio working with commercial brands, artistic institutions, private clients and governments to deliver emotionally compelling experiences to a variety of audiences. A 2019 highlight from Bompas & Parr was their incredible Butterfly Biosphere, whereby London’s public was invited to sip nectar surrounded by tropical butterflies. Don’t miss on opportunities, follow the Bompas & Parr page!
Image: Bompas & Parr
14. Amnesty
Made up of fundraisers, creatives, marketers, strategists and much more, Amnesty is the charitable organisation standing up for human rights. With a community of over 7 million members, Amnesty are often announcing events for people to get involved with. We’ll be singing about their 2020 London events shortly, so give them a little follow so you don’t miss out.
13. A New Direction
A New Direction provides an overview of the issues, challenges and barriers faced by young Londoners when accessing arts, culture and creativity in London. The not-for-profit often collaborates with fantastic organisations such as Tate Collective, It’s Nice That, C4 and Magnum photos. Keep tabs on what they’re up to by following the company page.
12. Marguerite
Marguerite is the club for women who work in the visual arts. Through a programme of 40 events eachyear, Marguerite aims to advance the careers of women in the industry. Watch out for their beautifully curated events with speakers such as Yana Peel (former CEO of the Serpentine Galleries), Tristram Hunt (Director of the V&A) and Alice Temperly MBE, plus collaborations with Tate, Second Home and many more. Follow here.
11. Rich Mix
This community arts hub stages world music, dance, theatre, spoken word performance, art shows and film screenings. Not only can you expect to see these live shows posted to The Dots, you’ll be in the know about dynamic creative projects and programmes for people from East London and beyond. Stay in the loop by following Rich Mix here.
10. F*ck Being Humble
A mentoring platform with the unapologetic stance that no longer should we let the fear of sounding arrogant or ‘blowing our own trumpet’ get in the way of communicating personal successes, or talking about who we are and what we can offer. Make sure to follow their page here, as there is also a book on the way to print, meaning 2020 is going to be a big year for this platform with lots to be announced.
Image: Marguerite
9. Barbican
The beautiful Brutalist structure that is the Barbican is a performing arts centre at the heart of the City of London. The centre hosts both classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions, many of which are set to be listed on The Dots! Plus, if you haven’t already, the Barbican’s secret tropical oasis (their conservatory) is a free Sunday afternoon must-visit if you are in the capital. Follow Barbican here.
8. Tate
The institution that houses four art museums (Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Liverpool and St.Ives), Tate is a national treasure. Not only do Tate run paid exhibitions, there is always a flurry of free events around the UK. What’s more, they don’t stop at arts exhibitions, programmes such as their Routes In and Tate Collective are often working with people on a community level. Don’t miss out on their incredible 2020 events programme (especially their Uniqlo Tate Lates) – make sure to follow Tate on The Dots.
7. VICE
Launched in 1994, VICE now has 35 offices globally, making 15,000 pieces of culturally relevant content every day, via vice.com, VICELAND, Virtue (their creative agency) VICE Studios and their NEWS Division. Excitingly, the London branch is set to get their community involved with even more physical events throughout 2020 and they are sure to go down a treat and fast. Make sure you are following VICE so that you know what’s happening and when, their recent flash political youth debate promoted on The Dots was an instant success.
6. V&A
A leading museum of art, design and performance, the V&A is a cultural staple, enriching people’s lives by promoting a vast amount of research, knowledge and enjoyment of the designed world. Collections at the V&A span over 5,000 years of human creativity in virtually every medium, so expect to be alerted about a multitude of goings-on if you follow the company page. Our 2019 event highlight is their free, curator-led African Heritage tours.
5. Wolf & Badger
Wolf & Badger is an innovative multi-channel retail platform for independent fashion and design brands. Founded in 2010, Wolf & Badger promote, support and retail the most exciting independent designer brands from the UK, US and around the world. Keep track of their wonderfully curated events, from pop-up shopping events to panels on ethical fashion, by following Wolf & Badger on The Dots.
4. London Design Festival
London Design Festival celebrates and promotes London as the design capital of the world. The Festival returns to venues and institutes across the city from 12-20 September 2020. With fantastical workshops, talks and exhibitions from the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Kengo Kuma this year, we’re sure that this programme is going to be a corker and a must-visit for designers everywhere. Follow London Design Festival this way.
3. Protein
It’s good to be on the ball when it comes to Protein Studios, the events, co-working, cafe and retail space in the heart of Shoreditch. Why? Because they are constantly releasing exhibitions from illustrators such as Polly Nor, Thierry Noir, pop-ups for brands like Stussy and Paloma Wool and immersive experiences on top of panels on trends insights. The events are so culturally relevant and popular, that it’s best to get in there quick to secure you and your friends a spot! Stay informed, follow Protein here.
2. Creative Equals
Did you know that only 16% of creative directors are women? Or that BAME employees only make up 5.5% of leadership roles in the creative sector? Well, Creative Equals are making their stamp in changing that. Alongside hosting their flagship conference RISE, the amazing team put on events throughout the year to aid people in leadership, confidence, pitching and returning to work. Follow Creative Equals here.
1. General Assembly
Since 2011, General Assembly has transformed tens of thousands of careers through pioneering, experiential education in today’s most in-demand skills. When you learn web development, data, design, business, and more. So, if you’re looking to upskill this year, this amazing organisation is for you. With free events happening all the time, there’s no excuse not to dive into what they have to offer. Their enthusiastic, kind team and sassy event names are the cherry on the cake too. Be sure to follow General Assembly to snap up those spots.
Curator’s Pick: Nough’ Talk, Get Sh*t Done
A branch of the brilliant She Says series, this event series from This Way Up Podcast celebrates initiatives that are getting things done – from female tech startups to side-hustles. Unique in format, the event is split into two parts; the first being a panel discussion with trailblazing women, and the latter, an audience participation where attendees can seek advice and brainstorm together.
Bonus! The Dots Portfolio Masterclasses
At The Dots we’re passionate about connecting our brilliant community to amazing opportunities with companies that we work with. So every month, we host a creative industry-led Portfolio Masterclass, joined by a group of industry seniors who sit down and share portfolio or career tips with attendees.
In 2019, we visited Burberry, Airbnb, AKQA, Protein Studios, Shoreditch House and more to host the events in a myriad of disciplines (from photography to digital design). So for, your chance to have your work reviewed at a top company and potentially even land a dream job (lots of people get discovered) make sure to follow our page here.
Image: Creative Mentor Network
Companies
Barbican Centre
- Arts and Culture
VICE
- Publishing
TATE
- Arts and Culture
V&A
- Arts and Culture
London Design Festival
- Design
Ace Hotel London
- Events
Liberty
- Retail
Bompas & Parr
- Design
General Assembly
- Design
A New Direction
- Charity
Creative Equals
- Social Enterprise
Glug
- Events
The Dots – Portfolio Masterclasses
- Publishing
She Says
- Events
Warm Street
- Music
Amnesty International UK
- Social Enterprise
It's Nice That
- Publishing
Wolf & Badger
- Retail
Serpent Consulting Services Pvt Ltd
- Technology
Holly & Co
- Events
Stack Magazines
- Publishing
Protein Studios
- Events
Marguerite
- Arts and Culture
A Studio Of Our Own
- Design
F*ck Being Humble
- Education & Research
