Community Post Type: News

Get your rollers at the ready, as one of St Helens Theatre Royal’s most successful comedy plays is back with a brand-new sequel.  Regal Entertainments will present the follow up to The Salon and will star queen of the airways, Leanne Campbell.

The hilarious new comedy The Salon – The Sequel! by Drew Quayle will premiere at St Helens Theatre Royal from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 13 October 2024 for a limited run of just 13 performances.

The Salon was a hugely popular production which originally played at St Helens Theatre Royal in 2009, it went on to play again 2011 and 2017. It also transferred over to Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre in 2018. Now the producers of The Salon – The Sequel! predict this new version to be a hair-raising success.

The first of the cast to be announced is radio and stage star, Leanne Campbell, Leanne reprises her role as Carol, manager at The Salon. Leanne has played the role of Carol in every mounting of the production and has made the role very much her own. A full supporting cast will be announced soon.

The now proud owner of The Salon, Carol has the world at her feet. With the salon’s beauty therapist Tia promoting the shop on her successful podcast, and her volatile workmate, Sheila, finally tackling her temper with anger-management classes, the salon has never been more popular. So, what could possibly go wrong? An unwanted pregnancy perhaps? The return on the local gangster? In fact, just about everything.

Book online at www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

This February, National Museums Liverpool (NML) are marking LGBTQ+ History Month with a range of events, activities and new online content – exploring the untold stories of LGBTQ+ people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.

With events ranging from panel discussions on the art of drag, to family pantomime with the fabulous Mama G, National Museums Liverpool aim to highlight key issues and stories from across the community. The Museum of Liverpool will host the fabulous mosaic “Dip into Pride Bath”, first exhibited in the lead up to Pride 2024, in the main entrance.

The LGBT+ Histories hub on the NML website gives visitors the chance to delve into insightful interviews, opinion pieces, art history and hidden stories – from interviews with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Sister Sister, to the hidden history of voguing and how LGBTQ+ people have left their mark on the world of science and technology.

Matt Exley, Participation Producer at National Museums Liverpool, said: “LGBTQ+ History Month gives us a moment every year to stop and consider the incredible history of LGBTQ+ communities. Throughout the month there are times to celebrate our successes, our triumphs, and our amazing contribution to culture, sport, politics and so much more. There are also times to remember the challenges we have faced, the people we have lost, and the work that still needs to be done to create a world that is safe and inclusive for all LGBTQ+ people. Whilst LGBTQ+ history should be marked year-round, February gives us a chance to shine a light on amazing, poignant, and important stories.

National Museums Liverpool’s programme of events for LGBTQ+ History Month is below – for further informational and for online content including pride stories, interviews, past collections and LGBTQ+ stories from across Liverpool, visit liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/lgbt-history.

16 – 24 Print Club: LGBTQ+ History Month  – Walker Art Gallery – 3 Feb, 1-3pm  

​​In this workshop for 16-24 year olds, you’ll be learning how to design and cut out your Lino to create your own unique item to take home with you. This technique can be used to create t-shirts, prints, tote bags and more, so it’s great for personalised items for yourself, or for creating gifts. All materials are included for these sessions, and no previous experience is needed. This session is free of charge, but tickets must be booked in advance.

In Conversation: Mama G and Sister Sister  – Museum of Liverpool – 17 Feb, 1-3pm  

In 2023 story telling events by drag performers were targeted by protestors claiming that it was inappropriate for children. Vast numbers counter protested in what, for many, was seen as a stand for LGBTQ+ rights. In this event we will speak to two performers who utilise elements of drag and dameship within their acts to weave stories and to teach lessons. We will listen to the lived experience of these performers and consider why in 2023 this suddenly became headline-grabbing news.

The Magic Bookmark – Museum of Liverpool – 18 Feb, 2-3pm 

You’re invited to join everyone’s favourite pantomime dame and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G in a brand-new panto adventure for the whole family! It all starts when the evil Book Worm decides that reading gives people too much knowledge and makes all the books from Mama G’s library disappear. Before the world can turn to chaos, Mama G vows to save the day by finding three books that will help make the world a better place. Of course, she can’t do it alone and that’s when she discovers the mysterious and wonderful Magic Bookmark.

