Community Post Type: News

International Slavery Museum has announced the launch of its 25th Slavery Remembrance Day commemoration with the news that photographer, artist, filmmaker, public speaker and historian, Fiona Compton, will be delivering the keynote speech.

Fiona will deliver the Dorothy Kuya Slavery Remembrance Memorial Lecture on Thursday 22nd of August 2024 5.30pm at Liverpool Town Hall. Tickets are available to book here.

Fiona explores the complexities of identity, heritage and social injustice. Her work surrounds self-empowerment and challenging representation, which has led her work to be part of several public speaking engagements, both locally and internationally.

Fiona Compton said: “As keynote speaker for Slavery Remembrance Day in Liverpool, I stand on the shoulders of ancestors whose voices were silenced. We reclaim those voices, weaving them into the tapestry of remembrance and resilience. Let us confront the shadows of history with courage, and illuminate a path forward guided by justice, empathy, and solidarity.”

Michelle Charters, Head of International Slavery Museum said: “25 years since the city’s first Slavery Remembrance Day, it continues to be an important moment in our busy city to pause and remember the many lives impacted by this abhorrent trade, as well as the many legacies and achievements of people of the African diaspora.

“We are looking forward to a very special contribution from Fiona on this significant year, as we mark not only the 25th anniversary of our commemorations, but also look to the future and the next chapter for the International Slavery Museum. We have recently shared our vision for the museum in a series of rewarding public consultations. Listening, sharing and collaboration has given the project new momentum, and as we come together once more to mark Slavery Remembrance Day, we are grateful to all the people who are on this journey with us.”

For 25 years (starting in 1999) Liverpool has marked Slavery Remembrance Day on 23 August. This significant date marks an uprising of enslaved Africans on the island of Saint Domingue (modern Haiti) in 1791. Designated by UNESCO, the date serves as a reminder that enslaved Africans were the main agents of their own liberation.

Liverpool was the European capital of the transatlantic slave trade, responsible for half of Britain’s trade. The ships set sail from Liverpool with goods and franchise, which were exchanged for enslaved men, women and children on the west coast of Africa, who were then taken across the Atlantic on a horrendous journey known as ‘The Middle Passage.’ Slavery Remembrance Day acknowledges this major period of trauma and injustice in world history which has all too often been forgotten – or not even acknowledged.

Each year Slavery Remembrance Day invites a speaker to deliver the prestigious Dorothy Kuya Slavery Remembrance Memorial Lecture. Previous speakers have included: Mr Martin Luther King III, award-winning film director Amma Asante, renowned activist and scholar Dr Maulana Karenga, civil rights campaigner Diane Nash, Zimbabwe’s first Black cricketer Henry Olonga, poet Lemn Sissay, author and musician Akala, and historian, David Olusoga.

The theme of this year’s Slavery Remembrance Day is Reflection. For a full programme of events please visit the website. In addition to the memorial lecture the following events will be running as part of the wider Slavery Remembrance Day programme:

Health, medicine and Transatlantic Slavery: Curatorial Workshop at the Maritime Museum. Tuesday 20th August 2-4pm.  

This workshop invites members of the public to help shape future displays at the International Slavery Museum. It concentrates on artefacts connected to the history of medicine and transatlantic slavery and explores how these should be represented at the museum. The workshop contemplates some of the ways that contemporary health inequalities experienced by Black communities are legacies of transatlantic slavery. More info.

CSIS Symposium: Space and Place- Building on the Past panel at The University of Liverpool. Wednesday 21st August.  

Curators, scholars, and community-based knowledge makers will reflect on buildings and spaces connected to the representation of slavery and its legacies. Discussions led by Dr Richard Benjamin, Senior Lecturer for Contemporary Museum Practice, Professor Ola Uduku, Head of School at the Liverpool School of Architecture, and Mike Boyle, Liverpool historian and author of “Liverpool Black Heritage: From Granby to Pitt Street,” will focus on how past experiences and new practices can inclusively and equitably shape future museum design and development. More info.

A Walk of Remembrance Thursday 23rd August 12-2pm.  

