Community Post Type: News

Birkenhead is set to host ‘an unforgettable night of music’ featuring a boundary-pushing, genre-blending group with members from Mexico and Brazil.

Francisco, el Hombre will play Future Yard on Friday 25th April in a show presented by Liverpool’s Latin American arts and culture organisation, Luma Creations. As part of their highly anticipated European tour, the dynamic band will take the stage in Birkenhead in what promises to be an unmissable night of powerful music and high-energy storytelling.

Francisco, el Hombre has captivated audiences worldwide with their high-energy performances and unique fusion of Latin American rhythms, punk spirit, and politically charged lyrics. With members hailing from both Brazil and Mexico, the band weaves together vibrant sounds and powerful messages, making their music as thought-provoking as it is dance-inducing.

* * * DISCOUNT CODE ***
USE CODE ‘FRANELHOMFY25‘ AT CHECKOUT FOR £8 OFF * * *

The Lady Lever Art Gallery will present artwork by Jim Moir in a new exhibition, Dawn to Dusk: Birds by Jim Moir (14 June to 2 November 2025). Moir is known for his exquisite paintings of British birds, around 45 of which will be on display. Some of the paintings have been created exclusively for the exhibition.

Many visitors will be familiar with Moir’s work following the successful Sky Arts series, Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir. This will be the first time that the artist’s paintings are displayed in a national gallery, with most works available for purchase.

Although he is known to many for his earlier comedic work under the stage name of Vic Reeves, art came first for Moir. “All I ever did as a child was paint,” he has claimed, having produced art throughout his life.

Born in Leeds in 1959, Moir grew up in Darlington. Both of his parents were artistic – his mother was a painter and his father was a woodturner. He was immersed in the art world as a child, regularly attending craft fairs and galleries with his parents. He achieved his first taste of success at the age of ten, winning a competition on a cornflakes box by painting a combine harvester. He went on to study at art school.

Jim Moir said: “It’s an honour to be exhibiting at Lady Lever; a truly unique gallery that’s brimming with masterpieces. The process of working with the team at National Museums Liverpool has been a greatly enjoyable one and I’m very much looking forward to sharing the finished exhibition with visitors.”

Growing up in a rural area, the natural world was Moir’s playground as a child. He and his friends would search for birds and their nests in hedgerows. After his father gifted him a set of very heavy binoculars from the Second World War, he became more interested in watching the birds from afar.

Dave Moffat, Assistant Curator of Decorative Art at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Moir’s paintings are unmistakably his; his passion for birds is visible in every brushstroke, along with his knowledge of each species. He studies each bird before painting it, allowing him to capture their character and quirks with his own unique blend of precision and wonder. The exhibition presents a joyful and imaginative study of British birds.”

From garden birds to seabirds, Dawn to Dusk celebrates the magic and majesty of many of the UK’s most-loved feathered friends, inviting us to appreciate their brilliance and importance through the beauty of paint.

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/jim-moir

Poet. Performer. Punk icon. Godfather of Punk Poetry.

A defining voice in British poetry and performance, Dr John Cooper Clarke brings his sharp humour, biting verse, and unmistakable delivery to WoWFEST25!

You will not want to miss this unique evening of conversation and performance that promises to be full of his trademark sardonic wit, biting satirical verse, and hilarious ponderings on modern life.

📍 Everyman, Hope Street
📅 Friday 30 May
🎟️ Link to the festival here

Unity Theatre have announced a bunch of new workshops for you to get involved with this spring/summer ⁠
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HOW TO WOO THE AUDIENCE BEING A POTATOE ⁠presented by Madame Señorita & Physical Fest⁠
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Thursday 10th — Friday 11th July | The Arts Bar Studios⁠
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In this workshop, they will be using clown training to focus on the relationship they build with the audience. They will dive deep in our vulnerability to discover “our individual theme/game” that will allow us to play with the public. ⁠
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Introduction to Clowning with John Lawlor 🤡⁠
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Tuesday 20th May | 6-8pm⁠
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This workshop will focus on being rather than doing. Through games & impros, we explore the present moment, connecting with ourselves and others. Embracing innocence & wonder, you’ll embark on a personal journey to discover your unique sense of humour & truthfulness, by listening & being receptive.⁠
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BESEA Autobiographical Writing Workshop with Houmi Miura 🖊️⁠
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Monday 9th June | 6-8pm⁠
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Explore playful, creative tools to start writing an autobiographical show, away from the pressure of a blank page. Specifically for British East & South East Asian creatives, they’ll delve into translating the themes of East Asian identity and diaspora into a theatre script with performer and writer, Houmi Miura.⁠
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All tickets available via their website

Milap’s story began in 1985, when Dr Prashant Nayak and a group of like-minded friends hosted “Indian Cultural Evenings” in Liverpool – to enhance friendship, understanding and cooperation between the local community and people of South Asian origin who made a home for themselves in Britain in the 1980s.

