Community Post Type: News

Knowsley community spaces Incredible Edible (Court Hey Park) and Make on the Corner (Derby Road, Huyton) are set to host the final two-week creative residency of artists Unfinished Business this November.

Produced by community arts organisation Heart of Glass and Incredible Edible Knowsley, the residency, titled The Instinct Lab, combines fermentation, art-making, microbiology, and inner wisdom to inspire positive change in individuals, communities, and the world around us.

The project is made possible by funding through Arts Council England.

This final residency will bring together the artists’ work with communities in Knowsley over the past year, which has included seed planting, fermentation, sauerkraut spell-making and building a special shed at Incredible Edible Knowsley community allotment to house all the fermented food made (“The Home of the Spirit of the Ferment”). Plus much more.

This time they will be offering attendees a series of free, fun immersive experiences and workshops where they can journey deep into their gut instincts, explore their intuition, and connect with ancient traditions.

Anna Kronenburg, Producer Heart of Glass says:

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Anna and Leo back with us! They’re both amazingly generous artists, totally committed to sharing their creative skills, knowledge and passion. Their work really hits home with our mission to spark real, lasting change, and we can’t wait to see more magic unfold over the next few weeks!”

Leo Kay, artist Unfinished Business says:

“The Instinct Lab is all about gut feelings, intuition, fermentation and the art of divination, so building our shed to house ferments right here at Incredible Edible community allotment has been a real honour. This amazing space, led by Karen—a true community icon—has been the perfect home for our creative workshops, all supported by an incredible, committed community. We’re so grateful for the chance to develop our practice here, right where it belongs.”

Free tickets can be booked here: https://www.heartofglass.org.uk/project-and-events/events/the-instinct-lab-part-three

Free events at Incredible Edible (Court Hey Park)

Monday, 4th November, 11am – 3pm: Sauerkraut Spell Making
Participate in a unique process where attendees will collectively create a giant pot of sauerkraut and develop a “spell” for positive community change.

Tuesday, 5th November, 10am – 1pm: Feeding Our Ancestors
This workshop explores prebiotic cooking, honoring our ancestors, and learning to nourish your microbiome. Participants will cook a collective lunch together.

Tuesday, 5th November, 1pm – 3pm: Fermenting Radish Eyes to See into Your Future
Learn how to ferment radishes (designed to look like eyeballs) and explore intuitive, creative soothsaying techniques.

Thursday, 7th November, 10am – 2pm: The Bakery of Slow Ideas
Craft ancient grain sourdough bread while discussing what empowerment means within the community. The loaves will be baked and ready for collection the next day.

Free events at Make on the Corner (Derby Road, Huyton)

Drop-in events from 14th – 16th November, 1pm – 4pm daily:

Engage with a variety of artistic and sensory experiences: dip your hands into a sourdough installation (MUSH), enjoy a meditation, or simply stop by for tea and a fermented snack.

Special free ticketed events include:

Thursday, 14th November, 11am – 1pm: Workshop – Fermented Chilli Fruit Sauce
Learn to make your own fermented chili sauce.

Thursday, 14th November, 4.30pm – 6pm: Talk – Me, Myself, and My Microbiome
Join microbiologist Dr. Thomas Willmot to explore the world of microorganisms that live on, in, and around us.

Friday, 15th November, 11am – 1pm: Workshop – Creative Kvass
Discover how to make beetroot kvass, a fermented drink that benefits your gut health.

Saturday, 16th November, 4pm – 6pm: Talk – The Gut Brain Connection
Learn about the intricate relationship between our bodies and brains with David Field, a Somatic Experiencing® specialist.

The residency culminates with The Final Ferment, a community celebration on Saturday, 16th November, 6pm – 7pm, where participants will share their ferments and creative contributions.

The Reader + Milap present
Diwali at The Storybarn

Saturday 2nd November / 10:00am & 12:30pm
The Mansion House, Calderstones Park, Liverpool, L18 3JB
TICKETS

The Reader and Milap come together again to present Diwali at The Storybarn. Following on from last year’s sell-out event, The Reader’s Story Hunters are back with the spirit of Diwali exploring the Indian festival of light.