This year’s Walk of Remembrance has been extended and will include Williamson Square, Clayton Square, Bluecoat and finally Liverpool One, offering more opportunities to reflect at key landmarks. Along the walk we’ll speak about the journey and hear from influential voices, enjoy live musical performances in partnership with Africa Oyé. The walk will culminate by our libation ceremony at 2.30pm near the Canning Quayside and Dry Docks. More info.

Find out more about Liverpool Slavery Remembrance Day 2024 including the full programme of events by visiting the website here.

Just announced – the festival will include a ‘Palestinian Double-Header’ on Thursday 18th July at The Unity Theatre. The first event will feature Marina Barham – General Director of Al-Harah Theatre in Bethlehem, Palestine – who will bring the voice of Palestinian theatre and performing artists through the story of Al Sarah Theatre, and its work in the West Bank.

Marina will discuss the current situation in Palestine, as well as the importance of the festival and the crucial role that theatre plays in helping children, young people, and the community in overcoming trauma. The discussion will provide a valuable opportunity for Liverpool audiences to hear firsthand from a Palestinian activist.

Afterwards, the only performance of ORANGES & STONES outside of London will take to the Unity Stage. A play without words, the production is told solely through physical action and original music that conveys a moving image of occupation and settlement in Palestine, spanning over 75 years.

ORANGES & STONES is a symbolic play, in which the audience finds a woman living alone in her home. She is happy, tending tending to her orange orchards, until a dishevelled guest arrives at her door. She has no idea who he is, but offers him some water. He waves a piece of paper, and starts to unpack and move in…

Port Cities – a brand-new visual arts project in partnership with British Council MENA – will celebrate Liverpool’s unique identity; a city, with a global community and brimming with artistry, that looks outwards across the world. The world premiere of the exhibition will take place on Friday 12th July, with four internationally renowned Arab artists all exploring the social, historical and cultural links between Liverpool and the Arab region.

On Monday 15th July, The Port Cities Symposium will take place at The Bluecoat, for a day-long event of performances, talks and screenings led by the featured artists. The festival will also introduce ‘Slow Listening’ – an online audio project that will act as an invitation to stop and tune in to the sounds of the cities around us, available to access anywhere in the world.

Chambers of the Heart written by Hassan Abdulrazzak, directed by Sepy Baghaei and performed by Laila Alj, will explore the stories of three women, as they confront love, desire and memory in stories spanning from East to West.

And widely acknowledged as one of the hottest comedy nights amongst the Arab community and beyond, Arabs Are Not Funny will return to the festival for another hilarious night of laughter featuring comedians Prince Abdi, Fatiha El-Ghouri, Janine Harouini and Maria Shehata.

Also returning to the festival will be The Ayoub Sisters – an award-winning instrumental duo who are set to present an evening of live music at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room, including songs from their acclaimed album Arabesque.

Liverpool Central Library will host two workshops on Saturday 13th July, with Hadi Badi Books returning for a storytelling workshop with arts and crafts for children aged 4 – 8.

Maria Shehata will also deliver a comedy workshop for those keen to try their hand at stand-up, with attendees learning how to develop a funny story, generate ideas, and make it their own.

Continuing the festival’s literary offerings, on Wednesday 17th July, London-born Edinburgh-based Scottish-Algerian poet, Janette Ayachi will read from her outstanding second collection Quick Fire, Slow Burning at the Bluecoat.

On Sunday, 14th July, the festival joins forces with At The Library for a special summer evening of Arab film at the Plaza Community Cinema in Waterloo, with films chosen by founder of The Arab Film Club, Sarah Agha, and women from The Colour of Pomegranates group. The next day, The Bluecoat will host a special fundraising screening of At Home in Gaza and London; an artistic collaboration between Gaza and London presenting a range of digital workshops as an alternative to the blockade.

Closing out the festival proceedings, The Family Day at Sefton Park’s Palm House will offer a celebratory showcase, hosting a free afternoon of music, performance, authentic Arab culture, food and drink – with something suitable for the whole family to enjoy!

See the festival website here

Leading Liverpool independent pub group joins forces with neighbours to revive original Mathew Street Tribute Festival vibe

As Liverpool’s summer season is now in full swing, the team at Pub Invest Group are busy working on their plans for their own innovative Mathew Street Tribute festival to take place during this August Bank Holiday weekend 2024, showcasing some of their own leading pub and live music sites in and around the renowned Cavern Quarter, as well as many other independent sites too. Since they were first announced earlier in 2024, the plans have received a groundswell of support from key independent venues and businesses who want to bring this much-missed celebration back to life, but with a fresh twist.