40 years on, Milap‘s dedicated mission to promote Indian culture in North West England has spread nationally, culminating in the creation and delivery of groundbreaking artistic projects, with a strong track record of producing world class performances that spotlight classical Hindustani and Carnatic artforms and recognition at Milap’s National Indian Arts Awards.

Milap have worked with countless illustrious musicians that are globally renowned for their craft. Notably, British Mercury-Prize winner and pioneer of Indian Classical and Drum & Bass fusion Talvin Singh has been championed by Milap since the 1980’s – first bringing him to perform at the Bluecoat in 1993, and most recently collaborating with him at INDIKA 2023.

“Congratulations Milap & Team. Prashant Ji is a visionary in the arts and music. He has always been so supportive and in touch with young musicians in the UK. I remember us being in communication when my career was just taking off as an artist in the early 90’s and he knew me as a working musician in the 80’s and he’s encouraging and blessing have come a long way for us all in music. Great that Alok & Archana are taking Milap to even greater heights and my best wishes” – Talvin Singh 

Of the many world class performances in Milap’s history books, another highlight is revered Carnatic vocalist and Oscar-nominee, Bombay Jayashri. An undisputed star of Indian classical music, she headlined the Southbank in London 2012 before returning to the venue for another stellar sellout show in 2023.

Fast-forward to their 40th year, Milap presented bansuri virtuoso and multi-GRAMMY winnner Rakesh Chaurasia at The Tung Auditorium in March 2025. The distinguished Chaurasia family’s musical legacy has also been a part of Milap’s story for decades – Rakesh’s legendary uncle Hariprasad Chaurasia graced the stage at the Bluecoat back in 1993.

“Milap has played a significant role in spreading the joy of Indian classical music. Sustaining this mission for 40 years is truly commendable. Their three-pronged approach—Experiences, Learning, and Development—makes it a holistic endeavour. I am delighted to be part of this milestone season and extend my best wishes to Milap for its ongoing journey.” – Rakesh Chaurasia

Marrying tradition with modernity, Milap have always strived to curate a unique fusion of Indian classical music and contemporary soundscapes to create an accessible listening experience, that in turn has paved the way for a new appreciation of Indian music in the UK. This summer, Milap are welcoming esteemed bass virtuoso Shez Raja back to the Wirral for an electrifying evening of his unique ‘Indo-funk-jazz’ sound, alongside electric guitar sensation, Guthrie Govan.

Over the last 40 years, Milap has been a steadfast champion of Indian classical dance, nurturing the next generations of performers to carry the torch through a comprehensive programme of teaching, scholarships and prestigious performance opportunities.

Milap’s flagship Dance India programme remains a globally unique space for dancers of all styles to immerse themselves in an intensive week of learning, exchange, and artistic inspiration. A regular attendee of Dance India programme, Apoorva Jayaraman has recently gone on to win the Yuva Puruskar Award in India – one of the highest national accolades for outstanding young artists in dance.

Today, celebrated artists like Arushi Mudgal and Sonia Sabri stand as shining examples of the impact of Milap’s enduring commitment to preserving and celebrating Indian dance forms.

Arushi Mudgal was part of Milap’s first dance production Swadesh, then went on to become a key member of the Dance India team and has since been hailed by the New York Times’ Chief Dance Critic as “one of India’s most remarkable dancers”, as well as one of the young ‘Game Changers of India’ by India Today.

Sonia Sabri has also supported Milap in her role as tutor for Dance India and is now a multi-award winning dance artist, choreographer and movement director. She assisted in choreographing The Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and owns the UK’s leading and award-winning contemporary South Asian dance company. Milap have platformed both Sonia’s solo and company works throughout her career, securing her headline performance spots at major milestone events including the grand opening of the Capstone Theatre in Liverpool (2010).

Fuelled by the desire to sustain the legacy of Indian Arts & Culture in the UK, over 20 years ago Milap embarked on a mission to bring together budding musicians and artists from across the UK and beyond.

Founded in 2002, SAMYO – Milap’s National Youth Orchestra for Indian music – has redefined the presentation of Indian Classical Music, expanding its possibilities by using classical instruments in a new context, in turn creating a pioneering new orchestra. Through SAMYO, Milap invite musicians and vocalists to break away from tradition to explore and push the boundaries of their instruments, whilst remaining true to their Indian classical training. Now in 2025, SAMYO is one of only fifteen organisations in England to be awarded National Youth Music Organisation status by Arts Council England, and recruitment for this year’s cohort has been typically productive.

