Crowdfunder Webinar: How to fund your next creative project
Creative UK portfolio member, Crowdfunder, is hosting a free webinar to empower the creative sector workforce to take control of their project’s future. In this session, you’ll discover tried and tested strategies, real-life success stories, actionable tips and insights into 0% fees.
Held: Online, 15 October, 7 – 9pm.
Register here
You’ll be buzzing with excitement with Tate Liverpool’s bug-themed activities in their Learning Space this October half term!
From dragonflies to beetles, take inspiration from the creepy crawlies in Tate’s collection to construct multi-coloured neon replicas of your favourite bugs. Use the materials from their pick ‘n’ mix recycled craft box to make a 3D model of your bug.
Check out John Hoskin’s Black Beetle, Louise Bourgeois’ Spider, Mark Wallinger’s King Edward and the Colorado Beetle, Yinka Shonibare’s Grain Weevil and Andy Warhol’s Happy Butterfly Day for inspiration!
Their Learning Space is open every day for visiting families- a space to relax and create with art games, colouring-in, books, toys and more!
Join Collective Encounters as they launch their new digital archive, celebrating 21 years of theatre for social change in the Liverpool City Region.
This evolving archive brings together the voices, memories and stories of the many people who have shaped Collective Encounters. It reflects on what cultural memory means and how we tell, preserve and question our shared histories.
The launch includes a live performance from Heritage Police, who invite us to interrogate who decides what counts as heritage—and what gets left out.
All are welcome to come along, explore, and reflect on what it means to build a shared cultural memory.
They will also be hosting an online launch event on the same day, 22 October, find out more here.
Take a look ahead at some suitably spooky Future Yard shows and events as we tread into the most haunted time of the year…
The Wytches 24.10
Tender Claws + Friends Halloween Special 31.10
Bring The Fire Project presents Fuego De Los Muertos 01.11 (x2 shows in the Garden)
Glorified Cabaret presents Théâtre Des Vampires 01.11 (in the Live Room)
Mosh Tots bring the Halloween Special back! 02.11
All tickets available via future yard.org
ArtsGroupie news for autumn 2025.
First up – Liverpool Irish Festival
Artsgroupie will be participating in an exclusive first screening and book debut documenting The Walk of the Bronze Shoes pilgrimage and advent of the Global Irish Famine Way.
Join them this October for a World premiere documentary and book launch
Mon 13 Oct 2025 at BOXPARK Liverpool.
Reveal unveils Liverpool Irish Famine Trail research
This milestone event marks three-years of dedicated research into the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail. Additionally, it documents the extraordinary 2024 Walk of the Bronze Shoes pilgrimage from Strokestown, Ireland, to Liverpool, UK. The documentary is produced by Overshoot Productions, directed by Ailsa ‘Ayls’ McQueen.
The evening represents a unique preview to the Liverpool Irish Festival 2025 programme. The Festival is the UK’s largest Irish arts and culture-led festival, running from 16 to 26 October 2025 under the theme “Arrivals”. Through it, we’ll explore migration, settlement and finding home while marking the 180th anniversary of An Gorta Mór (The Great Hunger).
Three years in the making, Reveal captures the creation of the Global Irish Famine Way. It is characterised by countless hours of research, endurance and dedication from remarkable walkers and researchers. The book features ground-breaking research from the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail‘s History Research Group. Both the book and film document previously untold stories of Irish Famine refugees who found sanctuary in Liverpool.
The book has been peer-reviewed by Liverpool University Press, who serve as distributors, with copies available from them on the night. Both Reveal and a limited supply of the companion volume Revive will be available for purchase on the night.
The Bronze Shoes of Liverpool documentary is supported by the Irish Government’s Strategic Diaspora Fund, via their Consulate in the North, and was developed by a local production company in the city. It will be entered into film festivals following its launch.
These significant heritage projects have received support from:
And secondly, the ghostly return of
Tickets are going fast for this one-night-only performance –
Saturday 25th October
7:30 pm
“As solitary a place as ever I saw…It struck a chill to me, as if I had left the natural world.”