There’ll be time to explore the magical Storybarn, share Diwali inspired stories and crafts, and create your own magical tale. Best suited for 4-9 year olds, younger siblings welcome.

Bundobust + Milap present
Diwali at Bundobust

Thursday 31st October – Sunday 3rd November
Bundobust Liverpool, 17-19 Bold St, L1 4DN &
Bundobust Manchester, 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG
Free Admission (Booking Recommended)
BOOK A TABLE

After last year’s sold-out events, Milap will join forces with Liverpool & Manchester’s favourite Indian street food restaurant, Bundobust, to celebrate Diwali with a special set menu of nostalgic dishes. £1 from every Chaat Deluxe will be donated to Milap as a registered charity.

Expect a weekend long, family-friendly festival filled with Desi food, drink, arts, crafts and culture — the perfect occasion to come together and celebrate Diwali, a festival that symbolises joy, new beginnings, and hope, fostering togetherness and renewal

Maureen Nolan and Coronation Street’s Emrhys Cooper are set to head a stellar cast in St Helens Theatre Royal’s fantastic festive family show this Christmas.

The show was officially launched today at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool City Centre, the full cast stopped passersby in their tracks as they paraded in sumptuous costumes for the invited media and photographers.

Pop legend and West End star Maureen will play the Wicked Queen while Emrhys, who is currently appearing on TV screens as Corrie’s Rowan Cunliffe, will take on the role of Prince Fredrick in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which comes to St Helens from Saturday 30 November to Sunday 12 January 2025.

They will be joined by the fairest cast of them all, panto royalty Leanne Campbell who is appearing digitally as the Magic Mirror, outstanding newcomer Chantelle Morgan as Snow White, and St Helens’ favourites Lewis Devine as Muddles and Richard Aucott as Nurse Nelly.

Regal Entertainments Ltd, which stages the hugely popular seasonal shows at the theatre, has also enlisted the help of some very special local legends to voice the roles of the Dwarfs – with the magnificent seven comprised of Johnny Vegas, Joel Ross, Pete Price, Philip Regan (Queen of Scotty Road), Craig Phillips, Louis Emerick and John May.

All of those lending their voices are donating their fees to their chosen charities.

The cast will be joined by a superb supporting company of future West End stars from Nazene Danielle’s School of Dance – Dance Dynamix and canine performers Doggie Delights also return after being a hit in the Easter Panto.

Maureen Nolan is a member of the legendary Nolans girl group of singing siblings who took the charts by storm in the 1970s and 80s with their hits including the top 3 floor filler I’m in the Mood for Dancing. She has worked in the industry for six decades and has appeared alongside a host of major stars from Frank Sinatra to Motorhead.

Her many theatre credits include Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers, a role she played for two years in the West End. In fact, no fewer than four Nolan sisters have played Mrs Johnstone – winning them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Other stage appearances include Vi Moore in Footloose and Ruth in Calendar Girls, along with Mum’s The Word, Menopause the Musical, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and The Eva Cassidy Story – Over the Rainbow. She’s also no stranger to panto, having appeared in more than 20 including Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood at the Liverpool Empire and, most recently, the Wicked Queen in Snow White at Stafford.

Actor, singer, dancer and filmmaker Emrhys Cooper plays Prince Fredrick. Emrhys can currently be seen as cult leader Rowan Cunliffe in Coronation Street. His other screen appearances include, Vincent Wright in CSI: NY, Richard in Desperate Housewives, Young Greer in Person of Interest, and Alistair in Emmy-nominated drama series Vanity, alongside big screen appearances in Bright Young Things. Dreamcatcher and smash hit movie Mamma Mia!

Before moving to Hollywood, where he spent 15 years, a young Emrhys appeared in Aladdin in Maidstone, while his stage credits also include We Will Rock You, Fame the Musical, As You Like It, Entertaining Mr Sloane and The Boys in the Band. As a dancer he has worked with stars like Madonna, Pussycat Dolls, Christina Auguilera and the Sugababes.

