Leaves Fall In Bright Sound

Leaves Fall In Bright Sound is a community craft and music programme that transformed The Exchange into a candlelit autumnal haven, through collective workshops and a series of uplifting concerts held as the skies darken toward the end of the year.

The programme included community craft sessions such as candle and lantern-making, decoration-making using natural and found materials, an illuminated garden trail plus concerts and performances from the TheatreBox Choir, Bird College, Bexley Music, Vinyl DJ Nick Davey, Kirk and his steel pans, and the Carnegie Ensemble, who returned to perform another incredible baroque Christmas concert.

Events held at The Exchange in November 2025

Lantern Making

A free workshop brought a touch of enchantment to The Exchange by crafting vibrant lanterns that will illuminate the community space and become part of an illuminated Garden Trail in December.

Paper crafting

Exchange Maker Usha Vella led festive decorations for The Exchange this year and helped visitors get involved while learning beautiful paper-craft techniques.

Candle Holder Making

Ceramicist Merissa Hylton held a workshop, split over two half-days, where visitors made a candle holder for use in The Exchange's festive illuminations.

Bexley Music Performed at The Exchange on Friday 28 November

Bexley's musicians of the future performed at this very special concert at The Exchange. The concert featured a mixed repertoire of music, including film music (Pirates of the Caribbean, Cinema Paradiso), musicals (Les Misérables), pop music (Africa, Uptown Funk) and classical works. The Little Big Band will perform a variety of jazz standards.

Events held at The Exchange in December 2025

Super Festive Saturday - 6 December

Visit The Exchange for a festive-filled day! Apart from family-friendly crafts, festive games and puzzles, there will also be live steel pan festive music, a Garden Lantern Trail and some laid back tunes from DJ Nick Davey!

The Carnegie Ensemble Annual Baroque - Sunday 7 December

The Carnegie Ensemble returned to The Exchange for their annual candlelit Baroque concert, with a return of the incredible Mezzo Soprano, Louisa Stuart-Smith.

Birdsong from Bird College - Saturday 13 December

Birdsong will be performing a dazzling showcases of musical theatre that celebrate the creativity, passion and discipline of artists throughout time and place, underneath the decorations and illuminations at The Exchange.

Festive Plant Pot Painting Workshop - Saturday 20 December

Visitors learnt how to decorate their own terracotta plant pots and created unique designs! This workshop covered the basics and also introduced a variety of techniques. Paint and materials were provided, and visitors were encouraged to bring their own terracotta pot or pots to decorate on the day.

About The Exchange

The Exchange is a community-owned arts & crafts organisation that uses the heritage of Erith’s Old Library as a space designed and built by local people for the benefit of local people to inspire new programmes and activities.

This includes projects and activities that invite community participation, including our craft production workshops and a community-driven events programme. We are also a great place to visit.

There is no entry cost and we have a beautiful garden, designed by award-winning garden designer Sarah Price, a “Town Square” where we host regular exhibitions, events and activities, and a shop and coffee bar - The Garden Room - that sells a gorgeous range of unique and handmade crafts as well as houseplants, homewares, books, gifts, drinks, snacks and sweet treats.

You can become a patron from just £30 to give the garden and the community the future it deserves. Learn more about our ‘A Common Paradise’ appeal.