Community Post Type: Callouts

Ensemble Applications Open – Milap, closes 7 Mar ’25

Milap have just opened up applications to join one of their ensembles.

*Samyo – the National Youth Orchestra for Indian Music
*Tarang – the Indian Music Ensemble
*Sabrang – the Indian Music Choir

If you’re a musician aged 10 through to professional level who plays an Indian classical instrument, or who can play Hindustani or Carnatic music, then we’d love to hear from you!

Applications are now open for a one year membership to our ensembles from March 2025 – March 2026.

Deadline for applications is 7 March 2025, with online auditions taking place from March 8 – 16 2025.

Visit www.milap.co.uk/develop for more info and to apply today!

The Alliance For Socially Engaged Arts Fellowship, closes 24 Feb ’25

The Alliance For The Socially Engaged Fellowship

 

Leaders of socially engaged arts organisations: ready to accelerate your impact?

The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts Fellowship is a transformative programme designed to connect and support visionary leaders of arts organisations driven by community engagement and social change across Europe. This unique opportunity provides a collaborative space to strengthen your organisation, enhance your professional development, and drive impactful advocacy efforts.

The programme will welcome up to 15 leaders working across diverse artistic disciplines and societal issues, who will work together to overcome challenges, share experiences and create innovative solutions that create greater impact within their local communities and the wider arts sector in Europe.

Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open. Don’t miss your chance to join this journey of learning, impact and leadership. Find out more below.

Why Now?

Across Europe, socially engaged arts organisations are tackling some of the most pressing societal issues—from inequality and migration to climate change. Socially engaged arts organisations, artists and cultural practitioners harness the power of arts to connect communities, spark dialogue and drive social change. Yet they remain undervalued, with insufficient representation in policy, funding, and public recognition.

This is a moment for socially engaged arts to take a more central role in cultural and social transformation, and the Fellowship seeks to champion that vision by helping leaders of socially engaged organisations scale their impact, both individually and collectively.

What Do We Offer?

Starting in June 2025 and ending in November 2026, this programme will support personal growth, organisational development, and collaborative learning. The Fellowship will support each Fellow to overcome a key challenge or explore a new opportunity within their organisation or community through the development of a ‘leading question’. It will take Fellows on an interconnected journey, to amplify the impact of socially engaged arts.

Here’s what’s included:

  • Immersive Residentials
    Two in-person, hands-on sessions:

    • October 2025, Turin, Italy: Deep dive into socially engaged arts, value creation, and advocacy.
    • June 2026: Reflect and co-create strategies with your peers.
  • Online Workshops
    12 interactive workshops focused on skill-building, peer learning, and community connections.
  • Learning by Doing
    Tackle real-world, concrete challenges by leading on developing advocacy work, projects and organisational initiatives as part of the programme.
  • Action Learning Sets
    Bi-monthly peer support sessions to refine your strategies.
  • Mentoring and Support
    One-to-one guidance, plus opportunities for external mentors and peer connections.
  • Study Visits and Exchanges
    Up to €5,000 in travel grants to connect with peers and learn from best practices.
  • Fellowship Grants
    €60,000 per organisation to support participation, development, and pilot actions.
  • Online Community
    A digital platform for sharing resources, collaborating, and staying connected throughout the programme.

Financial Support

The Fellowship offers comprehensive funding to ensure Fellows can participate without financial barriers. Here’s what’s covered:

  • €30,000 Grant for Organisational Development
    Supports scaling your organisation’s capacity and covering core costs to enable your full participation and impact.
  • €30,000 Grant to Tackle Your Leading Question
    Helps develop pilot actions or projects to address the core organisational or community challenge you identify, with support from the programme team to implement concrete plans.
  • €5,000 Mobility Grant
    Covers travel for study visits or peer exchanges during the Fellowship, fostering learning and connections within the Fellowship.
  • Residential Costs
    All expenses for the two residential programmes, including travel, accommodation, meals, and materials, are covered.
  • Access Budget
    Provides support for specific access needs or caring responsibilities to ensure full participation for residentials.

Your Investment

The Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity to make a real impact, but it requires a solid commitment. Over 18 months, Fellows will dedicate around 20 hours per month, including self-directed work to support their organisation’s growth and participation in 3-5 hours of online sessions and workshops. Fellows will also attend two full-time in-person residentials, totalling 9 days.