And as a writer and director, his credits include the short film Trophy Boy (Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival) and his award-winning feature film directorial debut The Shuroo Retreat (released in over 35 countries and available on Prime).

Leanne Campbell returns in digital form, thanks to amazing state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, after appearing magically as the Genie in the Mirror in last Christmas’s Aladdin.

Leanne started her acting career at the age of 10, with early roles including Annie at the Liverpool Playhouse and an award-winning performance as young Helen in the much-loved Twopence to Cross the Mersey. She went on to play many leading roles in musicals and plays including Me and My Girl, Carousel, The Sound of Music and Scrooge. She was also cast as Pam in ITV’s Children’s Ward.

In 2020 she wrote and starred in the successful comedy play Pete Price is Dead at Liverpool’s Royal Court, other recent productions include The Salon and Achy Breaky Bride. Her many high-profile panto appearances include five years at the Liverpool Empire and six consecutive years at the city’s M&S Bank arena.

She currently presents the regional Breakfast Show on Hits Radio alongside Joel Ross.

The hilarious Lewis Devine is Muddles. Lewis most recently appeared as Silly Billy in Goldilocks and the Three Bears at St Helens. His other roles for Regal Entertainments include French Frank in Beauty and the Beast, Wishee Washee in Aladdin, Chester the Jester in Sleeping Beauty and Buttons in Cinderella.

Coming from a talented performing family, Lewis won the first ever Kids Stars in Their Eyes as Donny Osmond and is part of a comedy show band called Schooner with his father Terry. Away from the stage, he runs The Devine Theatre Company to develop Merseyside youngsters in the entertainment industry.

Nurse Nelly is played by Richard Aucott who also returns to the Theatre Royal after appearing as Widow Twankey in Aladdin at St Helens last Christmas. His other roles have included Dame Gertie in Goldilocks, Potty Polly in Beauty and the Beast and Ugly Sister Borisina in Cinderella.

Richard first set foot on stage aged 13 as the back end of a pantomime horse in Toad of Toad Hall. Starting at the bottom he made his way up the ladder until at 18 he played his first Dame. Since then, he has appeared in almost 30 pantos up and down the country, mostly as the Dame. He also makes most of his own stage costumes. His other theatre credits include Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Mr Woodhouse/Mr Elton in Emma, and Alan Bennett in The Lady in the Van as well as roles in The Importance of Being Earnest, Much Ado About Nothing and The Herbal Bed.

Chantelle Morgan will play the titular role of Snow White, who was chosen out of 150 hopefuls to join the unmissable panto’s starry cast after open auditions were held at the theatre.

Chantelle trained in Musical Theatre at The Urdang and Emil Dale Academy and has been very fortunate to share the stage with some very well-known artists including Welsh star Luke Evans on BBC’s Luke Evans Show Time. Other credits include Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk (2023), Maid Marion in Robin Hood (2022), Cinderella (2021), Kylar in Bring It On: The Musical (2021), Sister Mary Roberts in Sister Act (2018), and performing alongside Gareth Malone at the opening of Soho House.

Book online here

 

 

 

 

To mark Arts Groupie’s exciting new exhibition #LightsUpOnLiverpool, Theatre History at – The Hornby Library Liverpool Central Library Nov 2024 till Feb 2025, they have 4 x FREE Theatre History Walking Tours available.

Join 18th Century thespians Bartholomew Garrik and Francoise Kemble as they take you on a journey celebrating Liverpool’s theatrical heritage, visiting the former sites of playing houses and contemporary theatres, finishing at the magnificent Liverpool Theatre History exhibition in The Hornby Library, Liverpool Central Library and Archives.

Sat 9th Nov – 11am & 2pm from unity theatre to The Hornby Library (2 hours duration).
https://www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/…/theatrical…/

Sat 30th Nov – 11am & 2pm starting outside Central Library and finishing at The Hornby Library (2 hours duration)

Limited Spaces available – BOOK now artgroupie@outlook.com
Kindly supported by Arts Council England

St Helens Theatre Royal is joining the campaign to help save Liverpool’s Zoe’s Place with a special fundraising performance of its enchanting half term panto.

