Community Post Type: News

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Liverpool Artists’ Network, a grassroots organisation that has become a vital hub for the city’s visual arts community. Founded in 2015 by artists Colette Lilley and Josie Jenkins, Liverpool Artists’ Network was established to connect artists, encourage collaboration, and strengthen relationships across Liverpool’s independent visual arts scene.

Liverpool Artists’ Network emerged from a public meeting titled “Make Something Happen,” held at The Well Space on Roscoe Street, Liverpool, which attracted more than 50 attendees. At that time, the city’s studio groups were less interconnected and many independent artists were working in isolation with no obvious community network on offer. There was also a noticeable lull in independent fringe activity surrounding the Liverpool Biennial.

“We didn’t know exactly what would come out of that meeting,” said co-founder Josie Jenkins. “What we did know was that we wanted to bring artists and studio groups together and encourage people to take initiative – to make things happen for themselves rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them.”

Since that first gathering, Liverpool Artists’ Network has evolved into a thriving platform supporting visual artists through regular events and a growing online presence. The network’s meetings are designed to foster direct connection and exchange between artists in a relaxed setting.

Liverpool Artists’ Network’s programme includes:

Network Meetings, where artists and anyone interested in collaborating can informally share projects, ideas, or opportunities, followed by open discussion and socialising.

Slide Slams, a dynamic format in which participants present ten slides for forty seconds each, creating a fast-paced and engaging environment for sharing work.

Artists’ “Speed Dating”, which adapts the speed-dating model to help artists connect one-to-one, exchange ideas, and spark future collaborations.

Despite a decade of rapid change in technology and the dominance of social media, Liverpool Artists’ Network has found that artists continue to seek face-to-face connection as an essential part of creative practice.

In 2024, the organisation launched a redesigned website and the Directory of Creatives, an affordable subscription platform where visual artists can promote their work. The directory links the general public with local artists, offering direct contact for sales and commissions, or hiring roles such as teaching and workshop delivery.
Liverpool Artists’ Network also connects with the wider community through its two Instagram accounts:

@livartnet, which shares open calls, jobs, and studio vacancies for visual artists across Merseyside. Artists can tag @livartnet to help spread opportunities through the network’s Repost section.

@liv_artinerary, which focuses on promoting visual art exhibitions, events, and workshops happening across Merseyside. Organisers can tag @liv_artinerary to have their events shared with the local creative community.

“Our Instagram accounts have become a big part of how we stay connected with people,” said co-founder Colette Lilley. “They help us share opportunities and promote what’s happening across Merseyside’s visual arts scene. It’s a simple way for artists and organisers to reach a wider audience and feel part of the same creative network.”

As Liverpool Artists’ Network celebrates its tenth anniversary, the organisation continues to champion independence, connection and collaboration within Liverpool’s vibrant visual arts community.

John Moores Students’ Union (JMSU) Officers have joined forces with Bootle Tool Shed in Liverpool to take part in Mission: Shoulder to Shoulder by building a buddy bench for the university campus, as part of a nationwide drive to facilitate social connection and 200,000 conversations a year.

Bootle Tool Shed brings men together to share practical skills and provides a space to improve wellbeing, and tackle loneliness and related issues. By working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Students’ Union Officers, they are strengthening community ties in Liverpool.

This is part of an ambitious nationwide initiative where men in sheds – ‘Shedders’ – across the UK are working to help spark 200,000 conversations that can brighten a day, or even change a life.

Men’s Sheds across the country have undertaken Mission: Shoulder to Shoulder, to bring the power of shoulder-to-shoulder conversation to their communities, inspired by how their own work benches help create bench buddies every day at workshops across the UK. Sheds typically cater to older men, a cohort that nationally consumes more alcohol on a weekly basis on average than other cohorts.

As part of Mission: Shoulder to Shoulder, facilitated by alcohol education platform DRINKiQ and the UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA), a unique social experiment observed public benches across the country, and found that a public bench would on average facilitate 5.5 conversations daily, 38.5 weekly, and over 2,002 yearly.

With Shedders creating 100 buddy benches nationally, their benches could facilitate 200,200 conversations per year, providing a perfect seat for the four in five (82%) British people who believe in the power of conversation to make someone’s day better. Despite overwhelmingly believing in the kindness of others (76%), just two in five (42%) would ever strike up a conversation or share a problem with someone they didn’t know, according to consumer polling by DRINKiQ – a number that Shedders wish to change as they get people talking.

JMSU President, Miles, said: “It was brilliant to head down to Bootle Tool Shed and work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Shedders. We were inspired by how the Shed provides the space for connection and conversation around important topics like mental health and alcohol consumption. We hope to replicate these conversations by installing this bench on our campus and would love for it to encourage others to partner up with the Shed or recommend it to a man in their lives!”

