Community Post Type: News

Liverpool city centre’s oldest building will hold a talk on the artist, plus a series of behind the scenes building tours and open studios.

This September the Bluecoat will celebrate Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture, with a talk on the arts centre’s long relationship with iconic artist Yoko Ono.

A leading figure in conceptual and performance art, experiemental film and music, Ono first visited the Bluecoat in 1967, when she presented an event, Music of the Mind and the world premiere of The Fog Machine, to a packed hall. Featuring audience interaction, it included people being invited to wrap her in bandages. Returning to the venue in 2008 during Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebrations, she referenced this previous event by asking the audience to this time unwrap her.

Responding to this year’s Heritage Open Days theme of ‘Unwrapping Creativity’, the Bluecoat’s Director of Cultural Legacies, Bryan Biggs, will explore both these events in a fascinating free talk. This will be illustrated by archival material including some relating to other events at the arts centre associated with Ono, such as Bed-In at the Bluecoat, 2010.

Bryan Biggs says “The events by Yoko Ono are key moments in the Bluecoat’s history, and an important part of our cultural legacy. We are delighted to be able to take the opportunity of Heritage Open Days to revisit them, and bring them to the attention of people who may not have been able to visit at the time.”

Heritage Open Days also sees two tours of the Bluecoat’s Grade I listed building take place, when its 300 year history and transformation from charity school to arts centre will be revealed. There will be a particular emphasis on the last century of creativity that has included a wide-ranging cast of characters who visited or presented their work at the Bluecoat including Picasso, Matisse and Stravinsky, through to contemporary artists like Sonia Boyce, Jeremy Deller and John Akomfrah.

The work of the Bluecoat’s studio artists will also be ‘unwrapped’ during Heritage Open Days, as they open their doors to the public. This will be a great opportunity to meet some of our creative community and find out about their practices, which range from painting and photography to jewellery and illustration. Our printmaking studios will also be open for demonstrations.

The full schedule of events is as follows:

Yoko Ono, Unwrapped, Friday 8 September, 7pm.

Heritage building tours, Saturday 9 September and Sunday 10 December, 2pm.

Intaglio studio tour, Saturday 9 September, 12-3pm.

Open Studios drop-in, Saturday 9 September, 12-4pm

Etching Demonstrations, Saturday 9 September, running on the hour at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

For full details of all events, and to book, visit the Bluecoat’s website thebluecoat.org.uk

A regional autism charity is bringing its very own Comic Con event to Wirral this month, with a special guest straight from Star Wars!

Staff at Autism Together created the event to be autism-friendly and give people the opportunity to attend a Comic Con without having to head to a large, bustling, noisy conference centre.

Comic Con events celebrate comic book culture, collectibles, superheroes, sci-fi, cosplay, gaming and much more. This event is designed to be a scaled-down version of the big events which happen across the country each year.

The event will take place in Bromborough Pool Village – where Autism Together has a hub of buildings – on Sunday, August 27th, 10am to 3pm.

The main special guest is Wirral-born Arie Dekker, best known as Chewbacca’s stunt double in the movies ‘Solo’ and ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’, along with working on ‘The Flash’, ‘The Kings Man’, ‘Eternals’ and more.

Other guests and artists booked for the event include cosplay specialists The Merseyside Ghostbusters; fantasy concept artist Emily Megan Art; Ash Loftus from the Welsh Warhammer 40k Team; neurodivergent artist Rushie Rush; plus Wirral-based autistic artist Alex Baldwin. A full list of guests is available at the event webpage.

From its base in Bromborough, Autism Together supports autistic people of all ages, with around 800 staff providing residential, supported living and day services to over 400 autistic adults, and support to many more families across the region.

The Comic Con event has been planned and put together by the team at Bromborough Pool Garden Centre, which is run by Autism Together staff and people they support.

Emma Turner, manager at Bromborough Pool Garden Centre, said:

“We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome guests to Autism Together’s very first Comic Con!

“For many of the individuals we support, the big Comic Cons can be too overwhelming to visit, so they miss out on meeting the amazing artists, actors, and sellers that attend.

“Our Comic Con will be spread across Autism Together’s suite of buildings in Bromborough Pool Village. Tickets are limited to avoid overcrowding, and the event will be as inclusive as possible for those with sensory issues.

“Our café area will also be open throughout the event serving food and refreshments. Parking is available on nearby Dock Road South, and the 38A bus from New Ferry runs an hourly service, stopping close to the village.

“And, if anyone would like to take part in the event, there is still time for guests, stall holders and artists to register via the event webpage.”

Entry tickets for the event are £10 per person. The entry ticket includes access to all areas, though there is an extra cost for autographs and photos with our special guest Arie Dekker.

