Bluecoat, Liverpool’s centre for the contemporary arts, is seeking expressions of interest from artists, performers, comedians, dancers, makers, musicians, workshop leaders and everyone in between to run short, public workshops or performances for children this summer.
The arts centre is handing over the selection process to children from their Out of the Blue after school clubs for 5-11 year olds. Out of the Blue will be looking for fun, high quality entertainment that captures their attention and imagination.
The events will take place on and around Bluecoat Platform, a large outdoor sculpture by artists Simon & Tom Bloor that has been made in collaboration with children from Out of the Blue.
This new temporary public art work is inspired by the shapes and structures that the children made in a workshop with the artists. Resembling a scaled-up model of their designs, this playful sculpture creates a physical platform to bring some of Bluecoat’s artistic activities out of the building for audiences to enjoy this summer.
Bluecoat Platform will be situated in Bluecoat’s front courtyard from mid-May onwards and is part of the UK wide Here and Now programme, a celebration of culture within communities as part of the 40th anniversary of the National Lottery.
Betty Ritchie, Bluecoat’s Participation Manager, said “We’re delighted to be able to run this call-out and invite proposals from such a range of creatives. Our Out of the Blue groups have been directly involved in the design of Bluecoat Platform so it seems fitting that they should also select the programme for the structure.
We can’t wait to see what they choose and look forward to bringing a range of varied and exciting family events to the city centre later this year.”
Bluecoat is looking for performers from a range of experience levels and perspectives for the programme, and are also interested to hear from those people looking to expand their practice who may not have worked in this area before.
Sessions need to be accessible for children aged between 5 and 11. Performances and activities can vary in length but ideally will last between 20 – 40 minutes. All sessions will take place outside, on and around the Bluecoat Platform, and must be Covid safe.
This is a paid opportunity, and a fee will be payable for all applicants who progress to the audition stage.
For full details on what is required and how to apply, visit Bluecoat’s website before the deadline of 12pm on Monday 3 May: http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/