Sleeping Beauty comes to St Helens from Saturday 26 October to Sunday 3 November 2024.

And the theatre is announcing that £15 from every ticket already sold or newly bought for the 1pm show on Tuesday 29 October will be donated directly to the vitally important Liverpool baby hospice whose future is under threat.

It means panto audiences could help raise up to £10,500 if there is a full house.

In addition to the individual £15 ticket donation, a special bucket collection will also be held at the performance.

Zoe’s Place, which was founded in 1995, is one of only three hospices in the UK which specialises in caring for babies and children under the age of five who have life-limiting, life-threatening or complex conditions.

The six-bed hospice in West Derby includes a state-of-the-art sensory room, hydrotherapy pool, soft play area, outdoor play area and garden and a special bereavement suite where families can stay overnight. An expert nurse-led team delivers care tailored to individual children and their families to allow them to live life to the fullest.

But the lease on the Yew Tree Lane site runs out in 2025, and delays in securing planning permission for a new purpose-built hospice, combined with sharply rising costs in the construction industry, have led to Zoe’s Place announcing it faces closing its doors at the end of this year.

Since news broke earlier this month, a campaign has been launched to raise £5 million in 30 days to help fund a new building and keep the vital service in Liverpool.

Meanwhile the most spellbinding panto of them all, Sleeping Beauty tells the story of Princess Aurora who is cursed by the evil fairy Carabose, pricks her finger on a spinning wheel and is doomed to sleep for a hundred years – unless a handsome prince arrives to break the spell.

The talented cast of firm St Helens favourites includes Maddie Hope Coehlo in the leading role while Rachael Wood is Carabose, Lewis Devine appears as Chester the Jester, Lewis Burrage is the Prince, Warren Donnelly appears as the King, Katy Mac is Fairy Sparkle and Mark Two plays Dame Queenie.

The panto is written by Liam Mellor, directed by Chantelle Nolan and has choreography by Nazene Langfield. Callum Clarke is musical supervisor.

Telephone ticket booking line 01744 756000, lines open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.

Book online at www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com 

 

Singing superstar Jason Donovan as Frank-N-Furter, Hits Radio Liverpool Breakfast host Leanne Campbell and legendary entertainer Pete Price as The Narrator star in the Rocky Horror Show this Christmas at the Liverpool Playhouse, from Tuesday 3 December to Saturday 4 January 2025.

Known for her dynamic voice and larger-than-life personality, Liverpool’s favourite radio personality Leanne Campbell is trading the airwaves for the stage this Christmas season as she steps into the role of the Narrator in Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical the Rocky Horror Show at the Liverpool Playhouse from Monday 9 December to Saturday 4 January 2025.

Leanne Campbell said:

“I’ve been Time Warping for as long as I can remember, so stepping into this role feels like coming home! I can’t wait to bring some scouse attitude and Christmas sparkle to the stage – let’s make this the wildest Rocky Horror Show yet!” Sharing the role with Leanne, is Liverpool Legend Pete Price who will also be donning his fishnets and bringing his unique talents to the stage from Tuesday 3 to Thursday 5 December and Saturday 7 December.

Pete Price said:

“I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of The Narrator in the Rocky Horror Show right here in Liverpool. It’s packed with fun and a bit of madness – just my kind of thing! I can’t wait to get up there and have a laugh with the crowds this Christmas.”Singing superstar Jason Donovan (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, London Palladium; the 25th Anniversary Production of The Rocky Horror Show) is also set to thrill Liverpool audiences, kicking off the festive season in show-stopping style as Frank-N-Furter from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 December. He will then pass the fishnets on to Stephen Webb (The Rocky Horror Show and Titanic, National Tour) who will take over the role for the remainder of the run in Liverpool after which the show continues to tour the UK.

The Rocky Horror Show defies space and time as it continues to captivate audiences around the world featuring all the outrageous characters and infectious energy that has made the show a global phenomenon for over five decades. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all the famous musical numbers which have made the Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for 50 years and counting, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “Time Warp”.

The show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank-N-Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.