A ghostly figure has visited the signalman twice already, each time preceding a terrible disaster. When the apparition appears for the third time, it’s up to the signalman to decode its meaning and prevent another catastrophe.
A gripping slice of Gothic horror from Charles Dickens, regarded as the greatest horror story ever written.
In the tradition of classic oral storytelling, a lantern and two players are all that is needed to tell the spine-tingling tale of the Signalman.
Directed by David Griffiths.
Starring Zoran Blackie & John Maguire.
https://www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/…/the-signalman/
Invisible Wind Factory is an independent multidisciplinary arts venue in a converted warehouse. Think winter wonderland meets urban rave venue – it’s completely unique! They have endless activities to offer festive revellers: bandaoke, smore-making by the campfire in their urban garden, festive food and drink, festive dancers and performers, photo opportunities and so much more.
They put decades of production experience and boundless creativity into every event with the goal of blowing your team’s socks off. They’ll craft you an immersive wonderland that’ll have your guests wide-eyed and wondering how on earth you pulled this off. There’s something absolutely electric about watching your colleagues, even Alan from accounts, get down to the sounds blaring out of their custom sound system that has played the sounds of global super stars over the years.
Let’s crack on and catch a glimpse of what they have in store?
Entertainment
At Invisible Wind Factory, they don’t do ordinary. Known for high-end, out-there creative production, they’re bringing decades of festival magic into a Christmas season your team won’t forget.
This year, they’re putting the Festive in Festival — think live bands, DJs ‘til late, roller disco under sparkling lights, and a line-up of performers that turn any party into a showstopper.
Entertainment highlights
DJs & live bands
Bandaoke (yes, live-band karaoke!)
Street & circus performers
Dancers, magicians & stilt walkers
Activities
Roller disco (for groups up to 200)
Quizzes & interactive games
Photo ops & booths galore
Food & Drink — with a Twist
We’ve reimagined festive classics with a street food spin:
Pigs in Blanket Hotdog — nostalgia in a brioche bun, loaded with sausage, bacon, mustard & crispy onions
Poutine Fries — pure comfort, a hug in a box
Loaded Yorkie — Yorkshire pud meets street food, stuffed like the best Christmas roast you can eat while dancing
And for pud? Forget polite slices — we’re talking S’mores by the camp fire, churros and more, because we are at a festival remember!. Time to get a bit gooey and a bit messy as you roast your marshmallows under the stars.
Unbeatable 2025 Deals
They’re taking bookings now with 50% off venue hire on weekdays in Nov & Dec, plus January deals especially for hospitality teams.
Spaces go fast — book early and let’s make Christmas 2025 bigger, bolder, and absolutely unforgettable.
Give your staff party the Wow Factor for 2025. More info here: https://www.invisiblewindfactory.com/christmas/
The iconic music venue transforms for the summer months into a unique wedding destination, offering couples an unprecedented blend of musical heritage, festival level creative production matrimonial magic!
When new build flats claimed their original, city centre location, they discovered something even better: their perfect match in an old Dockside factory! This unexpected new home sparked something: a distinctive space where creative souls like you can celebrate, connect, and begin your next chapter together.
IWF is now becoming the definitive choice for couples seeking a wedding experience that breaks the traditional mold. The venue, which has hosted countless musical legends, now opens its doors, for a limited time only, to couples looking to begin their story.
“Launching WOW Factor Weddings was a no-brainer. Couples kept coming to us, each with their own unique and sentimental reasons for wanting to get married in our space. So, we went all in — bringing the same creativity and skills we’ve honed delivering hundreds of productions and events to couples who connect with what we do and want a spectacular, festival-style wedding.” .
~ Laura Cotter, Senior Manager & Creative Producer, Invisible Wind Factory
What Makes The Venue Special
Step into a space where professional-grade sound and lighting systems meet flexible industrial architecture. Our experienced production team brings years of expertise in crafting unforgettable events, while our curated network of suppliers ensures every detail reflects your style.
