Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is a national programme designed to support young people aged 17-21 who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) into employment.
Liverpool City Region is one of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazer areas in the UK. Liverpool Council will lead and manage several programmes of work, including the four grants below.
Find out how to apply for each grant, here
Closing date: 19 September
Get ready to celebrate the heartbeat of creativity across the Liverpool City Region as the Culture and Creativity Awards return in 2026 with FOUR brand-new categories shining a spotlight on even more of the incredible talent shaping our cultural landscape!
New for 2026:
· Live Event of the Year – honouring unforgettable moments that brought people together.
· Excellence in Film & TV – celebrating screen magic made right here in the region.
· Creative/Media Individual of the Year – recognising trailblazing talent.
· Creative/Media Organisation of the Year – spotlighting standout success stories.
They join the coveted People’s Choice Award which is voted for by the public and 12 others categories recognising the use of culture and creativity in areas such as innovation, community cohesion and education.
Nominations are now open, whether it’s a grassroots community project, a blockbuster production, or a game-changing innovation – one great nomination is all it takes. Quality counts, not quantity.
Any arts and cultural events, innovation and creative activity that took place within the Liverpool City Region during the period of 26 October 2024 to 31 October 2025 can be entered. Nominations are completed online and the closing date for entrants and nominations is 5pm, on Monday 10 November.
To nominate, visit here
Knowsley Council is inviting Expressions of Interest from artists, designers and collectives who are interested in creating engaging public murals in Knowsley.
Knowsley Council has a strong track record of commissioning diverse and high-quality public artworks. They are committed to creating new opportunities for local artists to deliver ambitious, meaningful and accessible public art. This includes new mural commissions in towns across Knowsley.
What they’re looking for:
• Mural artists that would work in consultation with Knowsley residents, artists, organisations and communities;
• Artists that would develop ideas that are shared with stakeholders and communities for feedback and approval;
• Original, high-quality artworks that require minimal maintenance and are designed to last for up to five years;
• Murals that creatively respond to and celebrate the culture, heritage, and/or character of the mural’s location;
• Murals that enhance the sense of place within the respective town or area; and
• Where appropriate, murals that support wayfinding through creative and engaging visual approaches.
They are keen to hear from artists, designers or collectives who have a demonstrable record of delivering quality murals.
They particularly welcome expressions from practitioners who live in or are originally from Knowsley or the wider Liverpool City Region.
Selected artists will hold public liability insurance to £5 million.
Budget:
Budgets for commissions will range from £2,000 to £10,000 per mural, depending on the scale, level of detail required and the nature of the site.
A detailed project brief and budget will be agreed upon with the selected artist(s) for each commission. Payment terms will be clearly outlined during the contracting process.
How to apply:
If you would like to be considered to deliver murals in the future in Knowsley, then please email the following documents to jack.welsh@knowsley.gov.uk:
• Your CV or a short artist bio;
• Images of previous works, with relevant captions (such as work title, location, year, commissioner), or up to 5 links to your work, such as a personal website, social media handles, or YouTube channel.
Closing date for Expressions of Interest: 9am, Monday 6 October
If you require this information in another format, or need support in submitting your expression of interest, please email: jack.welsh@knowsley.gov.uk
Additional information:
• They will acknowledge all Expressions of Interest.
• Please note there is no fee at this EOI stage.
Image: John Culshaw mural at Huyton Library
Are you aged 16-25? Do you identify as LGBTQIA+? Do you have an interest in performing?
They’re on the lookout for creative, bold and brilliant performers to take part in Young Homotopia’s autumn panto Alice In Wonderland. Whether you’ve performed before or are brand new to the stage, this is your chance.
Join them for weekly rehearsals in the city centre as they devise a unique retelling of the classic story with a fabulous queer twist. Expect camp chaos, bad jokes (so bad they’re good) and a supportive and welcoming environment.
– Share your ideas to shape the story
– Work alongside a team of LGBTQIA+ creatives
– Perform at this year’s Homotopia Festival
🗓️ Rehearsals: Every Thursday 5 pm – 7 pm (starting from 25th September) with extra full day rehearsals Saturday 1st and 8th November.
🎭 Performances: 12th November at Unity Theatre
Young Homotopia is a creative programme run by Homotopia in partnership with YPAS – GYRO. It is free to join and provides opportunities for LGBTQIA+ teenagers and young adults to explore their identities through performance. Sessions are led by Homotopia’s Development Producer, Ashleigh Owen, and a number of visiting practitioners.
For more information, please visit their website.
📩 Reserve your place by Monday 22nd Sept at 5pm by filling in the form here.
Calling all songwriters, artists and producers
They’re incredibly excited to announce that The Narrative’s first ever songwriting camp is coming soon!!!
Express interest now via the the Opportunities page on their website!
They can’t wait to hear your music & to start creating more!
Are you over 18? Do you live in and around the Kensington area? Are you interested in a career in the film and TV sector?
If the answer is yes, why not take part in a free session on Friday 12 September with the amazing Liverpool Film Office team to learn more about the industry and how you could get your foot on that career ladder.
Visit their website here for more details and to apply
We all know that the grassroots is the engine room of our music culture. Whether it’s rehearsal spaces, recording studios, festivals, promoters, and of course the important venues where new sounds meet their first crowds.
That’s why Arts Council England and DCMS have reopened their Grassroots Music Fund. This is about securing the sustainability of the sector which is helping the grassroots industry develop talent, grow audiences, and keep music alive in local communities.
The process has never been easier too! Download their application form here
If you’re running a grassroots space, now is the time to apply. This fund has already helped transform the live music landscape, so let’s make sure more of our grassroots can benefit.
I’m a Teenager… Get Me Into There! is Curious Minds’ training programme aimed at the staff teams of cultural and heritage venues and libraries.
It aims to support public-facing staff to feel more confident in their interactions with young people and better able to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for the young people they invite into their building.
Next public course: 20th Nov 2025, 9:30am – 4.30pm in Manchester
Find out more and book a place: https://curiousminds.org.uk/pQJLIB/im-a-teenager-get-me-into-there
Arts and cultural school trips can be powerful learning experiences, which create memories that last a lifetime. However, without the right preparation and planning, it’s also possible for students to go on a trip yet still miss out on many of these benefits.
Their day-long course Curiosity Outside the Classroom CPD (Trips & Visits) will equip any school staff with the skills, confidence and knowledge to plan, advocate for and deliver brilliant trips and visits.
Next public course: 9th October 2025, 9:30am – 4.30pm – Manchester
Find out more and book a place:
https://curiousminds.org.uk/pQvQUV/curiosity-outside-the-classroom
Applications are now open for Leading the Arts in Your School – the flagship modular arts leadership programme for teachers who want to embed creativity, culture, and the arts across their school.
Cohort 1: Jan 26 – June 26 – Apply before 13 Oct.
Cohort 2: Sept 26 – March 27 – Apply before 8 July.
Interested? Join them for a free online briefing session from 4pm-5pm on Tuesday 9th September 2025, where you can hear more about the course, and ask any questions. Please email hanna.lambert@curiousminds.org.uk for the link to join.
Find out more and apply: https://curiousminds.org.uk/pQx0hK/leading-the-arts-in-your-school