What’s On Walsall – January 2025

The New Art Gallery Walsall kicks off their 25 year with thought-provoking exhibitions exploring our relationship with the natural world as well as mental health. Over at the Leather Museum, visitors can enjoy creative session ‘Paint Like a Master with Rob Conway’ or join the sociable Stitchers & Skivers textile group. Meanwhile, Walsall Market will host a Vegan Market, showcasing sustainable food, crafts, and eco-friendly products. 

HIGHLIGHT

Drag Me To The 80s

Saturday 25 January, 7.30pm. Walsall Arena & Arts Centre

Meet the cast of our 80’s Divas and join us on an unforgettable journey as this amazing production delivers a dazzling fusion of nostalgia, empowerment and a celebration of the extraordinary. 

Get ready to dance, sing and be captivated by the powerhouse vocals of the queens who redefine the stage and bring the spirit of the 80’s roaring back to life. The show features an incredible full live band and the music of Kylie, Madonna, Whitney, Bananarama, Queen, Abba, Rick Astley, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Duran Duran, Wham, Tina Turner and many more!

January events at The New Art Gallery Walsall

Gallery Square, Walsall, WS2 8LG. Free admission.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sundays 12 noon to 4pm. Closed on Mondays and Bank Holidays. 

Collections Tour

Saturday 4 January, 2-3pm. Free.

Theo and Esther Garman: Art & Mental Health - Join Andrea for a talk celebrating the lives of Theo and Esther, the Garman siblings, in the context of our Equal+Able exhibition. Please note this month’s Collection Tour will include mentions of mental illness and references to suicide.

Sunday Art Club

Sundays, 12-3pm. Age 4+. Free, drop-in.

The Gallery’s weekly art club for children and young people. Meet artists and creatives and learn to paint, print, sculpt, craft, make films and more!

• Sunday 5 January - 2025 Calendars Create four seasons calendars using oil pastels.
• Sunday 12 January - Clay Hedgehogs Model a spiky hedgehog using clay and matchsticks.
• Sunday 19 January - Warrior Portraits Pencil, coloured pencil and collage portraits inspired by Charmaine Watkiss’ ‘Plant Warriors.’
• Sunday 26 January - Paper Huts Fold paper huts and decorate with animals, inspired by ‘The Sanctum of the One-Eyed Toad (and Other Spirit Animals)’.

Baby & Me

Wednesday 8 January, 10.30am-12noon and 12.30-2pm. Every second Wednesday of the month. Suitable for 0-24 months. £3 per child, places are limited, booking essential. Book at Reception or call 01922 654400.

Multi-sensory sessions for parents, carers and their babies. Explore colours and light projections, discover new smells, feel new textures in our touchy-feely books and relax in our comfy cushions whilst you listen to a short story and meet other new parents.

Walk and Draw

Saturday 11 January, 11am-12.30pm. Every second Saturday of the month.

Free. Booking essential.

Make speedy sketches of artworks in the Collections and temporary exhibitions, the Gallery’s architecture, the magnificent views from the Gallery’s windows, and the local area, including the wildlife along the canal, public sculptures and historical buildings along the high street. 

Current exhibitions at The New Art Gallery Walsall (Free admission) 

• Earthbound. Until 8 June 2025
• REFLECTOR. Until 9 March 2025
• Equal + Able = Not a Label. Until 18 May 2025.
• Walsall Society of Artist’s: 74th annual exhibition. Until 2 February 2025

 January events at Walsall Arena & Arts Centre

Hawbush Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 1AG. 

Box Office: 0300 555 2898. Box Office opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm. 

Online booking available 24 hours at www.walsallarena.com

SOLD OUT: Chris McCausland: Yonks!

Friday 17 January, 8pm. £26

You might have seen him on ‘Scared of the Dark’, ‘Would I Lie to You’, ‘Have I Got News for You’, ‘The Royal Variety’, ‘QI’, ‘Blankety Blank’, ‘The Last Leg’, and tons more as well. He's been called an ‘overnight success’ - Even though he's been doing this for bloody yonks! Chris McCausland is hitting the road again with another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making.

January events at Walsall Leather Museum

Littleton Street West, Walsall, WS2 8EW

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. 

Free admission. 

Stitchers & Skivers

Wednesday 8 January, 10am-1pm & 1.30-4.30pm. £6.50 - To book your place, call 01922 652288.

To kick off the new year, our monthly craft group will be experimenting with textile art. 

If you like meeting new people and trying out different ideas - this is the session for you. New participants are always welcome whether it's for a one of workshop or to attend more regularly. Tea, biscuits and chat are in plentiful supply!

Paint Like a Master with Rob Conway

Saturday 25 January, 1-4pm. £27 (includes all materials and refreshments). To book your place, call 01922 652288.

Join artist, Rob Conway as he leads you step-by-step through the process of creating your own painted canvas inspired by Monet's wintery scene, 'The Magpie'. The sessions are extremely popular and lots of fun. No experience necessary.

January event at Walsall Market

Walsall Vegan Market

Saturday 11 January, 10.30am-4pm. Park Street, Walsall. WS1 1LY

The market will bring together a huge variety of vegan street food vendors, artisan bakers, craft brewers, ethical jewellers, sustainable chandlers, local artists, zero-waste champions, environmental charities and more.

ENDS.