The key players involved decided not only did they want to attract families to the event, as well as other key demographics, they also wished to ensure that everything is free at the point-of-entry, offering great value leisure time to celebrate the end of the summer. Live music is also part of this hugely fitting tribute, as the Rubber Soul complex and Sgt. Peppers have just announced that there will be 45 live bands playing over this noted Bank Holiday Weekend, from Friday to Monday inclusive.

The local independent venues all based within the Cavern Quarter taking part include:

• Sgt. Peppers
• Reminisce
• Revolver
• McCooleys
• Scruffy Murphy’s
• The Grapes
• Hardy’s
• White Star
• O’Briens
• Rubber Soul
• Eric’s
• King John
• Kaiserkeller
• Heaven
• The White Star
• Flanagan’s Apple
• Kabannas Liverpool
• Legends
• Wall of Fame

And it’s not just venues based in the Cavern Quarter, as surrounding area venues such as Abbey Road Bar & Kitchen on Harrington Street will also be involved.

Jimmy Boland Operations Manager at Pub Invest Group explains: “Since we originally announced our plans to have a Mathew Street Tribute event, to mirror the hugely popular past festival which was mainstay of the city’s summer calendar, the response from our friends and neighbours on Mathew Street has been both enthusiastic and exceptional. 

Everyone in the city and visiting guests who used to visit the area to attend the original festival still talk to us about their fond memories of such enjoyable moments. While it is still a busy operating time for us as a group, we know that a dedicated Beatles-themed tribute celebration has been much-missed, right in the heart of a place which is synonymous with their memory.

They are delighted that more tremendous venues will be ready to give our tribute attendees a weekend to remember alongside us. I also think it says something about the culture of this fantastic area, with businesses stepping up together.

The whole Cavern Quarter is an iconic musical and cultural attraction, and this is a time to really underline that heritage. From our stance, we will also be about providing events which are free at point-of-entry, are family friendly, where all demographics can enjoy live music, fantastic value food and drinks, and a chance to make new memories.”

The legendary Grapes Pub, based on Mathew Street and renowned for its Beatles connections is one neighbour determined to add its personal stamp on this August Bank Holiday weekend event. Mrs Karen Strickland DPS for The Grapes adds: “I can remember the atmosphere here on Mathew Street during the 1990’s and the 2000’s, and the original format of the festival, with people simply just having a really great time. As a team we are really looking forward to joining the tribute to this festival, making it a Bank Holiday to remember.”

A newer addition to this fantastic zone is Scruffy Murphy’s, an Irish American Bar on Mathew Street, which already has a successful sister site on Harrington Street. Having developed its own reputation for live music, the team there are also getting ready to add something new to the event. Business Development Manager of Scruffy Murphy’s Nicola Halton comments: “We are really looking forward to taking part in the Mathew Street Tribute weekend at the end of August. We have some great local acts  lined up and we can’t wait to be working alongside other independents to make this a truly memorable Bank Holiday weekend.”

The Mathew Street Tribute festival will take place over our next Bank Holiday Weekend from Friday 24th – Monday 26th August 2024. 

More news on the weekend, bands and acts involved will be announced closer to the event time.

 

Liverpool Cathedral is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024 with a unique exhibition by the legendary British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor.

Renowned for his iconic artworks like Chicago’s Cloud Gate (2004) and Svayambhu (2007) a vast train of wax that squeezed through the rooms of the Royal Academy in London in 2009, Kapoor has captivated the art world for over four decades, and now, he’s bringing his visionary works to the heart of Liverpool.

Titled Monadic Singularity, this exhibition marks Kapoor’s first solo show in a UK cathedral and his major solo exhibition in Liverpool since his seminal 1983 exhibit at the Walker Art Gallery. This once-in-a-lifetime show will transform Liverpool Cathedral’s spaces, showcasing Kapoor’s profound artistic genius.