The programme is designed to be flexible, so you can structure your participation to fit both your organisation’s rhythm and your personal schedule, but Fellows will be expected to commit to the key dates and time commitment. Get ready to immerse yourself in a journey of growth and transformation!

  • Early June: Successful Fellows contacted and agreements signed.
  • 16 June 2025: Fellowship launch
  • 24 and 26 June 2025: Two Online Orientation Workshops (2 hours each)
  • July and September 2025: Two Online Framing and Co-Design Workshops (3 hours each)
  • September 2025 – November 2026: 8 Regular One-to-One Support Sessions (1 hour each)
  • 20-24 October 2025: First Residential (5 days, Turin)
  • November 2025 – November 2026: Self-Led Work and Organisational Development (2 days per month)
  • Winter/Spring 2026: Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts Public Event
  • November 2025 – May 2026: 8 Online Training Workshops (2.5 hours each)
  • November 2025 – September 2026: 8 Action Learning Set Sessions (1.5 hours each)
  • 15-18 June 2026: Second Residential (4 days, full-time)
  • September – November 2026: Co-design Workshops and Final Programme Outputs (6 hours)
  • November 2026: Final Online Session (3 hours)

Who Can Apply?

This Fellowship is for leaders of socially engaged arts organisations whose mission is rooted in community engagement and social change. If your organisation is committed to making and deepening real impact through art, this programme provides the resources, network, and support to help you achieve your vision.

We are looking for applicants who are:

  • Visionary and ambitious: You are a driven leader with a clear vision, dedicated to personal growth and to strengthening your organisation’s capacity to achieve lasting impact.
  • Aligned with the Fellowship’s Mission: You see this programme as a chance for personal growth while advancing the wider impact of socially engaged arts across Europe.
  • Advocates for Social Change: You believe in the power of the arts to address social challenges and are committed to meaningful change within and beyond your local context.
  • Collaborative and Open-Minded: You thrive in working with others, welcome new ideas, and approach challenges with curiosity.
  • Community-Driven: Your organisation is focused on creating social change by responding to community needs through art.
  • Organisationally Stable: Your organisation is ready for growth and has a sustainable model to fully benefit from the Fellowship.

The Fellowship is open to non-profit organisations with legal status in a Council of Europe state or Kosovo, operating in the cultural and arts sector, and meeting the following requirements:

  • Based and operating in one or more European countries.
  • Established for at least five years, including time before formal registration.
  • The majority of activities are focused on socially engaged arts.
  • The Fellow has at least 3 years of senior leadership experience in socially engaged arts, with a minimum of one year in their current role.
  • The Fellow is proficient in English to fully participate in all programme activities.

How To Apply

Deadline for expressions of interest is on Monday 24 February 9:00 CET.

Applicants are invited to submit a short expression of interest by 24 February, providing key details about their work and organisation to assess their suitability.

We held an online information webinar to answer questions about our Fellowship. Watch the full webinar and download the webinar FAQs here.

If longlisted, applicants will be invited to submit a full application from 21 March, with the deadline for submissions on 14 April.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews taking place between 13 and 22 May.

Final decisions will be made w/c 2 June.

Visit allianceforsociallyengagedarts.org/our-fellowship-programme/ to download the full application guidance and apply.

What’s Your Walton Story? 12 week creative writing course – Writing on the Wall, held 19 Feb -16 Apr ’25

What’s Your Walton Story? is a 12 week creative writing course in Spellow Community Hub & Library, every Wednesday morning.

With regular sessions led by professional writers, anyone can drop in and share their story of living or working in the Walton area and have the chance to see their work published in an anthology. Discover the benefits of sharing with others and the power of words.

Coming up they have sessions with Joseph Roberts, Claire Beerjeraz and PJ Roy.   

More information and dates here: What’s Your Walton Story? – Writing on the Wall

Commissioned by Culture Liverpool, Liverpool City Council.  With support from the Community Recovery Fund

Digital Music Creation Workshops – Queue Up and Dance / Scrapyard Studios CIC, starts 10 Mar ’25

Are you aged 16-24? Always wanted to produce your own electronic music? Got skills already that you want to develop?⁠

Starting on Monday 10th March, 6pm – 8pm they’re partnering with Scrapyard Studios for a 6 week series of music production skills workshops as part of their project: Queue Up And Dance.