The Rocky Horror Show at the Liverpool Playhouse from Tuesday 3 December to Saturday 4 January 2025 is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation – meaning, of course, getting dressed-up in the most outrageous fancy dress. There is a captioned performance on Thursday 12 December at 7:30 pm, and an Audio Described performance on Thursday 19 December at 7:30 pm.

Tickets are priced from £11 – £51 and are available at www.everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on/the-rocky-horror-show

The Floral Pavilion Theatre is thrilled to announce its latest, highly-anticipated Autumn / Winter programme, promising an eclectic mix of entertainment to delight audiences of all ages.

Following a sensational summer of festivals and events, the venue is set to continue its momentum with an exciting line-up of drama, comedy, music – and crocodiles!

Highlights of the season include the hilarious murder mystery Cluedo 2, starring Coronation Street and Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Leach.

Younger audiences will love seeing David Walliams’ Awful Auntie brought to life on stage by The Birmingham Stage Company.

Other evenings are packed with live music so you can dance the night away to your favourite tracks by classic artists, and comedy stars including John Bishop, Jason Manford and Al Murray will have audiences rolling in the aisles.

But the season’s crown jewel is undoubtedly “The Further Adventures of Peter Pan – The Return of Captain Hook!”, running 6th December – 5^th January.

By popular demand, the fantastic Sean Jones returns for an incredible fifth season as Smee. He’ll be joined by an amazing cast including Tom Lister, Danny Colligan, and Holly Atterton in this piratical adventure to Neverland.

Pauline Campbell, Venue Manager at the Floral Pavilion said: “At the heart of everything we do is our audience. We’ve listened to feedback on what shows people want to see in our programme, and we hope that people really enjoy what we have coming up. We look forward to welcoming them all to our fantastic venue in New Brighton”.

Full highlights of the Autumn /Winter season include:

Comedy

Laughter takes centrestage with outstanding performances from comedic heavyweights kicking off a great season from November:

• John Bishop (3 Nov)
• Gyles Brandreth (4 Nov)
• Jason Manford (6 & 7 Nov)
• John Culshaw (21 Feb)
• Al Murray (22 March)

Live Music

The Floral Pavilion’s stage will come alive with world-class artists bringing both new music and modern classics to New Brighton.

• Greatest Hits of Motown (17 Oct)
• Foster and Allen (9 Nov)
• Guitars across the Mersey (18 -20 Nov)
• A Country Night in Nashville (13 Feb)

Drama

Theatre lovers can look forward to a range of captivating productions:

• “Cluedo 2” – Unravel the secrets in this thrilling sequel (12-16 Nov)
• “Rita, Sue and Bob Too” – Get entangled in this provocative comedy (26 Feb – 2 March)

Families

• “Awful Auntie” – A brand-new stage production perfect for the whole family (24-27 Oct)
• There was an old lady who swallowed a fly (13 Oct)
• Dear Zoo (5 Nov)
• The Little Mermaid (23 Feb)

Enhanced Theatre Experience

The Floral Pavilion continues to offer a delicious selection of pre-theatre dining options before most shows. The venue’s café is open throughout the day offering a warm welcome to all whether visiting for a show or a stroll on New Brighton’s picturesque prom.

“We’ve had an amazing summer,” Pauline added, “and are now excitedly looking forward to an action-packed Autumn Winter season. We can’t wait to welcome guests to experience the magic of live performances at the Floral Pavilion.”

Tickets are now available for these shows and many more. For more information and bookings, please visit the Floral Pavilion website or contact the box office

Liverpool’s largest celebration of sneaker culture returns to its original home for a special 10-year anniversary event.

Laces Out! is marking its official 10th anniversary this October, and to celebrate the milestone, it’s heading back to where it all started – Camp and Furnace, Liverpool.

Taking place on Sunday 13th October, this is a nostalgic return to the event’s original venue, where the very first event was held a decade ago. After over two years away from the space, organisers say they “couldn’t think of a better location to celebrate this landmark event with our attendees who love the venue as much as we do”.

Laces Out! has grown into one of Europe’s most prominent sneaker culture gatherings, consistently uniting sneakerheads from across the UK and beyond. This special anniversary event will feature an unparalleled experience for attendees, packed with exclusive trainers, sought-after collaborations, and a chance to relive the magic of the event’s early days.