Bootle Tool Shed Leader, Eddy Flynn, said: “Having the Students’ Union officers to the Shed to build their bench was a huge success. It was a fantastic day of sharing practical skills and learning from one another. The end result is a amazing and will serve as a catalyst for many of their upcoming events.”

There are now 1,200 Men’s Sheds across the UK, typically – but not exclusively – catering to older men, often over the age of 50. These Sheds provide creative outlets where people can work with their hands and bond with the help of the most important tool in the Shed – the kettle.

The positive impact of community Men’s Sheds on the physical health of their users has been studied. Among the benefits, Shedders have reported that as a result of attending a Shed their alcohol use had decreased or stopped.[3]

DRINKiQ and the UKMSA’s campaigning is a significant part of Diageo’s charitable partnership with the UKMSA. Last year, they launched the Men on A Mission campaign, fronted by Tony Bellew, that called on men to better recognise tipping points within their alcohol consumption and highlighted how positive social outlets like Mens Sheds can help them renew a sense of mission, and improve their wellbeing. Diageo, through its alcohol moderation platform DRINKiQ, has also co-created alcohol moderation workshops with Shedders and the UKMSA, to provide conversation-sparking materials bespoke to Shedders.

To find out more, visit drinkiq.com/shouldertoshoulder.

If you’re interested in joining your local Shed or starting your own Shed, either in your community or at your university, visit: https://menssheds.org.uk/sheds/.

Discover the captivating new permanent display at Sudley House!

Innocence and Beauty invites you to explore how artists from 1700 to 1900 reimagined the magic of childhood and its bond with nature.

In earlier times, children were seen as little adults, expected to work and mimic their elders. But by the 19th century, childhood transformed into a treasured stage of innocence, imagination, and growth.

For more details, visit here

More new shows have been announced at The Tung Auditorium for 2025 / 26.

They’re excited to welcome Choir With No Name back to the Tung for a third year, bringing their iconic Christmas joy and cheer to kick off Christmas in style – Sunday 14 December 2025, 7pm

After a year of captivating audiences across Japan and South Korea, Tom Spence returns to a highly anticipated homecoming show! 🗓️Saturday 31 January 2026, 7:30pm

Miles Hunt of the Wonder Stuff will be heading out across the UK next spring to play songs and tell tales from his 40 years in music – 🗓️Friday 10 April 2026, 7:30pm

Shows on sale now. Head to this link to secure your tickets

Liverpool artist Caroline Sandford-Muir has been shortlisted for the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, which opens at the Mall Galleries in London November 2025.

The show received over 6,500 entries from artists across the UK, with only a few hundred selected. Caroline is thrilled to be among them saying “It’s really exciting to be chosen for this exhibition, It’s a fantastic opportunity to have my work shown alongside artists from all over the country in a prestigious London venue.”

Caroline’s work is predominantly in the medium of ceramics, she likes to explore themes that evoke strong memories for the viewer and include moments of humour.

The piece selected is a sculpture of synchronised divers at the moment they enter the pool, this comes from a collection of work exploring our surroundings and relationship with water.

The ING Discerning Eye exhibition will take place at the Mall Galleries from 14 to 23 November 2025.
700 artworks by 500 artists have been shortlisted for this prestigious show.
The exhibition is free to visit every day, 10am to 5pm from Friday 14 to Saturday 23 November, and 10am to 1pm on Sunday 23 November 2025.

For more information visit

sandpotterystudio.com / instagram.com/sandpottery
www.discerningeye.org/exhibition / instagram.com/ingdiscerningeye

After a packed Autumn season of brilliant shows, Liverpool’s thriving combined arts venue – Unity Theatre – forges ahead with its ever-popular Christmas programme. Serving as a counterpoint to the mainstream, Unity exist to champion diverse arts and platform underrepresented voices – and this year’s festive shows do just that!

Kicking things off on 3rd & 4th December, a bold new voice in feminist theatre comes to the Unity; Rotten Apple is a raw, poetic exploration of mental health, class, identity and what it means to risk everything for a dream. The first play in the ‘Windows of a Woman’ trilogy, this debut piece follows the true story of a young Liverpudlian woman chasing her dream of a bigger, brighter life – in the magical setting of a snowy, 1990’s Manhattan.

