Poets – Liverpool Hope University Poetry Workshop

The Liverpool Hope University Poetry Workshop is for all poets who desire a space in which to share work-in-progress for critical feedback, to read and discuss contemporary poetry and to reflect on ideas about poetry writing and the role of the poet in society.

The workshop will be a critical space in which to develop your poetry writing. Some experience of workshopping poetry is needed as is a commitment to deepening your knowledge and ability with poetic craft and imagination

In the longer-term the work of the group may develop into a shared publication or reading series, but this initial call is to connect with other poets looking for a space in which to develop their work.

Anyone who is attracted by this opportunity is invited to contact Dr Eleanor Rees with further details of their poetry and motivation for joining the group. The call is open to all students, PGR, academic and professional colleagues, and local poets with a connection to Liverpool Hope.

Meetings will be once per term and will be held alternately between Hope Park and the Creative Campus. 

In the first instance, please contact Eleanor Rees reese@hope.ac.uk to express an interest and then a suitable time and date will be found for the first meeting in the New Year. All poets are welcome!

Employers – LJMU Discovery Spring Internships Programme, closes 8 Dec

LJMU’s Discovery Spring Internships programme is a new initiative to connect a first-year student with an employer in the Liverpool City Region.

We are seeking to match our first-year students, who may be new to the city and have little or no work experience, with employers able to offer a supportive environment to develop commercial awareness. This will allow students to engage in the workforce and connect to the subject they are studying in the real-world. 

For example, a criminal justice or law student may attend a city law firm, or a psychology student work on an organisational HR project.

These internships are 70hrs in length and LJMU pays the full cost of wages and provides full support with advertising the opportunity, candidate selection, processing timesheets and payments to students via our Unitemps branch.  

·       The opportunities advertised – February 2024

·       Interviews – March 2024

·       Internships starts – March 2024

(Exact dates to be confirmed)

Organisation eligibility criteria

  • Ideally 250 employees or less  
  • Not owned by LJMU staff
  • Ideally based in the Liverpool City Region 

If you would like to get involved, or want further information, please express your interest by contacting us at internships@ljmu.ac.uk and copy in d.m.anderson@ljmu.ac.uk by Friday 8th December 2023.

Sound Check Music Training Programme, closes 31 Jan

SOUND CHECK is a training programme from Future Yard in partnership with The Learning Foundry. The exciting course designed to introduce young people to the skills they need to pursue careers in the live music industry. It is open to young people aged 16+ from the local area who have a passion for live music, and takes place within our dynamic music venue in Birkenhead.

Future Yard Sound Check Training Programme
Photographer: Robin Clewley

From sound engineers to event managers, lighting designers to box office, this brand new programme will introduce you to the range of job roles and skills you need to make your career in the live music industry.

Based at our venue on Argyle Street in Birkenhead, Sound Check will support you to build your skills and knowledge in a real industry setting. A core programme of workshops runs alongside the opportunity to gain hands-on skills at live events.

The live music industry is worth £1.1bn each year to the UK economy and is exported around the world. It has been growing at 10% year on year and offers hugely fulfilling creative careers across a range of job roles.

Like many industries, COVID-19 provides a short term challenge. But, the live music industry remains a hugely significant industry locally, within the Liverpool City Region, and nationally. It will return, and Sound Check is an opportunity to develop the skills required to flourish within it as it does.

The free to access programme focuses on two areas; Technical Production and Live Music Event Management. These are then followed by an independent group project, in which you will utilise your new skills to deliver your own live event. There will also be additional sessions outside of weekly sessions when working on live events (shadowing).

The programme is delivered by Future Yard’s hugely experienced team of tutors and boasts a broad range of guest speakers from across the industry.

After completing the programme, you will have the opportunity to join Future Yard’s ongoing training programme, further developing your skills and experience. There will also be a number of follow-on employment opportunities available.

Sound Check is free to access and is open to local people aged 16+ with a passion for live music and an interest in making it their career. No previous experience is required.