TARANG is the UK’s National Ensemble for Indian Music; both an intensive artists’ development programme that facilitates the musical growth of students into fully-fledged performers, and an acclaimed, unique band with an impressive back catalogue of shows and releases. Founded in 2004, TARANG began by blending North and South Indian music traditions amongst other genres including jazz, western classical and folk, in turn creating a distinctive Classical sound. Blending tradition with modernity, TARANG broadens musical horizons and has introduced a new way of experiencing Indian classical music.

Milap’s innovative Indian Arts career pathway and strong ties to the Indian music and dance industries has created life-changing opportunities for many of the Milap ensembles’ students:

Former contestant on The Voice UK, Abi Sampa progressed through SAMYO and is now an Associate Artist of the Royal Albert Hall. SAMYO alumni Pirashanna Thevarajah has also taken his career to great heights, becoming an integral ensemble member in Pandit Ravi Shankar’s world tours and appearing on a GRAMMY nominated live album at the Royal Albert Hall alongside artists such as Anoushka Shankar and Jeff Lynne.

Jasdeep Singh Degun is the first ever sitarist and British Asian musician to be recognised and awarded a Royal Philharmonic Society Best Instrumentalist Award (2024). He progressed through both SAMYO and TARANG as a young emerging sitarist and his burgeoning career has seen him reshape the Indian Classical musical landscape, earning him many accolades – including becoming an artist-in-residence at Opera North, ‘Outstanding Achievement in Opera’ at both the Critics’ Circle and UK Theatre Awards and both the ‘Asian Achiever’s Art & Culture Award’ and ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Songlines Awards. Jasdeep is now collaborating with BBC Concert Orchestra in Leeds and BBC Symphony Orchestra in London.

Milap’s educational reach over the last 40 years extends even further than their ensembles, targeting aspiring young musicians in the North West of all ages and abilities. A foundation of these inclusive opportunities includes Milap’s Arts School; a term time education programme based in Liverpool featuring weekly classes of Indian Performing Arts. Milap’s Arts School has allowed students to work closely with experienced teachers in a vast range of Indian art forms including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Tabla, Veena & Hindustani Vocal.

The local Merseyside communities have also experienced the lasting impact of Milap’s work via a range of workshops and masterclasses, offering people the unique opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge from the world’s leading Indian music and dance stars. This supported learning has ensured that audiences, aspiring artists and inquisitive students have all had access to memorable and inspirational experiences of Indian Arts for decades.

Adopting a vision of ‘Uniting Hearts Through Arts’, Milap’s dedicated mission to strengthen both Liverpool and Britain’s multicultural society has ensured that Indian Arts and Culture is accessible to their local communities. In doing so, Milap have made significant contributions to projects by Liverpool City Council over the years, including River of Light, Mersey River Festival and most notably, the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles’ seminal album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 2017. This milestone celebration saw Milap present ‘The Beatles Ragafest’ at St George’s Hall, where world-renowned Hindustani and Carnatic artists explored the works of George Harrison, transforming his songs with an array of Indian classical musicians and performers.

Since 1985, Milap have also partnered with numerous venues including the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, The Capstone Theatre, The Tung Auditorium, The Bluecoat and Bundobust in Liverpool, as well as The Lowry and Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, and Southbank Arts Centre in London.

Coming off the back of a fantastic spring season of concerts, Milap are continuing the 40th celebrations with many more exciting performances and projects planned for the rest of the year. 2025 will also see the return of INDIKA – their bi-annual 15-day festival of Indian Arts & Culture in Liverpool.

When Milap was first founded in 1985, both the organisation and the state of the world itself were very different, but one thing has remained the same – Milap’s committed endeavour to promote, endorse and celebrate Indian Arts & Culture, as well as its huge achievement in bringing different communities together through inspirational and enriching cultural experiences all over the UK.

National Museums Liverpool is delighted to announce the return of Sudley House Handmade for 2025, with summer and winter editions planned following the overwhelming success of the inaugural event last year.

The summer edition will take place on Saturday 16 August 2025, while the winter market will follow on Saturday 22 November 2025, bringing the magic of local craftsmanship back to this historic south Liverpool venue.  The debut Sudley House Handmade in November 2024 attracted hundreds of visitors eager to discover unique handcrafted gifts in the atmospheric setting of the former merchant’s mansion.