Queer and non-Binary Artists are shining brightly at the Unity this December, with a delightful variety of shows stuffed full of comedy, acrobatics, drag and puppetry. Perfect for those planning a festive get together, Unity’s Christmas Cabaret will return on 19th & 20th December after last year’s anarchic success, starring cabaret legend, Velma Von Bon Bon. Meanwhile on 17th & 18th December, Merseyside Kings’ Merry Manarchy welcomes holiday heartthrobs for a festive drag king cabaret – expect a ridiculously fabulous camped-out search for what Christmas is all about.

This Christmas, Unity Theatre proudly spotlight the work of RAWD – their Associate Company in Residence – who co-create joyful, inclusive spaces where disabled artists can thrive. A RAWD festive special, To Be Near A Shooting Star, is a sparkly, twinkly, candy-cane story, where Mary and Joseph go on an important quest… expect tinsel, triumphs and three ‘not-so-wise’ kings, with this RAWD twist on a Christmas classic.

A fitting finale for the 2025 season comes in the form of Sleep Can Wait! – a heart-warming, high-energy journey through myths, legends, and imagination – lovingly curated by Unity Theatre and Liverpool-based theatre company, Tmesis Theatre. The jewel in the Unity’s festive crown, this enchanting physical theatre show is packed with fun, laughter, and wonder – perfect for dreamers of all ages this winter season! Showing from 12th – 23rd December, the show is packed with lots of physicality and minimal text – the ultimate family- and neurodiverse-friendly production.

For tickets, visit here

Symposium: Teaching Artistry in Action

Tuesday 2nd December

Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool

Event details here & for registration, follow this link: https://teachingartistryinaction.eventbrite.co.uk

Artists who teach operate at the vital intersection of artistry and pedagogy – bringing their professional creative practice into classrooms, cultural organisations, and communities, and helping learners develop curiosity, resilience, identity and belonging. This work is essential to the arts and cultural ecosystem, yet too often undervalued or overlooked. 

Hosted by Curious Minds, this symposium will bring together teaching artists, cultural leaders, funders, and policymakers to explore how they can make teaching artistry visible, valued and sustained in England.

They want to make this event accessible to everyone. Tickets are priced at £5 for individuals, £15 for small organisations, and £30 for large organisations, with free community tickets available.

This is an opportunity for you to contribute to the future of the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail, by helping to inform decisions about the design of the Trail’s plaques.

After asking your name and email address, they will ask 10 design questions, intended to help ensure the community’s views are heard when it comes to the design of the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail plaques.

This presupposes they might be allowed to make changes to the existing plaques, but the whole process is subject to planning approval, building-owner satisfaction and funding viability. Your answers will help the Liverpool Irish Festival (the trails custodians) to build a case for support and ensure that, if they are allowed to proceed, your thoughts can be considered.

The suggestions made here are an outline to inform ideas. Not every aspect will be incorporated and conflicting needs will have to be considered. However, they are committed to using as much information as we are given to inform the end designs.

At the end of the survey they ask three monitoring questions to assist with understanding our reach and engagement. If you do not want to answer these, please state ‘Prefer not to say’ or ‘PNTS’.

Take the survey here

Organisations and businesses can bid for a share of £1 million in funding to help them deliver bold and innovative initiatives that enable more people to walk, wheel or cycle, Active Travel England (ATE) has announced.

 The Active Travel Innovation Fund is inviting applications from small to medium-sized businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), with grants of up to £100,000 available for each successful applicant.

The funding is designed to help develop new ideas or to expand on successful initiatives that are already making a difference. Examples could include community projects that help under-represented groups make more active travel choices, projects that work alongside local councils to enable and promote sustainable travel, or that use digital tools to improve safety and accessibility.

This funding will support the Government’s Plan for Change by backing entrepreneurs and creative and ambitious projects to improve the nation’s health and kickstart economic growth.

• The fund is to be spent on active travel interventions, with a focus on engagement and behaviour change. This may include spend for materials and small items to support the development, delivery and/or scaling of interventions.

• Interventions which propose to use funding to continue the day-to-day running of an existing service will clearly need to demonstrate how funding will add additional value – e.g. by reaching new users; by scaling the service; by delivering new/different outputs.

Questions should be issued to ATE-Innov-Fund@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. The mailbox will remain open until the fund officially closes however the deadline for clarification questions in relation to the fund e.g. regarding eligible organisations, will be 7th November 2025.

ATE will review and shortlist applications between mid-November and early December, with interviews for shortlisted applicants likely to be held the week commencing 15th December 2025.

Successful applicants will be notified of their funding in January 2026, with funding formally awarded in February 2026. The delivery of interventions should conclude by the end of March 2027, with a fund evaluation stage to commence thereafter.

For full details and eligibility criteria, visit the Government Find a Grant website. 

Closing date: 14 November