There are two different ways you can take part in Sound Check. There’s the 12-week Monday night course, which also includes shadowing opportunities on Future Yard shows; and a new 18-week full-time version of the programme (Monday – Wednesday with an additional shadow shift at a gig). The 18-week course also includes hands-on work experience with shadowing at live shows.
Specific eligibility criteria apply for the 18-week full-time course.

12-week Monday night programme: next course starts February 2024

Sessions take place Monday evenings from 5.00pm to 9.00pm at Future Yard (75 Argyle Street, Birkenhead), with additional shadowing sessions at live shows (mainly evenings).

18-week full-time programme (Mon-Weds): next course starts February 2024

Core sessions take place Monday to Wednesday daytimes from 10am to 5pm at Future Yard (75 Argyle Street, Birkenhead), plus a half-day of work experience on an additional day (Thursday-Sunday).

No previous experience is required. All we ask is that you have a passion for live music and an interest in turning that into a career.

For more information and to apply visit: https://futureyard.org/soundcheck/

Female owned small businesses – Lemon Yellow Social Club, Artisan Market, closes 29 Dec

Lemon Yellow Social Club will be celebrating International Women’s Day in March with a 4 day programme of events all held at their fab venue Space Liverpool, including an Artisan Market & Workshops day on Saturday 9th March 11-4.

(They’ve got exciting plans for Thursday, Friday & Sunday too so keep an eye out!)

Applications for female owned small businesses are open NOW & will close on Dec 29th so don’t sleep on this one as places are going to be snapped up fast!

To apply, see here

dot-art Schools shares the gift of creativity with FREE schools entry!

Liverpool based social enterprise dot-art want to help more schools engage with their award-winning schools programme, now entering its 12th year. The inter-school art competition, open to all educational settings across the Liverpool City Region, can this year offer a number of FREE places on the programme through its Champions scheme. 

Carolyn Murray, dot-art Schools Project Manager, explains:

“We’re delighted to have secured funding from The Medicash Foundation and the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund, alongside support from our partners Edge Hill University and a range of local businesses and ward councillors to Champion schools to take part. Their invaluable support means we can offer FREE access to the programme for even more schools across the Liverpool City Region.”

Following the success of the exhibition in June 2023, dot-art Schools are also over the moon to announce a new three year partnership with the Walker Art Gallery that will see works by the winning young artists from each participating school proudly displayed in the gallery from June 2024 onwards.

Lucy Johnson, Head of Art Gallery Exhibitions at National Museums Liverpool, said: “We’re thrilled to be continuing our work with dot-art Schools to highlight the creativity of local students and motivate them to follow their passion for art.” 

Last year, it was fantastic to see such a wide variety of artwork from the entrants and the enthusiasm from the young people who exhibited. I look forward to another fantastic exhibition in 2024.” 

dot-art Schools, in partnership with Edge Hill University, has been inspiring, celebrating and championing creativity since 2012. With creativity now recognised as one of the most vital skills for young people’s future employment, the importance of programmes like this continues to grow.

Year 5 and year 9 students who participate in the dot-art Schools competition report increased self-esteem, creative confidence and raised aspirations. For some pupils it can also act as a catalyst to pursue a creative career path.

Primary, secondary and SEND settings across Liverpool City Region are invited to join dot-art Schools 2024. Schools can enquire now about taking a free Championed place.

Hurry though, these free places will get snapped up by Christmas!

To find out more and sign your school up for the competition, email schools@dot-art.com, call 0345 0176660 or visit schools.dot-art.com

Skills and professional development funding – Help Musicians

Support to grow through training, mentorship or other learning opportunities

They can provide up to £1,500 to help you enhance your skills or artistic practice. Whatever your circumstances and ambitions — you can apply for support that is specific to your career needs.

This can be anything from a conference to learn more about the industry, to a course to enhance your skills; from one-on-one coaching to some time with a mentor.

Learn more & APPLY HERE

New Round of Grants Open: Ulrike Michal Foundation for the Arts, closes 22 Dec

The Ulrike Michal Foundation for the Arts exists “to promote, encourage and extend the love, appreciation, enjoyment, understanding and practice of fine, decorative and applied arts among people of all ages.

