A leading Muslim critic of Islam and a former winner of the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year are among the headline acts scheduled to appear at JW3 in 2016.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born human rights activist who campaigns against Islamic fundamentalism, will speak at the north-west London community centre in February, while violinist Nicola Benedetti, who won the BBC classical music competition in 2004, will be performing later in the year.

Other highlights listed in the centre’s spring season just announced include a day-long Festival of the Mind in January, where participants will “explore the world of psychology through playful and thought-provoking events” and stand-up comedy to mark International Women’s Day.

For the first time, JW3 will also be acting as a venue for Jewish Book Week in February, with journalist Hadley Freedman set to appear.

Another notable event will be a tribute in April to Professor Robert Wistrich, the leading academic on antisemitism, who died in May after suffering a heart attack.