Founder Rob May explains: “We wanted to do something special for our 10th anniversary, and what better way than to return to Camp and Furnace, the place where it all began. The space holds so many memories for us and the community around LACES OUT!, and we’re excited to bring the event back there for this one-off celebration. It’s been an incredible journey over the past decade, and we’ve built something that people travel from all over to experience. We can’t wait to celebrate with old and new faces who supported us along the way.”

As always, expect sneaker prizes, panel talks with industry legends, music, and exclusive collaborations. Sevenstore are once again lead partners in the event the event alongside adidas, so expect some product giveaways. Crep Protect will also be on hand with their sneaker cleaning activations and exclusive sneaker prizes.

Before all of this the 10-year celebrations kick off with two unbelievable pre-parties you won’t want to miss. First up, Hip-Hop legend Easy Mo Bee will be spinning at Lost Art Skate Shop on Wednesday 9th October, followed by the iconic Nightmares On Wax at 24 Kitchen Street on Friday 11th October. These two parties will set the stage for an unforgettable 10th-anniversary celebration, blending legendary artists with the unmistakable Laces Out! energy.

Don’t miss out on these exclusive events as Liverpool gears up for the biggest and best festival in Laces Out! history.

Laces Out! Trainer Festival takes place on Sunday 13th October at Camp and Furnace in Liverpool. Tickets start at £10 for general admission and are available now at lacesout.co.uk

Liverpool-based pioneering disability and Deaf arts-led organisation DaDa is celebrating its 40^th anniversary.

The award-winning, cutting-edge multi artform charity was founded in 1984 and since then has become an integral part of the campaign for greater equality and access for disabled artists across the arts and cultural sector.

It develops and presents excellent disability and Deaf arts through an artistic programme that includes high quality festivals and events, fed in to by a year-round programme of engagement work with developing and established artists, young disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent people, their families and the wider community.

The centrepiece of DaDa’s work is DaDaFest International – launched in 2001 as a platform to showcase the work of disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent artists and which is set to return in March 2025 with the theme for the special anniversary festival revealed today as RAGE.

DaDa was founded in 1984 by artistic director John McGrath and Liverpool disability activist and performer Mandy Colleran as Arts Integrated Merseyside (AIM), then a branch of London-based Shape Arts.

In 1986 it became the independent North West Disability Arts Forum (NWDAF) with a focus on Liverpool, Manchester and the surrounding area, and worked as a cross-artform organisation led by disabled artists and advocating for disability rights, equitable access to the arts and arts training, and developing bespoke support for disabled artists to develop their own practice.

It was renamed DaDa in 2008.

Over DaDa’s 40 years it has made an important impact through advocacy and social change and through partnership and collaboration with a range of organisations and bodies.

That includes supporting Liverpool City Council on policy making around access to services and transport; being consulted during the redevelopment of the Liverpool Everyman to make it one of the most accessible theatres in the country and working with the Unity for more than 20 years to change perceptions of disabled artists and for the theatre to independently programme work by and support disabled artists.

DaDa has also been invited to collaborate and share expertise internationally, most recently on projects in Indonesia and Brazil.

DaDaFest was launched in 2001 to promote disabled artists in ‘mainstream’ venues and present artist work as having equal value in terms of artistic quality and political and social impact. Artists from across the UK were invited to take part and NWDAF worked with Liverpool venues and arts organisations to present a diverse programme of events.

The festival also worked to remove barriers for disabled audience members to attend by offering BSL translation, audio description and support with transport to and from venues.

It quickly grew to become a home for UK disability arts and to attract international artists, soon moving to a biennial format to assist artists to secure funding and develop work.

The festival provides a safe space for peer discussion and shared learning, a national and international platform for new and existing work by disabled artists, and networking opportunities.

A total of 13 DaDaFests have now been held, featuring more than 500 events showcasing the work of disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent artists.

