Community Post Type: Callouts

Africa Oyé is giving the next generation of event industry professionals an opportunity to work on the UK’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture.

The Liverpool institution has put out a call for those aged 18 to 24 and based in the Liverpool City Region, as it looks to recruit for a whole host of work placement roles that could be the first step into a career in the arts and cultural sector.

Whether it’s an office-based role helping put together the annual Africa Oyé festival; working on educational projects across local schools; producing the Africa Oyé radio show; or shadowing a variety of roles at the festival itself in June, this could be a chance to get some valuable experience with the team behind the UK’s biggest celebration of African music and culture.

How do I apply for the placements?

If the work placements sound like something for you or someone you know, please email your CV and a short covering letter detailing what aspects of the organisation you’d like experience in, to training@africaoye.com

VOLUNTEERS

And for those who simply love the festival and want to help keep it FREE and open to all, there is the opportunity to be on the frontline collecting donations and conducting surveys with the thousands that attend the event in Sefton Park.

Africa Oyé is organised by a very small core team. The support of volunteers across the festival weekend is a crucial part of the organisation. The chance to meet the festival audience face-to-face only comes around once a year, and volunteers will be working to ensure the survival and growth of the festival by creating positive relations with attendees and raising funds to sustain future editions.

For the volunteer placements, we ask for a minimum of 2 hours of your time during the Festival weekend (or more if you like!) to help us:

– Raise donations to ensure the event stays free and open to all. The festival is put on at enormous cost and the challenge to keep it free gets harder and harder each year. Africa Oyé is a registered charity (number 1062484) supported by funding from Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council.

– Support the Audience Development and data capture programme, that is crucial to Africa Oye’s future; this involves conducting a short questionnaire with audience members.

No prior training or experience is required and a briefing session will be provided before you commence your Volunteer shift.

The two days are a fantastic celebration of the music and culture of Africa, and volunteering will give you an opportunity to be part of the festivities, to meet a variety of people and help keep the event free for future generations.

How do I apply to volunteer?

Please complete the application form – CLICK HERE

If you have any queries, do not hesitate to email us at volunteer@africaoye.com or scan the QR code below for more information.

Cinema in the City is FACT’s experiential 2024 film programme featuring the best of independent cinema screened in unexpected and unique locations.

They’re keen to recognise Liverpool’s local talent and rich film history, and so would love to offer emerging artists and up-and-coming local filmmakers the opportunity to screen their short film before each main feature.

You can submit your film for free by following the link below. Keep an eye on their channels as they’ll be announcing their May 2024 Cinema in the City location and programme very soon!

Submit your film here

The Reader charity has launched a major recruitment drive for new volunteers to join its Reading Heroes project which helps children aged 2-15 to improve their confidence and spark a love of reading for pleasure.

The project has been running since 2016 and pairs care experienced children and young people in Merseyside with highly trained volunteers to read together online or in-person, weekly for a period of six to nine months.

The project is overseen by an experienced project team based at The Reader in Liverpool who train and support the volunteers to deliver lively and engaging sessions and provide ongoing safeguarding provision and assistance for carers, partners, volunteers and the young people.

A child or young person is ‘care experienced’ if they are living, or have lived, in care at any stage in their life. This includes children who have experienced, or are currently, living in residential care, foster care, kinship care, or at home with a supervision order. In 2022, there were 82,170 children looked after by local authorities in England and this number is continuing to rise each year.

Reading enjoyment has been reported as more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status (OECD, 2002). However, in 2019, at KS2 only 49% of looked after children reached the expected standard for reading compared to 73% of non-looked after children (Department for Education, 2020). Children in care are also four times more likely to have a mental health problem than children living with their birth families (NSPCC, 2015).