They do this through experiences at museums, art galleries, historic properties and in the community at large, both as individuals and communally, as participants and spectators,” across north Wales, Merseyside and the border counties of Cheshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire.

To apply and learn more about the foundation and its grants programme, please see their website: https://www.umffta.org/

Closing date: 22 December

Open Call: Liverpool Architecture Festival 2024, closes 15 Dec

Liverpool Architecture Festival 2024
(June 1st – 30th) would like to invite you to suggest event ideas for LAF24 Festival.

The theme for LAF24 is ‘NEIGHBOURHOOD’ in a bid to recognise the local impact architecture has on our everyday lives. The Foundation’s values of Community, Inclusivity and Climate will be at the forefront of the festival.

We are inviting ideas for events, seminars, walking and building tours, and socials that you may have. These may be of projects that will be on site or complete, or on subjects that are close to your heart.

We are encouraging events take place through the 6 Liverpool City Region Boroughs of Sefton, St. Helens, Knowsley, Halton, Wirral and Liverpool.

We have set a provisional deadline of Friday 15th December 2023 for the initial expression of interest so we can begin working on formalising the calendar, and applying for funding.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email.

Please send your proposals to: hello@laf-uk.com

Deadline: Friday, 15th December

Follow LAF on Instagram for updates.

Writers aged 16+ – Ghost Stories for Christmas/ArtsGroupie CIC, closes 12 Dec

Liverpool, 16th November 2023 – ArtsGroupie CIC is thrilled to announce the launch of the “Ghost Stories for Christmas” contest, a spine-chilling celebration of creativity and community spirit. This contest invites writers aged 16 and over to craft original, Christmas ghost-themed stories for a chance to win exciting prizes and have their work featured on ArtsGroupie’s website.

The winning entry will have their work performed at Shakespeare North Playhouse on Saturday, 16th November.

About the Contest:

The “Ghost Stories for Christmas” contest is part of ArtsGroupie CIC’s larger project aimed at fostering community unity, combating isolation, and inspiring creativity through the art of storytelling. With 14 community workshops, 10 live performances, and a community-focused approach, this project aims to revive the tradition of winter ghost tales. Performances will include readings from two celebrated British writers, award-winning horror writer, Ramsey Campbell, and comics writer, John Reppion.

Contest Details: 

Theme: Christmas ghost stories 

Eligibility: Open to individuals aged 16 and over 

Word Limit: Entries must not exceed 500 words 

Submission Deadline: Midnight on 12th December 2023 

Prizes: 1st Place (Prize worth £150), 2nd Place (Prize worth £75), 3rd Place (Prize worth £25)

Winners Announcement: Wednesday, 13th December 2023

Publication: Top three entries will be featured on ArtsGroupie’s website (www.ArtsGroupie.org)

How to Enter:

Participants can submit their entries by the deadline via our website at https://www.artsgroupie.org/artsgroupies-christmas-ghost-story-contest/, or by email at artgroupie@outlook.com Full contest details and submission guidelines can be found on the ArtsGroupie website.

Community Engagement:

The project includes 14 workshops covering oral storytelling, shadow puppetry, and shared reading to ensure accessibility for participants with varying literacy levels.

Get Involved:

Join ArtsGroupie CIC in reviving the tradition of Christmas ghost stories. Submit your spine-tingling tale, embrace the festive spirit, and become part of a community united by the art of storytelling.

Closing date: 12 December

Organisations with voluntary roles – LCVS Volunteer Portal

Volunteering plays a vital role in supporting the work of community, charity and voluntary sector organisations in Liverpool.

By giving your time you can help your community thrive. So, if you’re looking to give a few hours, or days, you can find what opportunities are available through the LCVS volunteering portal.  And if you are an organisation looking for volunteers this portal can help you throughout the process.

Simply click through to the portal here and either register your organisation and post your volunteering opportunities or search for opportunities near you.