Ancient Tibetan Sand Mandala Installation Comes to London for Buddhist Film Festival

Tibetan monks will create and ceremonially dissolve a traditional sand mandala at London's Oxo Gallery as part of the Buddhist Film Festival, celebrating art, reflection and impermanence.

Visitors to London’s iconic Oxo Tower Wharf will soon have the opportunity to witness an extraordinary artistic and spiritual tradition as part of this year's Buddhist Film Festival.

From 17th to 21st June, the Oxo Gallery will host a live sand mandala installation created by Tibetan monks, offering a fascinating glimpse into a centuries-old practice that combines artistry, meditation and profound philosophical meaning.

Presented through a collaboration between the Pure Land Foundation and Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, the free event aims to shine a spotlight on the Buddhist Film Festival, which begins online on 16th June and promises its most accessible and international programme yet.

For five days, visitors will be able to watch as monks carefully construct an intricate sand mandala using finely coloured grains of sand. The elaborate geometric patterns are created entirely by hand, requiring immense patience, concentration and precision.

What makes the event particularly intriguing is that the completed artwork is not intended to last.

On Sunday 21st June, the finished mandala will be ceremonially destroyed in a traditional dissolution ritual. While that may sound surprising, the act is central to Buddhist teachings, symbolising impermanence and reminding us that all things, no matter how beautiful or significant, are ultimately temporary.

The installation reflects many of the themes explored by the Buddhist Film Festival itself. The festival showcases a carefully curated selection of short and feature-length films inspired by Buddhist philosophy, contemplative practice and cross-cultural understanding. Alongside works from established filmmakers, the online fringe programme provides a platform for emerging voices exploring spirituality, compassion and human connection through cinema.

Bruno Wang, founder of the Pure Land Foundation and co-curator of the festival, believes both the sand mandala and the film programme offer valuable opportunities for reflection in an increasingly fast-paced world.

He explains that the creation and destruction of the mandala demonstrates how meaning can be found in the process itself rather than in permanence, encouraging visitors to slow down and engage more deeply with the present moment.

As an added bonus, visitors attending the Oxo Gallery installation will receive an exclusive code granting free access to the full Buddhist Film Festival programme.

Whether you're interested in world cinema, cultural traditions, spirituality or simply witnessing a remarkable artistic achievement unfold before your eyes, this unique event promises a memorable and thought-provoking experience in the heart of London.

Snowdonia church becomes unlikely winner in global Reddit competition

A small church in Eryri (Snowdonia), Cymru, has gained widespread online attention after emerging as the final location remaining in a month-long online competition involving thousands of Reddit users.

St Mary's Church, Beddgelert, was the last place standing in a challenge hosted by the Reddit community https://www.reddit.com/r/terriblemaps/, which invited users to repeatedly vote out half of a map until only a single location remained.

The competition began with the entire world divided into two halves. Users voted on which half should be eliminated before the remaining area was divided again and the process repeated. 

Over 29 rounds, continents, countries, regions and towns were gradually removed until the contest narrowed to a small area around Beddgelert.

In the final round, St Mary's Church emerged as the last surviving location.

The result reflects a well-known aspect of Reddit culture, where online communities often embrace unlikely underdogs and develop running jokes around them. As larger regions were eliminated and the map narrowed towards Beddgelert, users increasingly rallied behind St Mary's Church. 

News of the contest also spread beyond Reddit, with local residents joining the online discussion and helping build support for the village during the final rounds.

Reddit users praised both the village and the church. One described Beddgelert as "a gorgeous place", while another wrote: "Beautiful Church. No wonder it won." As the contest drew to a close, supporters rallied around the church and encouraged people to visit.

Local vicar Revd Kim Williams says, "We were quite surprised to learn St Mary's Church had become the focus of an online competition but it’s nice to see so many people speaking positively about Beddgelert and Eryri.