The Physics of Life – World Museum – 22 Feb, 11am – 3pm 

Take a journey with Science Communicator Sarah Cosgriff to see the world of biology through the lens of physics. Sarah combines their love of science with their LGBTQIA+ advocacy work to develop diversity within the STEM community. Discover how physics allows us to see microscopic organisms, understand how living things adapt to their environments, and helps astronauts travel to outer space. Where will the combined forces of biology and physics take you?

LGBTQ+ History Month: Youth Engagement Forum and YPAS – Museum of Liverpool – 24 Feb, 1 – 4pm 

Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month at the Museum of Liverpool in our pop-up event hosted by the National Museums Liverpool Youth Engagement Forum. The theme for this year’s LGBTQ+ History Month is medicine and healthcare, both historically and today. For this pop-up event, you’ll get to know some of the LGBTQ+ people who have contributed to medicine, as well as spoken word and poetry.

Craft at the Museum: LGBTQ+ History Month – Museum of Liverpool, 14-17 Feb, various times 

Come along and create something special to take home with you, as part of our series of LGBTQ+ History Month events. Drop in, no tickets required. Opportunities to join in on 14, 15, 16 and 17 February between 11am and 12noon and from 1:30pm until 4pm.

Created by Wirral engineer Tom Hardiment, and tested by his partner Cat, the Groovetube is a new prototype plasma synthesizer. The instrument makes wild and crazy sounds with fluorescent tubes, and can be controlled with a magnet.

Lit fluorescent tubes are filled with plasma – a low pressure electrified gas that can make oscillations at audible frequencies. With suitable control over the plasma in the tube, they found this instability could make an amazing range of sounds… that could also be controlled with a magnet! (Listen to their videos with headphones, to hear details of the sound).

Playing with sound created in a glowing tube is tactile, surprising and absorbing, and they decided to develop a new kind of electronic instrument.

Groovetube

A prototype was demonstrated and a first-generation machine made available for pre-order on Kickstarter for people to try out a new way to make noise – an experimental machine to be experimented with! This has helped support its development into a proper synthesiser, which is now complete – the first batch of instruments will be built and delivered over the next few weeks.

It is a plasmaphone, and so an electronic instrument. It is also a bit like an acoustic wind instrument in having sound produced by waves in a tube, although they are different kinds of wave. Some of the noises do sound like wind instruments and even rushing air.

How does it work? Plasma is excited in the tube using a low-power RF generator. The machine is basically a valve preamp with electrical current sourced from the plasma tube, which introduces noise to affect the character of the sound. The nature of the plasma noise is controlled by regulating the amount of plasma in the tube and level of current passed through the tube. The magnet effect works because magnetic fields bend electron paths, making them more efficient in the plasma. At locations along the tube this has a different effect on the discharge as a whole, and so the sound.

About the developers

Tom and Cat share a passion for electronic and experimental music. Cat has tested the machine’s performance throughout its initial development, making her a pioneer voyager in plasma sound, while Tom has been responsible for creative vision and engineering. They live with their family in the Northwest of England.

A singer and musician from Liverpool is holding a ‘Youth Opera Boot Camp’ in the city this half-term, looking to inspire a new generation of artists and make vocal and theatre training accessible to everyone.

Rachel Harland is creative director of RHOK Create, as part of which she runs RHOK Show, directing singing groups, workshops and pop up events. Her aim with the boot camp is to introduce what she calls ‘the magical world of opera’ to young people in the Liverpool City Region.

The five-day programme is designed to be an enjoyable and stimulating experience, involving various elements of preparing for a performance, which then helps the children develop transferable skills such as team building, cooperation and self discipline.

Speaking about the boot camp and her own musical journey in Liverpool, Rachel said: “So many elements go into singing on stage: voice training; musicianship; stage craft; creative imagination; movement and language, to name but a few. We incorporate all of these skills in our five-day Youth Opera Boot Camp, which leads to a public performance on the final day.

As a child growing up in Liverpool in the 80s and 90s, I benefited from a thriving Liverpool music support service. In the current climate, I am acutely aware of the cut backs in music for young people across the board. Having returned to the city after nearly 20 years, I am extremely passionate about sharing the skills and knowledge I’ve picked up during my time studying, performing and teaching around the world. I know how transformative having a musical focus in your life can be.”

Anyone between the ages of 11 and 18 looking to build their confidence and skills, as well as forge new friendships, is welcome to join the Boot Camp and no specific skills or previous experience is required.