Monadic Singularity brings together works that offer an experience of the sublime that is rooted in the corporeal. Staged in the spiritual context of the Cathedral, where significant moments in life such as birth and death are celebrated and ritualised, these artworks in all their evocation of the body, provide connection and inspire awe. Kapoor’s work is saturated in the sense of an unknown that we unconsciously know, and his use of materials to manipulate our perception of the knowable  to alter our understanding of objects, has born a unique sculptural language that inhabits a space of becoming and potential.  Pigment, stone, steel, wax and silicone are engineered to the point of a dissolution of boundaries between the material and the immaterial.

Featuring works spanning the past 25 years, including architecturally scaled works never before seen in the UK such as Sectional Body Preparing for Monadic Singularity (2015), this exhibition offers the opportunity to experience a selection of Kapoor’s monumental works in dialogue with the incredible cathedral’s gothic architecture.

In an era where digital distractions abound, Kapoor’s artworks invite audiences to pause, reflect, and connect with deeper spiritual dimensions, echoing the cathedral’s daily explorations of faith and existence. This landmark show is a highlight in Liverpool Cathedral’s year-long centenary celebrations, commemorating its consecration in 1924.

The Very Rev’d Dr Dean Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool said of this unmissable occasion “As we celebrate 100 years since this Cathedral was consecrated for prayer and worship, it is great to welcome an iconic artist to our iconic building. The Cathedral speaks of itself as a place of Encounter, and we hope that people will come and encounter the art of Anish Kapoor in our magnificent space.

We are a modern Cathedral that works with many contemporary artists, and we are delighted that Kapoor is displaying his magnificent art in this centenary year, in our Cathedral built for the people, by the people, to the Glory of God.”

Paul Smith, Director of Enterprise at Liverpool Cathedral added “In the last 5 or 6 years, we’ve worked very hard to bring an exciting array of cultural programming to the cathedral.  For 2024, our centenary year, we wanted to take the programme up a notch or two and bring one of the world’s most significant contemporary artists here, to say a massive thank you to our worshippers and visitors.”

Elisa Nocente, Head of Cultural Programme at Liverpool Cathedral and curator of the exhibition stated “It is an honour that Anish Kapoor has chosen to collaborate with Liverpool Cathedral in this landmark year. As one of the leading figures in contemporary art, he distinguishes himself by a unique visual language that embraces painting, sculpture, and architectural forms. Provoking both wonder and uneasiness, Kapoor’s artworks transcend their materiality; we hope that they will resonate on a deeply physical and emotional level for our audiences.”

This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of Culture Liverpool and the Liverpool BID Company, as well as our partners Lisson Gallery and Boodles. Hospitality is provided in partnership with Novotel Paddington Village and Hope Street Hotel. With additional thanks to the Granada Foundation and all our supporters who wish to remain anonymous.

Director of Culture Liverpool, Claire McColgan CBE, said: “Over the past few years it has been fantastic to see how Liverpool Cathedral has solidified its reputation as a venue to showcase the work of some of the world’s most respected artists in a unique and unforgettable way.

“Culture Liverpool is delighted to work in partnership with the cathedral team to secure this culturally significant Anish Kapoor exhibition which is a huge coup for the city.

“And what a way to mark this special anniversary year, which will undoubtedly attract huge numbers of people to one of the most beautiful buildings in the country.”

Don’t miss your chance to witness this extraordinary convergence of art and spirituality. The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 10^th August and runs until Sunday 15^th September. Tickets will be available for exclusive late-night viewings at the Cathedral, which include a special tour of the show, on Thursday 15^th and Thursday 22^nd August.

More information, including how to purchase tickets for the late-night Thursdays, can be found on the Liverpool Cathedral website. This is more than an exhibition— it is a must-see and a monumental moment in Liverpool’s rich art history.

Liverpool Celebrates is taking place over the Bank Holiday August Weekend in Liverpool down at the Pier Head with four amazing days of music.

The festival makes its glorious return on Friday 23rd – Monday 26th August 2024 (Bank Holiday weekend). Tickets are on sale now!

Artists include Holly Johnson, The Jacksons, Lightning Seeds, N-Trance, Boyzlife, Bongo’s Bingo Festival Experience with Jonny Bongo, and tribute acts to some legendary artists including Cavern Club Beatles, Prince, ABBA, The Doors, Adele, Queen, Elton John, Oasis, and more.

Last year, Newsham Scream Park in Liverpool turned Halloween upside down and inside out.