Previous festival participants have included Dame Evelyn Glennie, actor and comedian Liz Carr, comedian Francesca Martinez, performer Claire Cunningham, poet Amina Atiq, sculptor, fantasy novelist and performance artist Brian Catling, visual artists Tony Heaton and Rachel Gadsden, and artist-activists Bobby Baker and Liz Crow. Artists have also come from Indonesia, India, Mali, Congo and South Africa as well as from across the UK.

DaDaFest International 40 will run from 8-31 March 2025, with an official launch event revealing the programme set to take place at the Unity Theatre on 29 November.

The festival theme RAGE was chosen after consulting with disabled artists who reflected their frustrations at the continued uphill battle for equity and inclusion – with disabled people still being excluded from conversations and decision making, and disadvantaged when it comes to work, transport and the cost of living.

DaDa interim chief executive Zoe Partington says: “This is a very important year for DaDa as we mark our 40th anniversary – 40 years of artistic excellence, activism, advocacy, creativity, collaboration, conversation and celebration.

“Our vision is ‘equity and excellence in the cultural landscape to break down the barriers that exist for disabled art communities’ and I’m very proud of the high level of artwork which has been created and presented over those four decades under the DaDa umbrella as well as in partnership with organisations and venues within Liverpool and beyond. It’s not been easy and disabled leaders have had to fight for equity at DaDa.

“I’m also delighted we can reveal the theme of next year’s DaDaFest International is RAGE. After consulting with artists, the feedback we received clearly shows that though some progress has been made, too many decisions are still taken without involving disabled people. This has left disabled artists and disabled communities raging that the gaps in society are still so wide, and we are still so far from equity and representation at all levels in art, culture and heritage. Often neglected, ignored and discriminated against at the highest levels in the arts sector, community and government at cultural level. 

“We want our festival to continue to provide an equal, radical and open space for artists to flourish, share work and debate the solutions to the issues we face together through artistic excellence, expression and engagement, to offer valuable networking opportunities for disabled artists across the arts sector in Liverpool and beyond and, importantly, to provide a high-profile UK platform exclusively for new and existing work by disabled artists and activists to ensure no stone is unturned and we are at the centre of the decision making powers and production  We still live in an age where we cannot drop our guard and have to campaign for real change .”

Website: www.dadafest.co.uk

Edge Hill University is supporting the launch of the 13th annual dot-art Schools programme, an initiative that encourages artistic talent among schoolchildren across the Liverpool City Region.

The programme invites Year 5 and Year 9 pupils to participate in an online art competition, with the winning pieces displayed at Liverpool’s prestigious Walker Art Gallery.

The dot-art Schools programme engages over 1,500 students from 100 primary and secondary schools each year, offering children the chance to develop their artistic side, have their skills recognised and envision a future career in the arts.

Carolyn Murray, dot-art Schools Project Manager, said: “We are grateful for the continued support of Edge Hill University’s Faculty of Education as a major partner. The University’s generous contribution makes this programme possible.”

Dr Helen O’Keeffe, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Education at Edge Hill University, said: “Our fantastic partnership with dot-art has helped to promote creativity and promote good mental health in schools – two things that are key to our curriculum here at the University. I’d encourage every school in the city region to try the competition and find out for themselves how much the children and teachers enjoy the experience.”

The competition, which culminates in a prize-giving ceremony and public exhibition, provides the opportunity for children to showcase their work for the first time in a public space, giving them confidence and pride.

Alice Demba, Young People and Adults Lead at National Museums Liverpool, said: “I want to praise the dot-art Schools’ 2024 exhibition for its celebration of students’ creativity, passion, and enthusiasm. A standout moment for me was engaging with students and families; it was wonderful to see how their sense of pride and achievement boosted their confidence and self-belief. I’m excited for the 2025 showcase at the Walker.”

Lucy Byrne, Director of dot-art, added: “dot-art Schools is all about encouraging self-expression and creativity. We can’t wait to see the new ideas and talents students will bring to the 2025 programme.”

Schools interested in participating in the 2025 programme can register online via the dot-art Schools website until Christmas. For further information, visit schools.dot-art.com or contact Carolyn Murray at carolyn.murray@dot-art.com.