“I might be biased saying this but it definitely deserved to win! St Mary's has served the local community for generations. We are always pleased to welcome visitors who come to enjoy the village, the landscape and the church."

Beddgelert is a popular tourist spot for exploring Eryri, with the Welsh Highland Railway, walks through the Aberglaslyn Gorge, the start of the Watkin Path up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), and the nearby Sygun Copper Mine.

St Mary’s Church stands close to one of Beddgelert’s most famous landmarks, Gelert’s Grave. The grave is linked to the legend of Prince Llywelyn and his faithful hound Gelert. According to the story, Llywelyn returned from hunting to find his baby son missing and Gelert covered in blood. Believing the dog had killed the child, he killed Gelert, before discovering the baby unharmed beside the body of a wolf Gelert had slain. Visitors can reach the grave by a short riverside walk from the church.

https://bangor.eglwysyngnghymru.org.uk

All I see is the present

CCA Derry~Londonderry is pleased to announce its summer exhibition by artist Christopher Steenson will launch over the solstice weekend on Friday 19 June 2026, 7–9pm.

For Christopher Steenson’s solo exhibition All I see is the present, the artist combines sound photography, installation and archival material to explore the ways in which moments from prehistory can be used as a gateway to the present. 

The exhibition is the first manifestation of the artist’s long-term engagement with research exploring the prehistoric past of the island of Ireland.

With a practice that spans sound, lens-based media, text and digital systems, Christopher Steenson’s (b.1992, North of Ireland) work bridges historical and speculative narratives to interrogate the politics of time, environment and more-than-human-relations. 

In approaching these concerns, he seeks to make work through which we can ‘listen across tenses’. Recent solo exhibitions include: They haven’t gone away you know, mother’s tankstation, Dublin (2025); Breath Variations, Flat Time House, London (2023); and Soft Rains Will Come, VISUAL, Carlow (2022).

An In Conversation between Artist Christopher Steenson and Historian Dr Brian Lacey moderated by CCA Director Catherine Hemelryk will take place on Saturday 20 June 2026 from 2pm as part of Heritage Month across Derry City & Strabane District.

The exhibition runs until Saturday September 12 2026.

https://cca-derry-londonderry.org

Anglesey's New Pilgrimage Festival Brings History, Heritage and Adventure Together

Walk in the Footsteps of Saints at Anglesey's New Pilgrimage Festival.

Discover Anglesey's new Gŵyl Cybi a Seiriol pilgrimage festival, featuring historic churches, guided walks, music, ancient landmarks and stunning coastal scenery.

If you've ever watched a programme like Pilgrimage and thought, "I'd love to try that," then a brand-new festival taking place on Anglesey this summer could be right up your street.

From 3–5 July, Gŵyl Cybi a Seiriol will invite visitors to discover one of Wales' most fascinating pilgrimage routes, combining history, heritage, stunning scenery and a healthy dose of adventure.

The route stretches an impressive 57 miles across the island, linking churches, ancient monuments and some of Anglesey's most breathtaking coastal landscapes. Inspired by the story of sixth-century saints Cybi and Seiriol, it offers a chance to explore the island in a completely different way.

Even if you're not planning to tackle all 57 miles, the festival programme is packed with events designed to bring the route's rich history to life.

Along the way, pilgrims and visitors can discover remarkable landmarks including St Cybi's Church inside the Roman fort at Holyhead, the dramatic coastline around Rhoscolyn, the beautiful St Gwenfaen's Well, Wales' last working windmill at Melin Llynon, and the ancient Lligwy Burial Chamber, which dates back around 5,000 years.

Other highlights include the Royal Charter shipwreck memorial near Moelfre, the Iron Age hillfort of Bwrdd Arthur, St Seiriol's Holy Well and the historic Penmon Priory.

The festival itself will feature guided walks, talks exploring local history and sacred landscapes, a cello recital at Penmon, a special performance inspired by the Royal Charter shipwreck, a pilgrimage service and blessing, and a traditional Cymanfa Ganu at Holyhead.