These walls have hosted legends, celebrated comedians, drag artists and acclaimed theatre performers – and now our couples get to take centre stage and receive the same A-list treatment we’ve provided to countless performers. When you choose a venue that truly knows how to put on a show this bold,
The Main Hall breaks away from traditional wedding venues with its distinctive industrial-chic aesthetic and bespoke light art decor installations. Comfortably seating 250 guests for dinner or welcoming over 500 for drinks and dancing, our roster of musicians, artists and entertainers gives us plenty to choose from to match your vibe and keep your guests entertained from day to night.
“The staff at the Wind Factory went above and beyond to make sure we had the most incredible day. The venue looked stunning and the service was perfect from beginning to end. We really can’t thank you enough for a day we will never forget”
~ Sam & Anna
“Conventional weddings can be dull and a slog for guests. We really wanted the wedding to be about the guests, not just us. We wanted fab, outrageous, fun and not formal,”
~ Danny & Patrick
Booking and Information
Couples interested in exploring this unique wedding opportunity are encouraged to contact the venue’s events team directly. The Invisible Wind Factory team is committed to working closely with each couple to create personalised experiences and build their ideas from the ground up!
For inquiries and bookings:
Email: hires@iwfltd.com
Location: Invisible Wind Factory, 3 Regent Road, Liverpool L3 7DS
Download wedding brochure here
They will blow you away
Unsung Heroes: capturing the spirit of local boxing
Open Eye Gallery’s Unsung Heroes project features portraits from 19 individuals nominated by local boxing clubs and gyms and a short film, capturing the spirit of 16 local boxing clubs.
Photographers Emma Case and Katie Richardson, alongside filmmaker Susannah Fletcher, have captured their portraits and stories, highlighting the vital voices shaping Liverpool’s boxing community. The exhibition and the film offer a unique insight into the faces and stories of those creating a lasting impact and legacy within local clubs.
The portraits were exhibited in St Georges Hall and selected bus stops in Liverpool from September 2025, and the short film is now available online.
National Museums Liverpool has partnered with University of Liverpool’s Heritage Institute and Octopus Associates to develop the £1 Billion* Initiative.
The Heritage Institute, working alongside a consortium of leading cultural partners including Historic England and World Monuments Fund, together with scholars from the US, Oman, and Africa, will conduct a landmark study into the social and cultural value of National Museums Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project.
This research will pioneer new methods to assess and evidence the project’s impact, demonstrating its potential to deliver cumulative social value exceeding £1 billion. It will highlight the transformative national and international significance of the development, positioning Liverpool and the UK at the forefront of heritage-led regeneration.
The £1 Billion* Initiative will evaluate the impact of cultural heritage to engender community pride, attract international visitors, stimulate creative industries, and deepen global connections. It will pioneer new methods and assessment techniques to act as an important global pilot for valuing cultural and heritage assets, challenging the perception of culture as a soft power.
National Museums Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project aims to link storytelling, heritage, community and hospitality to create a rich visitor experience and be a catalyst for social and environmental improvements in the area.
A landmark project, it will reimagine the space between the Royal Albert Dock and Mann Island, reconnecting local communities and breathing new life into one of the waterfront’s most historic and culturally rich areas.
At its heart, the redevelopment of International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum will serve as both the cornerstone of the transformation and the ideal case study for the £1 Billion* Initiative.
Professor Soumyen Bandyopadhyay, Director of the University of Liverpool’s Heritage Institute said: “The Heritage Institute is committed to playing a pivotal role in addressing global imbalances to ensure social and cultural justice. Imbalance in heritage benefits derived by different social groups is perhaps one that is most prominent. Thus, for us, understanding the true dimension of the social value generated through heritage, redevelopment and cultural initiatives is central to restoring the central role of heritage in our societies.”
Vicky Smith, Executive Director, National Museums Liverpool said: “In many ways we already have a good understanding and appreciation for the profound value of this project, thanks to our continuous dialogue with the people and communities we are working with to build it. However, the rigour and scope of University of Liverpool’s work provides deeper insight, further metrics and significant validation. We enter RIBA 4, an important milestone as the concept drawings for International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum are developed into detailed, technical designs, with renewed belief in these museums and their rightful place not only in Liverpool’s cultural landscape but their national and international significance too.”