Every Monday 10th March – 14th April, 6pm, Scrapyard Studios

Melissa Kains, founder of female and non-binary DJ collective Sisu Crew will lead the workshops teaching how to mix using different equipment, set up the decks and produce your own tracks. There’s also a chance to perform live mixing with your own track at a very special Quadrant Park event in May.

*Please note* one booking signs you up for all 6 of the workshops running every Monday from 10th March, 6pm – 8pm.⁠

Queue Up And Dance celebrates legendary Bootle nightclub Quadrant Park, the UK’s first legal rave all-nighter. Although the club was short-lived, growing popular in early 1990 and closing at the end of 1991, it played a pivotal role in the evolution of club culture in the North West and beyond.⁠⁠

Queue Up And Dance is being funded by the Historic England Everyday Heritage grant programme, celebrating working-class histories. Made possible with National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players and UKSPF who provided funding for laptops and software.

To reserve a free spot, see here

Aspiring Social Media Stars Invited to Join Free TikTok Creator Masterclasses, held 11 / 12 Mar ’25

Liverpool-based livestreaming and events company Virtuopo is aiming to inspire a new wave of social media influencers with a series of free masterclasses, designed to help future TikTok creators to learn how to present and produce engaging live content.

The sessions, which will be led by livestreaming specialists from Virtuopo, will see industry experts share insider tips on how to host successful live shopping events on social media. During the masterclasses, budding influencers will have the chance to put their presenting skills to the test in a professional livestreaming studio, while those who are more interested in the technical side can discover the secret of capturing winning content using multi-camera production.

As an official TikTok Shop partner agency, Virtuopo regularly produces social shopping events and influencer livestreams in the green screen enabled virtual studio at its headquarters in Brunswick, Liverpool. Managing Director Chris Holmes, said: “Understanding what makes engaging live content is the first step to success as a creator. Our masterclasses aim to provide a useful insight into the world of hosting TikTok Live events, both from a presenter’s point of view, as well as the technical delivery side, as we look to encourage a whole new wave of creators.

“This will be a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning how to produce live social media content to get to know their way around the studio. Presenters can discover the key to showing confidence in front of the camera as industry experts provide tips and tricks on everything from body language to tone of voice. The sessions will also offer a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes during professional TikTok Live events as we explore production techniques using multiple cameras.”

Virtuopo’s TikTok masterclasses will take place at the company’s Transmission Studio, which is used for corporate virtual and hybrid events, live broadcasts, social media livestreaming, live music sessions and celebrity interviews, as well as video production, photoshoots and podcasts. The TikTok masterclasses are open to all ambitious creators over the age of 18, with limited places available.

Please email info@virtuopo.com for an online application form for the producers’ session (11 March) or the presenting session (12 March).

Future Yard launch new urban village in Birkenhead, held 27 Feb ’25

Join Future Yard as they launch a new vision for Argyle Street and Market Street in Birkenhead!

They see great potential for their town, and by banding together like minded organisations and people in the Argyle Independent Quarter, we can achieve even more.

Head to Future Yard on the evening of Thursday 27th February to learn more, view a prospectus, and talk with the people leading this idea.

Live music, pizza and some lively discussion about the future of Birkenhead’s creative sector.

RSVP for free at futureyard.org.

Consultation launched to define Liverpool’s 15-year economic vision, closes 9 Apr ’25

A public consultation has been launched asking businesses and residents to comment on a vision to grow Liverpool’s multi-billion-pound economy over the next 15 years.

The Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy will set the framework for growth up to 2040 and the eight-week consultation, hosted by Liverpool City Council, aims to inform the development of the resulting action plan.

The vision for Liverpool 2040 is to create a strong and inclusive economy that leaves no one behind.

The strategy focuses on strengthening foundations to build a fairer, more prosperous, and sustainable city that creates opportunities for a good life for all its residents.

The draft strategy focuses on several key themes, including:

  • Strengthening key sectors to drive growth, innovation, investment and productivity
    Key sectors include: Health & Life Sciences, Creative and Digital industries, Advanced Manufacturing and Maritime
  • Build a vibrant, productive and resilient business base
  • Ensure access to skills development, employment opportunities and career building
  • Place people at the heart of growth activity and supporting aspirations and networks

Several public engagement events will be staged over the coming months to gather views from the public. People can also go online at www.liverpool.gov.uk/growthstrategyconsultation to find out more and give their feedback.