Three truly terrifying scare mazes wound through the historic and haunted building, with scare-seekers flocking from all over the UK and making it the new home for Halloween.

And for 2024, Asylum Entertainment Limited is back with four new scare experiences which will wind through the historic and haunted building’s claustrophobic corridors and dilapidated dormitories. This Halloween is going to reach a new dimension of terror with previously hidden parts of the building used for the first time.

Over the last two decades AtmosFEAR! have delivered over 350 individual scare entertainment projects for theme parks, FECs and heritage attractions in Europe, including in Greece, Ireland and Portugal. For Newsham Scream Park, the team are creating a bigger, scarier and even more intense experience for anyone who dares to venture into Newsham Scream Park this autumn.

Jason Karl, Creative Director for AtmosFEAR! Scare Entertainment, says: “Newsham Park Hospital is a unique venue for Halloween scare entertainment and we are already into the production process to create four new experiences which are ‘The Mortuary’, ‘HUMANimal’, ‘The Priest Hood’ and ‘Under the Bed’.  Each is brand new and will bring to life previously unseen areas of the building.”

Further new additions for 2024 include the Horror Selfie Museum, new street entertainment, stage acts and live music, huge food court and licensed bars, plus tarot readers, mystics, fortune tellers and more. 

Steeped in folklore, the Victorian Grade II listed Newsham Park Hospital was the site of a Seamen’s orphanage, hospital and asylum. Narrow passages lead into shadowy basements and staircases descend into darkness, where shadowy spaces link to the past and a chill lingers in each compressed space. Wheelchairs, trolleys and machinery from decades ago are strewn around, whilst echoes linger longer throughout the eerie building.

Long since abandoned to the elements, Newsham Park Hospital is a mecca for ghost hunters and spectral thrill seekers. It is regularly cited as one of the UK’s most haunted buildings, stalked by those who used to govern it or be its unfortunate guests, and welcomes back Newsham Scream Park for season two.

Newsham Scream Park
11B Orphan Drive, Tuebrook, Liverpool, L6 7UN
Week 1 – Fri 4th, Sat 5th, Sun 6th October
Week 2 – Fri 11th, Sat 12th, Sun 13th October
Week 3 – Fri 18th, Sat 19th, Sun 20th October
Week 4 – Wed 23rd, Thurs 24th, Fri 25th, Sat 26th, Sun 27th October
Week 5 – Mon 28th, Tues 29th, Wed 30th and Thurs 31st October, Fri 1st and Sat 2nd November

Sessions: 6pm – 7.30pm / 7.30pm – 9pm / 9pm – 10.30pm

Tickets go on sale Friday 14th June: www.newshamscreampark.com

https://instagram.com/newshamscreampark
https://twitter.com/Newshamscream
https://www.facebook.com/newshamscreampark

 

ArtsGroupie have an exciting June ahead with two productions – ‘A Portrait of William Roscoe’ and ‘Midsummer Nights Scream’ and of course our ongoing popular heritage walking tours run all summer – All dates HERE

They also will be leading writing workshops for Shakespeare North Playhouse. Tickets just £5. Further information HERE

They will announce in July, details about their Theatre History Exhibition coming, Nov – Feb &  FREE Summer drama workshops, activities & heritage walking tours too, kindly funded by Arts Council England.

Summer 2024 sees the award-winning Young Everyman & Playhouse (YEP) set to mesmerise audiences with the powerful and emotional play A Monster Calls. 

Directed by Nathan Crossan-Smith, the production runs for four performances from Thursday 4 July to Saturday 6 July, showcasing a new generation of talent at the Everyman.

A Monster Calls, based on the novel by Patrick Ness and inspired by an original idea by Siobhan Dowd, devised by Sally Cookson and Adam Peck. The story tells the gripping tale of a young boy named Conor, who navigates the challenges of his mother’s battle with cancer. Visited in his nightmares by a monster, Conor embarks on a journey that is as fantastical as it is deeply human.

Featuring a cast of YEP Actors aged 18-25 from the 2024 programme, Young Everyman Playhouse provides free and invaluable opportunities for young people in Liverpool City Region, offering a platform to gain professional experience in Theatres.