Rachel also runs RHOK Crêpes in the city – a food van stationed at the University of Liverpool that has fostered a loyal following over the last year – alongside her partner Roland Keogh.

“Our aim is to self finance our cultural interests of art and music, through our passion for food and creative education.” Rachel added. “RHOK Create’s vision is to make culture more accessible to more people.”

The Youth Opera Boot Camp will take place at Belvedere Academy in Liverpool, L8 3TF from 12th to 16th February. Places can be booked for £150 for all 5 days with a £50 sibling discount. For more information and to book your child’s place, head to rachelharland.net/youthoperabootcamp or call Rachel on 07540 740107.

We are pleased to announce the return of the Liverpool Improvisation Festival and building on from the successful launch last year, LIF 2024 will be even bigger, with more performances, a film competition and an additional day dedicated to workshops.

The festival is supported and hosted by the Unity Theatre, Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Liverpool is a great city to visit with lots to do and was recently rated the 7th best in the world by Timeout. 

Shows opens on Friday the 19th of April (1:15pm) and runs through till late on Saturday the 20th of April (10pm). On Sunday the 21st there is a whole day of workshops hosted by LJMU. The three-day festival includes 13 shows (five world premieres), a film competition in which improvisers from across the world can participate in and four workshops from leading national and international practitioners.

All the work is improvised and draws upon numerous art forms including clown, comedy, dance, drag, musical theatre, opera, storytelling, and theatre.

​The festival encourages innovation; risk taking and are inspired by those that do. Our aim is to create opportunity for those who create, perform and teach improvised live performance at whatever stage of their career and across multiple art forms. In doing so we aim to educate, inspire and develop future audiences and performers of improvisation. 

Liverpool has a long history of developing or hosting improvised work – Ken Campbell, Improbable theatre, HOOF!, The Improvathon, Showstoppers, Austentatious and MC Hammersmith, the list goes on. LiF aims to build annually on this proud legacy bringing the very best local, regional, national, and international improvised work to Liverpool audiences. 

Day one (Friday) 

• The festival launches in Unity One with the world premiere of Freeing myself with the Pole a durational improvised pole dance performed over four hours by Rowena Gander. Rowena has recently performed the world-famous Skeleton and the Nude by performance artist Marina Abramović at the Royal College of Art. 
• This is followed upstairs in Unity Two by another world premiere from Wigan based Casino Improv who are encouraging the audience to release their inner Von Trapp in the show The Children of Captain Von Trapp Wish to say Goodnight an interactive and playful experience for all. 
• Again, in Unity Two we have Open Heart theatre who are bringing from Sheffield their show Old Haunts. The company draw theatrical inspiration from a buildings history and this influence enables them to create a show which reflects the stories of both the past and the present. 
• Again, in Unity Two we have local Liverpool favourites Jen Hardy and Becky Webb in Murder at the Museum an improvised comedy crime caper. 
• Again, in Unity Two we have the award winning Your Flaws the Musical (Leicester Comedy Improv Award – 2023) in which your personal flaws are turned into a brand-new musical. 
• Closing the first day in Unity One we have the brilliant Murder Inc. who bring their own brand of interactive comedic murder mystery all the way from Manchester. 

Day two (Saturday) 

• Saturday opens in Unity One with the world premiere from the masters of silly stories Rob Bond and Lee Hithersay in The Story Forge: Making a Myth, an interactive and family friendly (6+) show in which the audience become the main characters. 
• Following from this upstairs in Unity Two we have The Oickers a team drawn from across the Northwest who will perform their short form (games based) improv show Fruit Smoothie. 
• Again, in Unity Two we have Dereks Mojo all the way from London who will perform their funny and feminist inspired show Questionable Behaviour.
• Again, in Unity Two we have another world premiere called A Wake an improvised funeral wake in which an audience members life will be reflected back to them through the memories of others.
• Again, in Unity Two we have international solo artist VUJO perform their improvised musical show, Like Father. Improvised drag king musical about manhood. 
• Again, in Unity Two we have another world premiere from international company Pairentheses with their show Shades of Emotion. Experienced improvisers Conrad and Simone ask for an emotion and a character’s story is explored from this starting point. 
• Back down in Unity One and to close the festival (shows) we have local Liverpool favourites Rubbish Shakespeare who will be performing their full-length version of Improvised Rubbish Shakespeare – The Incomplete Works. This was commissioned and opened last year at the festival and has recently played at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. 