Liverpool currently powers a £16.7 billion economy, with over 14,000 businesses and around 230,000 people in employment.

However, significant challenges remain, including low productivity and investment, financial pressures on public services, inequality of opportunity in some communities, and health challenges.

In light of these challenges, the Council, which recently submitted a New Town bid to Government to regenerate a huge part of North Liverpool, is committed to supporting businesses and residents. Delivering an inclusive economy a core pillar for Liverpool’s Strategic Partnership plan for 2040.

This draft inclusive growth strategy will also complement other key aims such as the city’s Net Zero commitment, the actions outlined in the 2040 Health of the City report as well as the Council’s Local Plan, Housing Plan, Transport Plan and the city’s ambition as a premier European visitor destination.

To further underline the Council’s commitment, since June 2023, its Business Support Service has provided advice and guidance to over 1,000 Liverpool businesses and supported 300+ residents with direct advice on starting up a new business.

The Adult Learning and Skills team has also supported over 4,500 residents to develop essential workplace skills, and the Ways to Work team has supported 1,708 economically inactive and unemployed residents with employment and skills services.

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Growth, said: “This draft Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy is a vital piece of work and one which will come to define the conditions that support our businesses to grow.

“Feedback to this draft strategy is crucial, it needs to reflects the views and needs of our businesses, non-profit organizations, charities, and voluntary organization – be it education, transport, housing or digital connectivity.

“We also want to hear residents’ views to ensure we create a strong, relevant and deliverable strategy, one that will inform the initiatives, interventions and investment into the infrastructure the city needs to underpin our future economy.

“All of this feedback will help us strengthen the strategy, ensure we deliver the right action for economic growth, and best placing us to build inclusivity so residents and communities thrive.”

Councillor Lila Bennett, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills, said “The success of this strategy will be deeply rooted in the strength and diversity of our partnerships and our collective commitment and action. All our partners have a key role in driving economic growth and ensuring benefits are felt across all communities.

“We also want our partners, including the business community, to embrace and deliver for our residents by realising opportunities and addressing challenges, from climate change to AI, to train and upskill their workforce to be ready for the economy of the future.”

The Royal Standard Material Swap, held 27 Feb ’25

The Royal Standard Material Swap!

TRS would like to invite you to join them for a materials swap where galleries, studios, and organisations can rehome spare materials, encouraging sustainability and recycling. This is something that they regularly practice within their own studios but wish to extend this practice to other organisations around Merseyside. The event will also be a brilliant opportunity to meet other artists and connect with neighbouring art organisations in person.

Their aim is to host regular events like this as a way to create a network of arts organisations that can work together to share resources that are not limited to materials but also the exchange of skills and spaces. So even if you don’t have any materials to swap they would love for you to attend to discuss the other resources we all have that can be shared and exchanged.

When: 27th February 2025 at 11pm-3pm (drop-in)

Where: The Royal Standard, 3 Mann St, Liverpool, L8 5AF

If you wish to attend, please send your RSVP to georgina@the-royal-standard.co.uk along with any questions you may have.

Submissions / Contributors – BLOOD ORANGE ZINE Issue 4: Body, closes 14 Mar ’25

BLOOD ORANGE ZINE is a Liverpool based queer feminist zine, publishing poetry, prose, and art.

For Issue 4, we are looking for the following:
– Short prose (up to 750 words)
– Non-fiction writing (up to 750 words)
– Poetry (up to 60 lines)
– Art
– Photography
– Anything else you think they might like

Submit your work through bloodorangezine.com or by emailing directly at bloodorangezine@outlook.com.
Submissions close Friday 14th March at 6pm.

Submissions are never identity specific and no matter your gender, ethnicity, age or sexuality, we’d love to hear from you. They encourage both experienced and new creatives to submit, and welcome multiple submissions and submissions from previous contributors. They want to explore the theme of Body – the physical, the subversive, the downright disgusting. They want bodies in movement and bodies in transition, body image, queer bodies, bodies together, bodies to ourselves. They want representations of body, us both in our bodies and as our bodies, what our bodies do for us and what we do for our bodies. They want to know what Body means to you.

Event

More info at www.bloodorangezine.com or on their Instagram @Bloodorangezine_