Led by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios), the redevelopment of International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum will sensitively respond to the existing Grade I-listed buildings: Hartley Pavilion and Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building (previously the Dock Traffic Office).
A monumental new entrance for International Slavery Museum will be worthy of its position as the only national museum in the world dedicated to transatlantic slavery and its legacies. This bold and striking intervention on the historic landscape, responds directly to community stakeholder feedback for designs to feature not only an accessible front door but one that also claims its rightful place on Liverpool’s waterfront.
A new contemporary link bridge will connect Hartley Pavilion and the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building and create a ‘pause-point’ with panoramic views across the docks, where visitors might consider how the stories within the galleries relate to the place they currently stand.
International Slavery Museum will become a home to the National Centre for Teaching Black History. The re-developed second floor of Dr Martin Luther King Junior Building will be dedicated to the learning outputs and outcomes of the centre and its programming will connect with collections and representation across all National Museums Liverpool’s museums and galleries.
Ralph Appelbaum Associates are leading on the exhibition design for both museums and the project will see new galleries, as well as shared spaces for community uses, research, learning and events.
The Maritime Museum will see significant regeneration and enable the museum to show a more comprehensive and coherent vision of Liverpool’s maritime story. A new entrance will create a more welcoming arrival for visitors, new galleries will explore conflict, global connections and migration, while the popular ‘Titanic and Liverpool’ gallery will be revitalised.
Both museums are due to reopen in 2029.
A bronze sculpture has been unveiled in Liverpool on behalf of the Royal British Legion to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and to honour the vital part played by the British Indian Army.
Created by British artist Mahtab Hussain, in partnership with the RBL, the 120kg bronze sculpture which is now on display at Liverpool’s Central Library until mid-November, depicts five figures in uniform, representing the diverse nature of the British Indian Army, including Gurkhas, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus.
At the unveiling on Saturday night, Mahtab said, “Learning about the Second World War at school was very much a ‘white’ experience, I had no idea the British Indian Army also fought or that they had more than 2.5 million soldiers.”
Mahtab has a personal connection to that unique generation, as his own grandfather volunteered to serve. He continued, “When Britain won the war, they did so with the help of millions of soldiers from pre-partition India and around the Commonwealth. It’s important that all aspects of the story are told and everyone is included in Remembrance.”
“The sculpture celebrates the contribution of the largest volunteer army in history and shows the impact of all faiths coming together and fighting for a bigger cause. The figures in the bronze are based on 3D scans of soldiers currently serving in the Army who all have a family connection to the Second World War. Their stories form part of the wider Royal British Legion ‘Forgotten Army’ exhibition which is set to tour the country after its unveiling at Liverpool’s Central Library. The exhibition which will highlight the diverse, multi-faith Commonwealth contribution made during the Wars, will move onto locations including the RBL’s National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Oldham Art Gallery and Leicester Museum and Galleries.
Gail Walters, Head of Network Engagement at the RBL, said, “The contributions from many different countries – including those in the Caribbean and South Asia – have moulded Britain as it is today. The very nature of Remembrance is about inclusivity and unity – all service should be recognised and remembered.”
Elements of the exhibition have been co-produced by students from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), including an augmented reality (AR) experience and The Forgotten Army website which includes shadow puppet animations, interviews, archival imagery and a timeline of the contributions made by Commonwealth soldiers during the Second World War. In addition, students wrote scripts for, directed and performed in a bespoke performance to celebrate the launch of the exhibition, bringing the stories of the five figures depicted in the sculpture to life.
Professor Rachel McLean, Director of the Liverpool School of Art and Creative Industries, said, “It’s been a real privilege for our students to be involved in this project, delving into the forgotten stories of the soldiers who are honoured in this poignant sculpture. Students across a range of LJMU degree programmes have grasped the opportunity to put their skills into practice, undertaking research, conducting interviews and contributing to the production of the digital media, animation and AR elements. Their original performance was also a highlight of the launch event itself. It’s an experience that our students will certainly never forget.