Day three (Sunday) 

Moves next door from the Unity theatre into the Joe H Makin Drama centre (LJMU). The focus shifts from shows to workshops exploring how improvisation works and skills development. This is an integral part of the festival, and we are pleased to bring four renowned national and international workshop leaders to share their knowledge with participants in how to expand and build their skills in improvisation. 

• Mark Phoenix – Improvising a play using Meisner technique (10-1pm)
• Jodyanne FR – Stagecraft for Improvisation (10-1pm)
• Simone Ellul – Be (a) Present! (1:45pm-3:45pm)
• Owen Scrivens – Death, Dying and Improv (1:45pm-3:45pm)

See their website for full details and tickets

National Museums Liverpool (NML) is giving audiences new ways to experience art and culture in 2024, with a range of digital series aimed at uncovering untold stories and exploring Liverpool’s rich cultural world with fresh perspectives.

Frequent visitors and new audiences alike can look forward to the relaunch of the NML podcast from 1 February, which will take a behind the scenes look at some of Liverpool’s best-known cultural institutions. Popular YouTube music series Museum Sessions returns from 8 February to showcase a range of local talent performing in awe-inspiring NML venues, and 15 February will see the return of What Artists Wear, delving into the wardrobes of artists from across the North West – also on the NML YouTube channel.

The NML podcast gets underway with the story of legendary Liverpool music venue Eric’s – founder Ken Testi discusses how it became a key venue on the international touring circuit in the 1970’s, and the musicians who worked with some of Liverpool’s greatest musical exports. Future episodes will explore the cultural renaissance of the Bombed Out Church, a growing sub-culture of women fans in football, the importance of biodiversity in Liverpool and a look inside the Wirral fantasy world, Ron’s Place.

NML’s YouTube music show Museum Sessions returns for its third series – with musicians from across the Liverpool City Region giving intimate performances in NML venues. The series begins with Disco in Sochi performing at the Walker Art Gallery, with future episodes coming from Lily Almond in the cellars of Maritime Museum, Kingfast at the Museum of Liverpool, Ruby J at the Walker Art Gallery, Ex-Easter Island Head in the Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Building – and a performance from Edgar Jones on board the Edmund Gardner pilot ship in the Docks.

What Artists Wear sees NML explore the fashion and style of local creatives, and how these outfits align with their creative identity. For series two, performer Meme Gold, artist Mollie Balshaw, painter Jasmine Gardner, DJ and poet PJ Smith, musician Mickey Callisto and fashion designer Drew Kent talk viewers through their eclectic styles and how their fashion informs their art.

David Lally, Digital Content Lead at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Our museums and galleries are at the heart of the city’s cultural offering, but we never want to be confined solely to our bricks and mortar institutions

“These digital series’ give us the opportunity to step outside the museum walls, bringing a flavour of what we do direct to our audiences digitally. It’s really important for us to support and promote the artists, venues and organisations that make Liverpool and the surrounding areas a vibrant hub for creativity.”

The first episode of the NML podcast will be released on 1 February, with Museum Sessions following on 8 February and What Artists Wear premiering on YouTube from 15 February. Find out more at liverpoolmuseums.org.uk and tune in on the NML YouTube channel – youtube.com/nationalmuseumsliverpool.

Liverpool’s acoustically-optimised concert hall, The Tung Auditorium, has announced their Spring-Summer 2024 season, now on sale. Part of the University of Liverpool, the auditorium is part of the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre on Oxford Street.

Acclaimed Performers
Experience live music up close with brilliant performers from across the genres. Arguably the original folk-rock band, Fairport Convention coming to Liverpool soon (10 February), Sarah Jane Morris and her band will return with The Sisterhood Project (8 March), and later in the spring, award-winning Northumbrian roots musician Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening (28 April).

Classical
The Tung are presenting a varied and exciting range of classical concerts, including bass-baritone Davóne Tines’ unique perspective on liturgical performance (6 February), and countertenor Reginald Mobley exploring a different vision of the English Baroque with the Academy of Ancient Music (28 May). Liverpool Mozart Orchestra return with three fantastic programmes and Liverpool piano legends John Gough and Tom Kimmance will be joining forces to play both of the Tung’s Steinways (7 March).