This production is directed by Nathan Crossan-Smith (The Trials, Storyhouse; Bitch Boxer, Institute for Contemporary Theatre), who works extensively with young people and community groups through his youth justice lyricism project Tipping Point and in co-creation projects including with National Theatre, Barbican, National Youth Theatre.

Nathan Crossan-Smith, Director of A Monster Calls said:

“I’m delighted to be directing for the mighty Young Everyman Playhouse Actors and telling this beautiful tale. Following a young person as they navigate grief, loss and love, A Monster Calls is, for me, about the wild power of stories to offer us routes through the vast, unknowable landscapes inside us. We’re excited to be conjuring up Conor’s world with plenty of theatre magic and the talents of a brilliant group of young artists.“

Leading the production are Finn Kearns as Conor, with Moli Wyn as Mum, Niamh Parrington as Grandma, and Josh Bosman as Dad. Janis Lai portrays Lily, Kieran Gregory as Harry, and Rebecca Warburton as Sully. The cast also includes Adam Murphy as Anton, Penda Ba Ndiaye as Miss Godfrey, Niall Bailey as Mr Marl, and a talented core ensemble of Monsters & Storytellers including Megan Brady, Sacha Hales, Ammar Majeed, Luigi Musa-Baldo, Alfie Ross, and Dan Sullivan. Tasha Hastings serves as the rehearsal understudy.

Students from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), Steffan Norman and Eve Wilkinson are joining the Stage Management, while Milly Noble as Set Designer and Poppy Aindow as Costume Designer, making their professional stage debuts. The company also includes Assistant Director Sophie Compton (Be You Living or Be You Dead, YEP Directors Festival 2023 at the Everyman), a YEP Directors graduate of 2023, along with Puppetry Director Aisling Leyne.

Helen Webster, Young People & Community Producer added:

“The opportunity for our young people to take to the Everyman’s main stage is always a thrill for everyone involved. A Monster Calls platforms the talents of our older YEP Actors groups, YEP Producers, YEP Technicians, alongside LIPA students. Together with theatre professionals, we’re learning so much and creating a show that we can’t wait to share with audiences.”

As the theatres continue their commitment to developing new talent, the Everyman will host the YEP Directors’ Festival from Friday 27 September to Saturday 12 October, supported by the YEP Producers and YEP Technicians along with the YEP Writers’ Showcase on Friday 25 October and Saturday 26 October will highlight the creativity and talent of YEP participants.

The captioned performance of A Monster Calls will take place on Friday 5 July. Tickets ranging from £5 to £12 are available now at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres (everymanplayhouse.com)

Based in Liverpool, the Milap Arts School has become a cornerstone for education and career pathways in Indian Arts. This term-time education programme offers weekly classes in a diverse range of Indian performing arts, catering to students eager to immerse themselves in rich cultural traditions.

The Arts School’s curriculum is comprehensive, featuring an array of classes in both classical and folk disciplines. Students can delve into the intricate rhythms and expressive movements of Bharatanatyam and Kathak, or explore the vibrant energy of various Indian Folk Dances. For those inclined towards music, the school offers instruction in Tabla, Veena, and both Carnatic and Hindustani vocal styles.

Milap’s approach is uniquely versatile, providing both face-to-face and virtual classes. This hybrid model ensures that students receive a professional and flexible learning environment that fosters growth and potential, regardless of their geographical location.

One of the standout features of the Milap Arts School is its commitment to providing students with unparalleled access to some of the world’s leading Indian music and dance stars. Through exclusive masterclasses, students gain first-hand knowledge and inspiration from performers featured in Milap’s concert series. These sessions are designed not just to teach but to inspire, offering glimpses into the dedication and artistry required to excel in these fields.

Supported learning is a key aspect of Milap’s educational philosophy. Experienced tutors and industry professionals guide students through their artistic journeys, ensuring they receive high-quality instruction and mentorship. This supportive environment nurtures the talents of aspiring artists and engages inquisitive students, providing memorable and inspirational experiences that are integral to their artistic development.

Milap’s Arts School stands as a beacon of cultural education in Liverpool, opening doors for students to explore and excel in Indian performing arts. Through its innovative programmes and dedication to excellence, Milap continues to enrich the cultural tapestry of the community, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of Indian arts.

Find out more about Milap’s Arts School 2024 at milap.co.uk/learn/arts-school