The Glider

The winning images from the Royal Air Force's Photograph of the Year Competition will be on view to members of the public from 10 January 2009 at the Royal Air Force Museum's Milestones of Flight Gallery.

Consisting of 12 categories ranging from "The RAF Experience" to "Technical & Engineering", this exhibition gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of RAF personnel at work, rest and play both at home and in the field.

The Royal Air Force trains and employs a large number of photographers who deal with day to day technical and operational photography. Their bread and butter is the recording of aircraft and equipment damage, technical manuals, military incidents and accidents, media work and ground intelligence gathering, as well as administrative work such as photos for ID cards.

But as photographers, they also get unique access to their service colleagues and equipment and they bring their creative eye to this environment.

With varying categories for professional and amateur photographers, this annual competition gives Service personnel the opportunity to showcase their talents by encapsulating in a single image the strength, character, dignity and humour of the Royal Air Force.

The reward for the successful photographer is the recognition of their talent with the successful photograph selected from all 12 categories as "PR Photograph of the Year" being used in official communications by the Chief of Air Staff, the highest ranking officer of the Royal Air Force.

The exhibition will be open daily from 10am to 6pm until April 19 2008. 

Visit the RAF Museum website

How to get there:

By tube: Colindale Underground on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line.

By bus: route 303 passes the front of the museum

Obsessed About, the free exhibition in The Foundry Gallery, is only on from Thursday 26th November to Saturday 29th November, so you'd better get down there soon. Dialogue from various sources has been cut up and recontextualised into 'music films' with modern electronic music, with video projections and an improvised dance performance on two of the three nights. Musician Alex Taylor's blog says: It started from a desire to hear particular words and phrases, repeated until they created a texture like a fabric... You will experience soundscapes, music films, and word textures built from various audio sources and original compositions. The installation is open is open 6pm-11pm, from Thursday - Saturday with a performance by Laura Brera on Thursday and Saturday at 9pm. Find out more about the artist Giulia Bacci and The Foundry (Just keep on scrolling), or for more information call 07748 368 112 or email. How to get there The closest underground station is located at Old Street. If travelling by bus the 21, 43, 55, 76, 141, 205, 214, 243, 271 and 394 all serve Old Street.

Join and learn during Family Day in Chisenhale Gallery on Sunday afternoon, 7th December 2008. Your family is warmly invited to join artist educators Jenny Hendra, Alice Finbow and Sarah Michaels, from the Institute of Education's Artist Teacher Programme, for a family afternoon of art workshops inspired by Simon Martin's exhibition. Come ready to investigate and reinterpret objects! With drawing, storyboarding and bite sized performance, families will think creatively about familiar objects, work together to bring life to everyday items and have a family friendly introduction to the exhibition. See you there! Family Day is in the gallery on Sunday December 7th, from 2pm-5pm. Find out more about Chisenhale Gallery (this website is in development, so scroll down for information and click under Simon Martin about Family Day), email or call 020 8981 4518. How to get there: Trains - The closest train station is Cambridge Heath (London) Rail, then London Fields and Bethnal Green. Underground - The closest tube stations are Mile End and Bow Road, then Bethnal Green. Buses - 277 (to Victoria Park); 339, 8 and D6 (get off at Grove Road junction with Roman Road); 338 (get off at Grove Road junction with Victoria Park Road); 25 (get off at Mile End station). Plan your visit to London with Transport for London's Journey Planner, whether you are walking, cycling or using the public transport system.

Enjoy some free Friday Evening Music in various rooms of the National Portrait Gallery, practically every Friday starting at 6.30pm.

Imagine being surrounded by art you probably can't afford to buy, but free to enjoy the sight of whilst listening to a musical performance.

Practically every Friday evening the National Portrait Gallery, open predominantly free to the public, offers an eclectic variety of music to the public for free. Booking is not necessary, if there's room to stand or sit then you can go in and enjoy it!

Every Thursday and Friday the gallery is open until 9pm, so take a look around while your there.

Programme, Friday Evening Music: 28 November '08 - 27 February '09 (Except 19 & 26 December & 2nd January)

Friday 28 November, 6:30pm
Bridget Beraha Trio: An imaginative vocal-led modern jazz ensemble that sidesteps obvious standards to tackle lyrical material: music by Brigitte Beraha, Ivo Neame and Joe Auckland from the new album, Flying Dreams.

Friday 5 December, 6.30pm
Juice Vocal Ensemble: Vibrant a cappella music drawing from world, jazz, folk and pop genres.

Friday 12 December, 6.30pm
Concordia Foundation - Musical Portraits: Concordia International Ensemble performs a musical tribute to Gallery sitters Adelina Patti, Jenny Lind, Charles Dickens, George Bernard Shaw, Gilbert & Sullivan, Edward Elgar and John Field.

NOTE: There are no Friday music performances on 19th and 26th December 2008 and 2nd January 2009.

Friday 9 January, 6.30pm
Horses Brawl & Philip Thorby: Music from the court of the Holy Roman Emperor - Maximilian I and new pieces based on traditional English and Bulgarian folk music. Supported by the Arts Council of England's Escalator Scheme.

Friday 16 January, 6.30pm
Cellorhythmics: The WCM Orchestra (Working Classical Music Orchestra): cutting edge musicians brought together by Cellorhythmics' founder members James Hesford and Alfia Nakipbekova, featuring a new composition based on found objects.

Friday 23 January, 6.30pm
Jonathan Bratoeff Trio: F-ire collective guitarist and composer Jonathan Bratoeff presents his new quartet featuring Mark Hanslip, Tom Mason and James Maddren, playing contemporary material influenced by the New York downtown scene, Jason Moran and groove music but firmly rooted in the jazz tradition.

Friday 30 January, 6.30pm
Trinity College of Music: Trinity student Stjepan Hauser plays music for unaccompanied cello by Bach, Britten and Dutilleux.

Friday 6 February, 6.30pm
Farmyard Animals Trio: One of the UK's most intrepid alternative world jazz groups. Brendan Kelly (sax & bass clarinet), Gideon Juckes (tuba) & Pete Flood (drums).

Friday 13 February, 6.30pm
Ailsa Hunter & Stephen Bettaney: French music for violin and piano by Debussy, Ravel and Messaien.

Friday 20 February, 6.30pm
Renzo Murrone Trio: Vocal-led modern jazz, latin standards and originals. Renzo Murrone (vocals), Alex Stanford (piano) and Viktor Obsust (bass).

Friday 27 February, 6.30pm
Keziah Thomas: Award-winning harpist Keziah Thomas introduces the harp and its repertoire with music from around the world by Bach, Piazzolla, Buhr and Ortiz.

Find out more about Friday Evening Music and register for a rare and precious e-newsletter.

How to get there

The closest tube and train station to Trafalgar Square is Charring Cross.

Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Embankment and Covent Garden underground tube stations are also within walking distance.

If on the bus the 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176 and the 453 all serve Trafalgar Square.