Jazz
The Tung’s jazz concerts continue, from the timeless Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert (26 April) to the contemporary brilliance of the guitarist Tom Ollendorff’s Trio (6 March) with one of the jazz world’s great piano players, Aaron Parks.

Spoken Word
There are a number of fascinating talks coming up, starting with Dame Patricia Routledge (23 March) in conversation with Edward Seckerson. Beatles fans won’t want to miss the BBC’s Bob Harris and author/music journalist Colin Hall as they discuss a lesser-known side to the Fab Four: the Songs The Beatles Gave Away (25 May).

Free Lunchtime Concert Series
If you’re not familiar with the artists, programme, or even the genre, we dare you to take a risk on a Wednesday lunchtime concert at The Tung Auditorium! Frequently cited as the highlight of the audience’s week, this is an opportunity to enjoy something magical completely free on a Wednesday lunchtime. This season the auditorium will be welcoming artists in partnership with Liverpool Philharmonic (Trio Volant), Africa Oyé (Jali Bakary Konteh) and Milap (Debasmita Bhattacharya and Kousic Sen).

Check out the full programme at thetungauditorium.com.

The group, featuring Omar Puente (electric violin), Jack Jennings (guitar), Gurdain Rayatt (tabla) and Santi Jayasinha (cello), are forging their own path with an uniquely authentic approach to Indian classical music.

Each composition is constructed individually, creating an intriguing environment for improvisation to take place. Melodic material is based on the Raags of North and South India, with harmonic elements developed to enrich their character.

Though embodying the complex rhythms of Indian music, the overall landscape of the ensemble draws much from Latin and Jazz traditions. These contrasting rhythms, when layered into arrangements, flow together seamlessly to create real impact.

A luminous talent within the realm of Indian classical music, on Wednesday 24th April, Debasmita Bhattacharya will be joined by Milap artist-in-residence Kousic Sen for a special instalment of The Tung Auditorium’s lunchtime concert series.

Offering the perfect midday melodies, Bhattacharya not only boasts a profound comprehension of classical traditions, but also possesses an innovative spirit, revitalising the timeless essence of Hindustani music.

Her musical journey started at an early age, having since evolved into the powerhouse musician she is today, touring across India and internationally with numerous cross-genre musicians, breaking down gender stereotypes along the way.

The final show of the Spring Season on Friday, 10th May will feature world-renowned sitar player and maverick musician, Niladri Kumar, as he performs in Liverpool for the first time ever, alongside virtuoso percussionists Kousic Sen and Yashwant Vaishnav.

Celebrating Classical Indian Heritage through his own unique, captivating, and much-loved style, Niladri Kumar captures the heart of audiences and stirs the soul.

Widely acknowledged as India’s foremost sitar player, Kumar’s musical prowess spans generations, rooted in an innate understanding of Indian Classical Music. Trained under his father, a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, Kumar was heralded as a prodigy, and has been pushing boundaries ever since.

His groundbreaking creation of the “zitar” – a fusion of electric guitar and sitar – generates a unique rock-guitar sound. His sitar mastery, marked by dexterous double stops, whispering string bends and rapid taans, creates a sound like no other.

Joining Niladri is maestro Indian percussionist, Kousic Sen, and the prodigious tabla player, Yashwant Vaishnav.

Continuously pushing the boundaries of Indian music and dance – and inviting attendees to come along for the journey – Milap encourages the discovery of new sounds and artistry, creating a welcoming environment for new and old audiences to enjoy the best of what Indian art and culture offers.

Be sure to follow Milap across all of their social channels to stay up to date with what’s going on around the city and further afield! 

Instagram – @milapfest
Twitter – @milapfest
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/milapfest

Tickets for The Attuned Quartet at Liverpool International Jazz Festival on Saturday, 24th February are available to purchase here.

Tickets for Debasmita Bhattacharya and Kousic Sen on Wednesday, 24th April are available to purchase here.

Tickets for Niladri Kumar & Yashwant Vaishnav on Friday, 10th May are available to purchase here.

Liverpool Biennial is excited to announce the appointment of Marie-Anne McQuay as Curator for the 13th edition, taking place 7 June – 14 September 2025.

McQuay will be seconded to curate the Biennial – the largest festival of contemporary visual art in the UK – returning to her current role as Director of Projects at Arts & Heritage in Autumn 2025.

