Among the latest crop of creative projects to be presented at last Friday morning’s packed monthly CIG meeting (see below for info on the next one) was BRAIN2PIA, an ambitious new collaborative art venture that lands at The Loop this Sat 22nd Feb.

Described by founders Will and Jack as a “brain gym”, the concept recently erupted from the collective craniums of Nostalgia Nights, their Hackney-based community organisation which is “dedicated to the reduction of waste and the betterment of everyone’s creative health.”

From lunchtime through until 9pm, all-comers are invited to roll up for free and join in an interactive artistic experience, alongside friends and family of all ages. You may end up drawing something, printing a custom t-shirt, creating a collage, painting the walls or even painting yourself. You can make music, a shining light sculpture, or even make a tasty toastie.

Their extended collective will host different areas of The Loop’s large warehouse space, including The Lazy Susans running a chilled and chatty collage corner, light sculpture supremo Will Budgett helping project your imagination on the walls, and space to make music with Freddie Redding, the keeper of the keys from the band Syzygie. Rowanpls will be drawing images out of your brain onto paper and Johnny Bedini will make your wildest, weirdest ideas into a graphic reality at the U SHIRT clothes printing station.

Having run successful events at the Hackney Gallery last summer, as well as tirelessly printing upcycled t-shirts at The Loop’s Open House event in September, this is the evolution of an idea that promises to get everyone’s creative juices flowing, no matter their age or artistic ability. Get involved.

🎨 The new show opening at Two More Years tonight, Wed 19th Feb, comes from Ellen Forbes, a painter working out of Bethnal Green’s Green Alley Studios. Living Room, explores the experience of sharing a home via humorous and playful - yet simultaneously voyeuristic and invasive - portraits of her flatmate, a performer and cabaret artist, off stage and behind closed doors.

👌🏼 Pangaea Sculpture Centre have exciting plans to move into a purpose-built four-storey high facility in the forthcoming Wickside development, and they’re hosting a special Visioning and Information event on Sat 1st Mar at Fabwick where you can find out more and have your say. They’re keen for all local artists, technicians, fabricators, educators, and other creatives to come along and help shape the vision of what this new space can be.

😱 Taking place at a secret location on Fish Island, Deathcell Magenta is an immersive horror escape experience combining short film and live-action theatre for 60 minute shows that the organisers claim are ‘not for the faint hearted’. It runs from this Fri 21st Feb until 1st Mar.

🥽 Another local immersive art experience comes courtesy of Nigerian artist Kingsley Obasi and digital practitioner Zeb Fry as they present Bouyancy Of The Spirit, at Smeed Rd’s Not For Sale Gallery. The free private view is Wed 26th Feb.

🐻 St Mary of Eton church host another lively morning of Bubble Church this Sun 23rd Feb. It’s the Christian puppet show for babies, toddlers and young families (ages 0-8 years old).

🍹 It’s National Margarita Day tomorrow, Thurs 20th Feb, and if you think you can make the drink better than the team behind the bar at the Lord Napier Star, there’s a £50 bar tab and a bottle of their favourite Tequila Brand, Ocho, to be won. Tickets are free, but if you want to try and ‘beat the bartender’ then just £12 gets you two margaritas, one made by you, the other by the pub staff - godspeed to you and your mixology skills…

🏳️‍🌈 There’s a massive line-up of comedy, spoken word, soulful pop and grimy hip hop promised at the monthly local queer talent showcase Queer Edge Live, back at Nico’s Cocktail Bar at Hackney Bridge on Thurs 20th Feb.

🍼 A new monthly Sunday all-dayer at All My Friends is a multigenerational exploration of dance for friends, families, young and old - House of Dad. This Sun 23rd Feb kicks it off as the antidote to the ‘baby raves’, instead creating a space for the elders to educate the youngsters about dope tunes with a background of crate digging in the shop and top food and drinks when you need a break from the dancefloor.

🧢 This Monday’s, (24th Feb) edition of Colour Factory’s weekly Orii Jam is a Dillaverse special, where all the jamming is strictly on J-Dilla beats, in honour of the much-missed hip-hop legend.

👘 Local circular economy innovators Fibrelab are running a Textile Recycling Consultations and workshop this Fri 21st Feb aimed at fashion students, independent designers and community members. It will provide interactive hands-on experience of the textile recycling processes and guidance on improving your own practices.

💰 Businesses and residents of Tower Hamlets are invited to the free Finance Solutions and Business Support for SMEs at the Town Hall in Whitechapel on Thurs 27th Feb. There’s a particular focus on Islamic finance, but the event will be useful for all looking for expert advice on how to raise funds to support business growth, and lunch is included too.

Scale Up East is Newham Chamber of Commerce’s fully-funded business growth and support programme that offers new and growing East London businesses one-to-one coaching, mentoring and group learning, plus access to finance and an alumni network.

🎶 If you’re aged 18-35, of black heritage and interested in producing big events, then the return of the Festival & Carnival Lab 2025 is for you. A weekly series of free training sessions based in the Olympic Park, you’ll learn from the biggest names in the business, from the likes of Notting Hill Carnival to Glastonbury, Download and Wilderness festivals. Only 10 places, so apply before 6th March.

👗 Caramel Rock is offering a 12-week Level 1 BTEC in Fashion for individuals aged 19+. The course is free and the start date is ongoing. To learn more or enroll, check out their website.

🥻 Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Development Trust is looking for an individual or organisation to become their new circular fashion hub and young makers programme partner. You’ll get a rent-free, high quality studio space for one year, and be expected to deliver the workshops and mentoring for the third year of the Sustainable Young Makers Programme in 2025.

🖼️ Chats Palace Arts Centre in Homerton is looking to appoint a new Director to build upon nearly 50 years of history and to develop their landmark building as both a venue and community hub, making and hosting high-quality arts. Apply by 3rd Mar.

The Trampery is looking for a full time Facilities Manager to be based at their Fish Island hub, but working across neighbouring sites at Poplar Works and the Gantry too. Deadline 28th Feb.

🕺🏻 Studio Wayne McGregor is looking for an archivist to manage and oversee their collection of over 30 years of materials and support the company’s first major exhibition to be held at Somerset House. Closing date 26th Feb.

👩🏻‍🎓 If your organisation is looking for part-time staff, casual team members or volunteers, all 5 universities at Here East are collaborating for the first time on a student jobs fair, being held on Mon 24th Feb at Plexal. It’s free for employers to join and includes lunch - register your interest here.

⚖️ If you are an artist, writer, musician, actor, sculptor, web-designer or any other type of creative practitioner and have an issue relating to your work but can’t afford access to legal support, the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre offers free advice on areas including intellectual property, trademark and copyright. Fill in the form and they’ll get back to you. Deadline Fri 21st Mar.

💷 The London Open Fund is a Loughborough University London scheme offering grants of £1,000 to support community groups and organisations based in the four growth boroughs around the Olympic Park. Applications are welcome for projects that link to the themes of health and wellbeing, sustainability and inclusivity. Deadline 3rd March.

🚢 Anyone who’d like to put on a cultural event to celebrate the Windrush Generation should contact Hackney Council, who have small grants of up to £2k now available to help make it a reality. Your event will need to be delivered in June 2025 and can also be part of a bigger project. Deadline for applications is 17th March.

💹 The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs is offering up to £20k and a mentorship programme to enable talented entrepreneurs to make positive social impact through their creative ventures.

💍 If you are set on becoming one of the next generation of creative designers and makers, the Rabih Hage Bursary includes £5k of financial support, brainstorming workshops and networking meetings, plus marketing and promotion of your work. Apply by 28th Feb.