Children from Holy Cross School have been invited to the Bluecoat this week as part of the selection process for the arts centre’s programme of free events for families over the summer.
A range of performers are currently being auditioned and selected by local children to create a programme staged on a new sculpture Bluecoat Platform, by Simon and Tom Bloor with children from Out of the Blue. The summer programme, running from 21 July for four weeks, will consist of storytelling, music, comedy for kids, designed to engage children of all ages.
Bluecoat Platform is a new outdoor family friendly sculpture, and is part of the UK wide Here and Now programme, celebrating the legacy of arts centres and the 40th anniversary of the National Lottery.
It is inspired by the shapes and structures that the children from Out of the Blue, the Bluecoat’s after school art club, 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 the Bluecoat’s artistic activities out of the building for audiences to enjoy this summer.
Betty Ritchie, Participation Manager (Children and Families) said:
‘In the same way that we worked with children to make the Platform, we wanted them to help us decide who to put on it. We organised a call out for performers to send us a short expression of interest that we showed the kids. The children said which ones they wanted to take through to the next stage and now the artists have been paid a fee to submit a longer audition video, demonstrating the kind of activity they might deliver on Platform.
The children have had great fun following along with these in the classroom and today is a chance for them to see a live performance on Platform. The children have been very honest with us about what they think is cool; they have very discerning tastes!’
Tom & Simon Bloor said:
‘What was great about working with the Out of the Blue kids is that they wanted to take control of their environment. People, not just kids, should feel like they are able to take control of their public space’.
The full Bluecoat Platform programme will be launched in July.
Platform is a Here and Now Project led by Future Arts Centres. Supported by Arts Council England, marking the National Lottery’s 25th birthday, with additional support from Liverpool City Council Mayoral Inclusive Growth Fund, DCMS and Stowe Family Law.
The Bluecoat’s family campaign is supported by DCMS, Garfield Weston Foundation, Granada Foundation and the Johnson Foundation.
The Bluecoat is funded by Liverpool City Council and Arts Council England and supported by Culture Liverpool.
See their website here.