Kara Orford, Head of Children & Young People at The Reader, said “The number of care experienced children is growing in the UK, and research tells us that they are more at risk of social, emotional and mental health problems, and less likely to do well at school. There is a clear need to support these children and we know that Reading Heroes has an enormously positive impact on the young people we read with. We cannot deliver this amazing project without the wonderful Reading Heroes volunteers and as we expand into new areas, we urgently need more of them.”
Findings from children and young people who took part in the Reading Heroes’ evaluation in 2022 revealed that:

80% said they enjoy reading more

89% are reading things they wouldn’t have tried before

91% found it relaxing

89% said it was good to talk about their feelings

The Reader is recruiting new volunteers who can read with to a child aged between 5-15 years old online. Volunteers can be based from anywhere in the country.

Volunteers based in Liverpool and Sefton can also apply to read in person with a child aged between 2-4 years as part of Tiny Heroes, a new strand of the Reading Heroes project aimed at early years. These sessions incorporate rhymes and storytelling and volunteers are provided with a rhyme bag full of toys, props and books.

Both require a minimum commitment of six months. Training will be provided and will take place online, and all volunteers will need to undertake a number of safeguarding requirements including an enhanced DBS check, a reference request & safeguarding training.

A Virtual School Headteacher said: “Our children have frequently suffered trauma, neglect and sometimes abuse. This of course affects their ability to focus, their ability to trust and their ability to self-calm and regulate. Reading Heroes has offered them all these things in bucketfuls and more. One particular young person has been out of school for some time, not being able to have his very complex needs met by even some of our more specialist provisions. This has in turn put pressure on his home life where his behaviour continues to challenge. He has responded so well to Reading Heroes and thoroughly enjoys his slot. If only just this child was affected, it makes the service successful in impacting on the lives of very vulnerable young people. But there are so many more besides him.”

A carer for a child taking part in Reading Heroes said “With a consistent reading buddy in Sam, who he became so fond of, he started to look forward to his weekly sessions. Freddie now loves picking out a book from his growing collection…and reading the story aloud. His progress…is remarkable.”

Reading Heroes is supported by The Rayne Foundation, Segelman Trust, Masonic Charitable Foundation / West Lancashire Freemasons.

For more information or to apply to become a volunteer, visit thereader.org.uk/readingheroes

Movema are looking to create a rich, fun, diverse and accessible artistic programme as part of the Active Zone at Africa Oye!

We are looking for local artists, organisations and community groups to get involved in creating an exciting programme, by providing a workshop and/or performance. We will be prioritising applications that raise the profile and representation of art-forms and disciplines that are rooted in the African Diaspora as well as engaging with communities of the African Diaspora.

As part of the Active Zone programme we are looking for participatory workshops focusing on dance styles that are suitable for all ages but also welcome other artistic disciplines, such as music.

The Active Zone will run at on Saturday 22nd June 11am – 5pm and Sunday 23rd June 12pm – 5pm.

To apply please fill in this short online form https://forms.gle/6oJkDpA7rWpRCHik8

If you have any questions please contact Eleanor at eleanor@movema.co.uk

Liverpool, Cunard’s spiritual home, is to host the spectacular Naming Ceremony for its newest ship Queen Anne.  The event will take place on the world-famous Mersey waterfront at Liverpool on Monday 3 June during an introductory ‘lap of honour’ voyage around the British Isles. Queen Anne is expected to arrive on the Mersey soon after sunrise on what promises to be the most eagerly awaited port of call on the exclusive 14-night voyage. 

Plans are being made for her arrival to include a special salute to the city where Cunard’s pioneering transatlantic service – and passenger shipping itself – was launched in 1840, and where the iconic Cunard Building forms the centrepiece of the Three Graces.

The formal Naming will be the highlight of a day of celebration for Queen Anne and is expected to draw thousands of spectators to vantage points alongside the river at Pier Head, between New Brighton and Seacombe on Wirral and on beaches at Formby and Crosby in Sefton. A live global broadcast will ensure the eyes of the world once again fall on a Cunard event in Liverpool.

Alongside the live performances surrounding the official naming ceremony on the Pier Head and River we are encouraging our partners, stakeholders and arts and cultural organisations to consider programming a Cunard linked event or activity from 24 May – 3 June. Do you have existing Cunard or Trans-atlantic themed collections, workshops, resources that you could showcase during this time? We can support by including your activities in the online event listings.