The route is rooted in the legend of Saints Cybi and Seiriol, who established religious communities at opposite ends of Anglesey. According to tradition, they regularly met in the centre of the island to pray together. Their journeys even inspired local folklore, with Seiriol becoming known as "Seiriol Wyn" and Cybi as "Cybi Felyn" because of the way the sun shone on their faces during their respective walks.

One particularly charming feature of the route is the pilgrim passport. Visitors can collect stamps from 11 churches along the way, with the stamp designs created by local schoolchildren to reflect the history and character of each location.

Best of all, the festival events are free to attend, although advance booking is required for most activities. Whether you're interested in history, faith, walking, music or simply exploring somewhere new, this unique festival offers a wonderful way to experience the stories and landscapes of Anglesey.

Organised by the Diocese of Bangor, the festival aims to introduce more people to Anglesey's churches, landscape and Christian heritage. Archdeacon of Anglesey John Harvey said: "We're seeing growing interest in pilgrimage across Wales because of programmes like BBC Pilgrimage. People enjoy the chance to walk, discover new places and learn about some of Anglesey's historic churches."

https://bangor.eglwysyngnghymru.org.uk

Drama Club Remembers Much‑Loved President

Iver Heath Drama Club will dedicate its upcoming summer production to long‑standing member John Williams, who passed away in December 2025 at the age of 67 following his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

John, from Slough, was a committed member of the non‑profit community drama group for around 30 years, appearing in a wide range of plays and pantomimes. He also served as the club’s President for several years until his death.

“John was our club president for several years, so it feels perfectly fitting that we dedicate our summer show to him, in his memory,” said Carol Campling, Treasurer of Iver Heath Drama Club.

The club will perform Return to Hotel Doom, a standalone comedy sequel, on Saturday 13th June.

“John appeared as Major Horseradish in the original Hotel Doom play a decade ago. His kindness offstage and his impeccable comedy timing are fond memories we all treasure,” said Lee Hall, the play’s author and director.

The community is invited to purchase tickets for the two‑act show at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ihdc. During the performance, the club will also be encouraging donations to the Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead branch of Parkinson’s UK via the show’s programme and interval screen. The charity supports people living with Parkinson’s and funds vital research into new treatments.

John’s widow, Mrs Joanna Williams, met her husband at the drama club around 25 years ago when she appeared in the club's shows. Earlier this year, she was invited to take on the role of Club President in his honour.

https://www.ihdc.co.uk/

Art Alert! FRIENDLY BRUTES by Andy Siege

Filmmaker and Author Andy Siege Launches FRIENDLY BRUTES, A Color-Drenched Art Collection to Lighten the Image of Mental Illness

New oil-pastel series uses loud colour and open faces to challenge stigma and invite joy into mental health conversations

Andy Siege, the German-Kenyan director of the award-nominated debut Beti and Amare and author of eleven novels, releases his first fine art collection, FRIENDLY BRUTES now live on Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/andy-siege

The collection is not about darkness. It is about lightening the visual language we use for mental illness.

Made in oil pastel in 2026, FRIENDLY BRUTES works in a tight, joyful palette of yellow, green, red, pink and blue, outlined in thick, confident black. Faces pile on top of faces. Mouths are open in a yell, a laugh, a yawn. Eyes are squeezed shut not in pain, but in rest. Forms tip into each other like people on a crowded train.

Siege, who publicly identifies as POC, neurologically diverse, and queer, says the series grew directly from his own experience navigating clinical spaces where mental difference is rendered in grayscale.

"I was tired of the poster in the waiting room. Always a head in hands, always blue and gray," Siege says. "My brain is noisy and colourful. Sometimes it screams, sometimes it giggles, often both at once. I wanted pictures that look like that, so someone seeing them might feel less alone, and less pathologised."