Marie-Anne McQuay, Curator, Liverpool Biennial 2025, said:  

“I feel honoured to be curating the 13th edition of Liverpool Biennial with and for the city where I live. I am so looking forward to reflecting on civic life, researching international exchanges, and collaborating with the wider team on Liverpool Biennial 2025.” 

Dr Samantha Lackey, Director, Liverpool Biennial, said:  

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Marie-Anne to the team for Liverpool Biennial 2025. Her longstanding relationship with the city of Liverpool will bring insight and intention to every part of the next festival, re-thinking the city’s changing relationships to the rest of the world. I look forward to working with Marie-Anne, our partners and artists across the city over the coming months as we begin to bring the festival to life.” 

The 12th edition of Liverpool Biennial, ‘uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things’ took place from 10 June – 17 September 2023 and was curated by Khanyisile Mbongwa. The independent evaluation of LB2023 can be viewed here. 

Liverpool Biennial is supported by Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council and founding supporter James Moores.

National Museums Liverpool is pleased to announce the appointment of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) as the new team leading the architectural design of a £58m major redevelopment of the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum.

The world-renowned design firm will develop the proposals for the Dr Martin Luther King Jr building and the Hartley Pavilion, building on the momentum already generated on this important strand of the Waterfront Transformation Project.

The redevelopment will see the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building become a prominent new entrance to the International Slavery Museum, creating not only improved visitor orientation and an inspiring welcome, but also a stronger sense of purpose and identity for the museum. The building will be multi-functional, serving as a space for community collaboration, events, and learning and participation activity too. The Hartley Pavilion will benefit from improved circulation for visitors with enhanced commercial facilities, including a shop, café, events spaces and a dynamic temporary exhibition space.

The transformed International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum will centre people – past, present and future, local, national and international – to create dynamic, welcoming spaces that meaningfully address contemporary issues. The national collections of both museums will be elevated through this new redevelopment.

Those whose lives have been most affected by the histories being told will play an integral role in the development of both museums.

Ralph Appelbaum Associates, who were appointed in 2022, continue to lead on the exhibition design for both museums.

Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool, said: “To be bringing two such visionary designers with international reputations to the project represents the bold ambition and thinking behind it. We are delighted they’re keen to embrace this as a co-production project which we feel will create something truly ground-breaking.

“There has never been a more important time to address the legacies of the transatlantic slavery and the redevelopment of the International Slavery Museum symbolises our, and our region’s, commitment to confronting the significant role the city played in British imperialism.

“Alongside the revitalisation of the Maritime Museum and the wider Canning Dock development, which will bring a renewed focus on Liverpool’s rich maritime history and communities, the project will create a holistic exploration of the heritage of the Liverpool waterfront, as well as a world-class visitor experience.”

The FCBStudios team will be led by partner, Kossy Nnachetta, who has been with the practice for 10 years, supported by Geoff Rich and Peter Clegg. Kossy is passionate about community design and has delivered several schools and community projects.

Kossy said: “FCBS are excited and humbled by the invitation to join the NML team and to lead the architectural transformation of these museums. We understand that there is huge responsibility to help create a platform to tell this story, long whispered, yet still awaiting the space to fully express itself; and all the potent, deep-seated emotions it can elicit. We hope to help create something bold and yet beautiful. The result of ‘many hands’ working together with the museums and communities in Liverpool.”

FCBStudios will also be working with key members of the University of Liverpool School of Architecture in facilitating the co-production of the designs. The team will include Head of School, Professor Ola Uduku, the school’s most recent professorial appointment, Professor Ilze Wolff, who is also a distinguished South African architect and founding partner of Wolff Architects, as well as EDI specialist, architectural designer, and PhD candidate Kudzai Matsvai. All three women have engaged in research and creative practices around the issues of gender, race, slavery, colonialism and imperialism and seek ways to transform society to be more equal, anti-racist and free.

FCBStudios has worked with National Museums Liverpool previously, completing the original masterplan for its waterfront sites in 2019 and supporting the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum Project’s bid to the National Heritage Lottery Fund Heritage Horizon Awards programme in 2020.

Colleagues at National Museums Liverpool were joined by community stakeholders for the selection and appointment of FCBStudios, including the co-chair of its RESPECT Group.

This project is made possible with generous support of £9.9million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to National Lottery players.