Grace Edwards, Marketing Officer at National Museums Liverpool, said:

“We were absolutely thrilled with the response to our first Sudley House Handmade market. The feedback from both visitors and traders was exceptional, and we can’t wait to build on that success with our 2025 events.

“The summer edition will offer something different, giving visitors the chance to explore the beautiful grounds of Sudley House alongside discovering amazing local talent. Our winter market will once again transform the historic rooms into a festive shopping experience, perfect for finding those special Christmas gifts.”

Applications for stallholders will open mid-April 2025, with the final lineup expected to showcase a diverse range of quality handmade products from local makers, designers, and artisans. November’s market featured everything from ceramics and textiles to jewellery, prints, and homeware, with a focus on highlighting the best of local craftsmanship.

For more information about Sudley House and to stay updated on stallholder applications, visit liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/sudleyhouse

Liverpool charity Mandela8 have announced the appointment of three new trustees for 2025 to the organisation’s Board.

Former Urban Design Officer, Lesley Woodbridge, anti-racism champion nurse, Michelle Cox, and filmmaker and longtime Mandela8 collaborator, Joe Campbell will bring their extensive experience and skillsets to the charity following the announcement this week.

Michelle brings an expertise in in equality, diversity, and inclusion to support Mandela8’s vital work. With a strong background in advocating for racial equity within the NHS and beyond, she is committed to challenging systemic injustices and creating lasting change.

Michelle’s experience in policy development, workforce inclusion, and amplifying marginalised voices aligns with Mandela8’s mission to inspire social justice and empower communities and she is looking forward to “contributing to the charity’s impactful initiatives and helping to drive meaningful progress”.

In 2012, Joe founded Culture City with the aim of highlighting and celebrating the rich culture of Liverpool. Originally a university project, Culture City has since evolved into a thriving content creation house based in the iconic Royal Liver Buildings.

Over the years, Culture City has worked with a diverse range of clients, from global brands to emerging artists, telling captivating stories, and providing opportunities for young people in the Liverpool City Region. Joe has worked previously with the Mandela8 Young Media Group on the production of several documentaries.

Lesley has over 30 years’ experience working in the art, heritage, and regeneration sectors.  For the past ten years, she worked with Liverpool City Council’s urban design and placemaking team encouraging high quality, creative and sustainable design in the public realm.

As Liverpool’s World Heritage Site co-ordinator, she worked with heritage organisations in the UK, including Historic England and the DCMS, as well as UNESCO and other World Heritage Sites to promote, protect and enhance Liverpool’s rich cultural heritage.

Her previous experience includes working with the Victoria and Albert Museum and public and private sector galleries in England and Scotland before spending 15 years with one of Scotland’s leading public art commissioning agencies to promote the contribution artists can make to important regeneration schemes, advising on the art programme for the new Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, and the community engagement work of one of Scotland’s successful housing associations.

Chair of Mandela8, Sonia Bassey MBE said: “We’re delighted to have Lesley, Michelle and Joe join us as Trustees at Mandela8. They are all shining examples of excellence in their industries as well as champions of their communities and longtime supporters of Mandela8. We can’t wait to work with them on all our upcoming projects.”

More information on Mandela8 can be found at mandela8.org.uk.

Heart of Glass is excited to launch a new downloadable map that showcases 12 incredible co-created public artworks across St Helens and Knowsley.

This project, part of its Creative People and Places programme, has brought art to some of the most underrepresented areas, with funding from Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Since 2021, Heart of Glass has been privileged to work with internationally known women and LGBTQIA+ artists to create vibrant murals and mosaics to smaller sculptural works. Each artwork was developed in collaboration with local residents, schools, housing groups, young people, and businesses. From primary schools to housing residents and shopkeepers to , these pieces reflect the identities, stories, and shared experiences of the communities involved.

Artists like Faunagraphic, Cherie Grist, Carrie Reichardt, and Nomad Clan have worked closely with these communities, helping transform public spaces and creating lasting connections. It’s been an inspiring journey of bringing people together, sparking important conversations, and celebrating local pride.

The new map makes it easier than ever for you to explore these artworks, whether you’re a local resident or just visiting. You can discover where each piece is located, learn about the artists behind them, and find out more into the creative process that brought them to life.

In St Helens, the works are mainly centred around Parr and can easily be explored on foot or by bike. In Knowsley, the artworks are more spread out, so you may need a bit more time to tick them off the list.

Download the map and start discovering! Share your thoughts and photos via Heart of Glass’ social media.

To download the map and explore the artworks, visit: https://www.heartofglass.org.uk/projects-and-events/projects/public-art