FRIENDLY BRUTES deliberately borrows from Art Brut, the tradition of raw, immediate mark-making outside academic art, but reframes it. Instead of using "brut" to mean broken, Siege uses it to mean honest, and pairs it with "friendly" to remove fear.

The approach mirrors themes in his wider practice. Born Andreas Madjid Siege in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985, he is a director and author known for making work on a human scale. His debut feature Beti and Amare (2014), which he directed, wrote, shot, edited and acted in on a €14,000 budget, was nominated for the Golden St. George at the 36th Moscow International Film Festival. 

His second film, Barefoot Rasta (2017), and his books, including the magical-realism novella Don't Let Me Drown, the tragicomic Mohamed In The Stars, and the climate-fiction novel Biopunk: Aristotle released in January 2026, all center characters living with war trauma, grief, neurodivergence and identity pressure without turning them into cautionary tales.

With FRIENDLY BRUTES, Siege brings that same narrative compassion to a single image.

Horden's Story Returns To The Stage As Pits, People And Players Comes Back By Popular Demand

A powerful community production, created from the voices, memories, and experiences of local people, is returning to Horden this month.

Pits, People and Players, produced by Ensemble '84, returns to The Playhouse 11-13th June following a successful run during Horden's 125th anniversary celebrations last year.

Created from conversations with Horden residents, the show brings together stories shared in community halls, over cups of tea and through generations of local families. It tells the story of a village shaped by coal mining, community spirit and determination.

Blending theatre, storytelling, music and movement, the production explores Horden's past, present and future. It celebrates the humour, friendship, pride and resilience that continue to define the community.

Written by Ensemble '84 and directed by internationally acclaimed theatre-maker Mark Dornford-May, the show features original songs by Tees Valley singer-songwriter Jodie Nicholson and performances from the company's County Durham-based cast.

Mark Dornford-May, Director of Ensemble '84, told That's Books and More: "This show is about the heart of Horden. Every scene, every memory and every moment has its roots in conversations with local people. We've taken the stories, scars and dreams shared with us and created something that is rooted in this community and speaks to something much bigger. 

"At a time when places like Horden are too often defined by what they've lost, this production celebrates the people, pride and resilience that continue to shape its future."

Julia Handelman-Smith, Into the Light Director, told us: "We’re proud Ensemble ‘84 is bringing this remarkable production to life, once again, as part of Into the Light. ‘Pits, People and Players’ is a shining example of how local arts can reflect national conversations, about community, resilience, and the stories we choose to carry forward. It’s a testament to the talent and vision in County Durham, and a powerful reminder of the role the arts play in regeneration, connection, and belonging."

The return of Pits, People and Players follows a triumphant run of The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet at Ensemble '84's new home, The Playhouse.

The production received a string of four and five-star reviews and attracted audiences from across the region. Many people experienced Shakespeare for the first time after national attention focused on Horden when acclaimed actor Sir Ian McKellen officially opened The Playhouse last month.

Sir Ian's visit generated widespread media coverage for Horden and East Durham. During the opening, he declared that he wished he lived in Horden, helping to shine a spotlight on the area's growing cultural ambition.

Now, Ensemble '84 is once again turning its attention to the people and stories of East Durham, bringing Horden's story back to the stage where it belongs.

Pits, People and Players will be performed at The Playhouse, Horden, between 11-13th June. Tickets are available from ensemble84.com/pits-people-players

Listings Information:-

Pits, People and Players

Date: Thursday 11 June 2026 - 13th June 2026

The Playhouse, South Terrace,Horden, Peterlee, SR8 4NQ

Tickets: £16 for all other performances, with optional £10 concessions ‘no questions asked’ and £20 ‘show of additional support’.

Running Time: approx 90 minutes

Age restriction advised: 12+

Box office: ensemble84.com/pits-people-players/ 0191 300 4340

Website: ensemble84.com

Facebook: facebook.com/ensemble84theatre

Instagram: instagram.com/ensemble84

YouTube: youtube.com/ensemble84