To be considered for inclusion in the online listings, please complete the following steps by Friday 19 April at the latest. Any submissions received after this date may not be included.

1. Go to https://www.cultureliverpool.co.uk/submit-an-event/
2. Complete the form as per the instructions.
3. To reiterate images should be hi-res and we require two sizes for your listing. One should be 700px (w) by 500px (h) and one should be 430px (w) by 500px (h). There should be no copyright issues. If images need to be credited, please provide the necessary information in the description section.
4. The event title should be preceded by the text CUNARD, so we know which events to include as part of the wider programme.
5. The event description should be succinct and ideally 300 words max or thereabouts.
6. Please include a dedicated URL for people to obtain further information.
7. Please include dedicated social URL’s so we are able to tag you in posts where possible.
8. The event contact details (name, telephone number and email address) will be featured on the relevant webpage. Please do not use personal details unless that is your intention.
9. Your contact details are required should we have any queries.

Any questions please email clare.wilde@liverpool.gov.uk

All Things Considered Theatre are a socially engaged theatre company who create work to make change. We are looking for three excellent actor-dancers who can tell a story both as actors and as dancers. It’s essential that you can also commit to a long term project.

8 Hours There and Back is the story of children whose lives are impacted by parental imprisonment. Based on the testimonies of children the performance tells the stories of the system and the challenges these children face. This project has several stages to it and you will need to be available:

June 3rd-14th Rehearsals

August 4th-6th Residential with participants

August 27th-30th Rehearsals

September 2nd-7th Rehearsals

September 9th-14th Launch Performance week The Unity Theatre

October: 8 day tour across the month TBC

March/April 2025 Various dates for University Tour TBC

Rates: ITC minimum Rates

Roles:

Liam: 15 years old, mature for his age, streetwise, cynical, witnessed dads arrest and doesn’t get to see him. Had to move house and school and lives with his Nan. Also plays multiple roles of various ages from 10- 35.

Finn: 12 years old, is innocent, can be quite naive, likes to crack jokes, is very likable. From a supportive family. Also plays multiple roles of various ages from 15-45

Grace: 14 years old. Really smart and sharp witted. Also caring and nurturing. Her big sister was taken into care and there is a lot of sadness about this. She looks after little brother but also has a supportive dad. Also plays multiple roles of various ages 14-35

How to Apply:

A self tape including:

A short introduction to who you are

A 2 minute monologue suitable to the role you are applying for

A 1 minute dance demonstrating your relevant dance technique

Spotlight link or CV

Auditions are in Liverpool April 26th 2024

Please send your application with the email heading “8 Hours Audition (Name)” to emmaallthingstc@gmail.com by March 29th 1pm.

We will acknowledge receipt of everyone’s application.

Closing date: 29 March

The North Manchester Film Festival: Your Voice will take place at the Miners Community Arts and Music Centre on 3-4 May, as part of SICK! Festival 2024. We’re looking for local film makers to submit their work to showcase at the event.

The North Manchester Film Festival celebrates the vibrant spirit of storytelling and creativity in North Manchester. This exciting event brings together filmmakers, artists, and community members for a dynamic showcase of local talent and diverse perspectives. From captivating documentaries to imaginative fictional narratives, the festival offers a rich tapestry of cinematic experiences. This will take place at The Miners, an award-winning multi-arts venue hosting music, art + film events in North Manchester.

To apply, see here

Closing date: 31 March

Applications for The Art Quarter’s Summer Market in Metquarter are now open.

The Art Quarter Summer Market takes place on Saturday 29 June 2024, 11am – 5pm.

The Art Quarter are looking for original makers, artisans and crafters. This can be anything from art prints, sculpture, leatherwork, ceramics, jewellery and textiles to chocolate, soap, honey or beauty products. They only ask that all your products are your own work and not mass produced or imported.

To apply complete the Google Form here.