Horniman - Trinity Laban

The Horniman Museum and Gardens and Trinity Laban have been working together on exciting projects since 2009

Object in Focus

Every year, we feature an object selected from the Horniman Museum. Placed on the ramp in the Laban Building, it inspires some of the programming at the Horniman Museum and Garden’s Summer Festivals, including commissioned work and participatory opportunities and performances.

Sawfish / 2022

Lewisham’s call to action on climate emergency as part of its year as London Borough of Culture 2022 is something that unites us all. Pollution and urban development are causing substantial habitat destruction, and climate change is altering environmental conditions with devastating results.

In response to this, Trinity Laban’s 2022 Object in Focus is a display of magnificent sawfish rostra, a decreasing species that are significantly impacted by fishing and environmental changes.

The sawfish rostra will be on display in the Laban building between March – July 2022 and offer creative inspiration for Trinity Laban’s students, children, youth, and community groups throughout the summer term.

The Horniman’s Senior Curator of Natural Sciences Dr Emma Nicholls shares further insights about the sawfish in a short YouTube video:

Watch now

Ammonites / 2021

2021 prompted a digital response to the annual Object in Focus loan: two 150 and 170 million years old ammonites. These ancient fossils, discovered in Swindon and Dorset, were the first natural history loan to the Conservatoire. They inspired choreography and artwork across Trinity Laban’s Learning and Participation programmes.

Why not try out these ammonite inspired creative activities activities at home and watch Dr Nicholls, Deputy Keeper of Natural History at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, talk about her love of palaeontology and what we know about ammonites.

The Amazing World of Ammonites

Tamasha: Indian Summer / 2017

A day of music, performances, demonstrations, workshops, markets and activities as we began our Indian Summer.

Festival of Dance Summer / 2019

Summer 2019 marked the 10th anniversary Trinity Laban have worked in partnership with the Horniman Museum. The celebrations reflected on a decade of collaboration, exploration and community togetherness with pop-up performances and family workshops in and around the museum and gardens, flash mobs and commissions from professional artists. The programme was inspired by the Object in Focus, a pair of anthropomorphic Stilt steps from Marquesas, Oceania, drawing on themes of ceremony, linear motifs and activities of recreation.

Festa Julina: Brazilian Summer / 2016

A large-scale family event with 7000 people attending on one day. This event including professional and participatory performances.

Curious Tea Party / 2014

A large-scale event over 2 days with 10,000 attending over the weekend. This interdisciplinary arts event included performances from many of our programmes led by the Learning and Participation team. Our Youth Programme and Retired Not Tired participants were featured in this event.

Big Dance Picnic / 2012

This was the first major event that emerged from BIG Dance funding. Trinity Laban's Learning and Participation: Dance team was the main event producer, supported by the Horniman Museum. The event was inspired by a photographic exhibition in the museum.

Symposium: Dance and Museums

Funded by Arts Council England, Dance and Museums looked at examples of cross arts working, such as dance exhibits in museums, using museum space for dance, and working with museums on joint projects.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact Laura Woods at l.woods@trinitylaban.ac.uk

Africa Dance!

Opening Event / 2015

A large-scale family event with 3000 people attending on one day.

This interdisciplinary arts event included performances from many of our programmes led by the Learning and Participation team.

Our Youth Programme, CAT, Adult classes and Retired Not Tired participants were featured in this event.