To find out more or to buy a ticket for the event, please follow the link to the Comic Con webpage: www.autismtogether.co.uk/comiccon2023/

Up Next Festival is back for 2023 for our annual celebration of Merseyside artists, and this year it’s bigger than ever.

This October, join us for an extended two-week arts festival featuring brand-new shows from Merseyside’s most exciting artists and companies.

This year’s festival includes newly commissioned works across a range of artforms including world premiere plays, poetry, cabaret, sound installations and music.

As well as the packed theatre programme, this mega line-up also includes the first ever Up Next Comedy Night, a brand-new exhibition, DJs, panel discussions, creative events and more.

The line-up of artists, selected through Unity Open Call 2023, includes:

Andrew McKay / Filla Crack
Daniel Foxsmith & Moncef Mansur
Helen Jeffery
Jess Green
Natalie Denny & Skywrites LTD
Olayemi Z. Ade
Sasha Georgette
Sonic Mutiny
The Barry Brian and Bean Company
Tip Tray Theatre

+ live comedy from Sian Davies, Alex Stringer & Niki Rooney and a brand-new exhibition from Hellen Songa.

All theatre shows are available to book now, with the full line-up of music and special events announced in September. Scroll for full event listings…

Booking Tickets:

Single Tickets: Individual tickets for all events are £8 / £6 Creative’Pool. See individual line-up here

Double Tickets: Book for two shows on the same day for just £14 (£2 saving) Book on individual show booking page

Festival Pass Wristband: After selling out in 2022, our limited-edition Festival Pass Wristbands return for this year’s festival. The Festival Pass is just £25 per week and gives you access to all events in your chosen week (saving you £23). What’s more, you’ll get an exclusive Up Next Festival Wristband to gain entry into all shows and 10% off at the Unity Bar. View the Week 1 and 2 Pass options and book here

 

Liverpool based writer and musician Asa Murphy has penned a brand-new musical play which is set to premiere in the city next month, New Generations is a production that covers the importance of love and support within family life.

The play will perform at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 September, for 3 performances only.

The play follows the journey a mother and daughter share when the news of a new baby is announced.  They both have exciting expectations about how the new arrival will affect everyone’s lives, but expectations don’t always match and see eye-to-eye. Both mother and daughter learn valuable lessons about compromise and forgiveness but most of all the importance of family and love.

New Generations stars Pauline Donovan, Clare Cambell and Nathan Murphy and features beautiful songs throughout performed live by the cast and with Asa Murphy on acoustic guitar.

The play started life as a pilot production, being selected to perform at Little LTF (Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Work) in 2022, the original title being Grandmother. The production has now been extended into a two-act production with new songs added and is now ready for its Liverpool premiere. The play also had a test run in London last month to great success.

Liverpool-born Asa has been a successful entertainer for 20 years. He has performed all over the world singing Big Band swing music and his own self-penned songs, fulfilling many of his dreams as a performer along the way including selling out London’s Ronnie Scott’s, topping the bill at the famous Liverpool Empire, and cruising and singing on the most beautiful liners in the world.

Website: www.asamurphyproductions.com

National Museums Liverpool’s award-winning dementia programme House of Memories will work with Brighton and Hove LGBT+ Switchboard to create an app to support people living with dementia in the LGBTQ+ community.

Funded by Alzheimer Research UK’s Inspire Fund, House of Memories will work with Switchboard – a ‘by and for’ charity that supports the LGBTQ+ communities – to collect a digital archive of audio, video, objects and photography, stored in the My House of Memories app.

The app will feature real life memories and experiences from the LGBTQ+ community, which people living with dementia and their loved ones can explore, to create their own bespoke set of memories. Users can also add their own media to further personalise the app.

Through the House of Memories app, Switchboard will showcase important landmarks, social spaces, club nights and cafés, alongside drag acts, trans heroes and role models from LGBTQ+ history for users to browse.

The app will also tackle other subjects including PRIDE, queer art and film and living through the HIV/Aids epidemic.

John Hammond, bereavement, older people’s and dementia (BOLD) project manager at Switchboard, said: “This is an extremely exciting initiative and we are delighted to be funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and to be working in partnership with House of Memories.

“Many LGBTQ+ people living with dementia share both painful and uplifting life stories and this app will capture memories and experiences that are equal parts poignant and fabulous!”

Carol Rogers, director of House of Memories, said: “Creating an app to support members of the LGBTQ+ community living with dementia and their carers, is something we’re really excited about.

“We’d like to thank Switchboard for giving us this great opportunity to collect memories from LGBTQ+ communities that will help spark conversations and improve the lives of people living with dementia.”

Switchboard and House of Memories are now in the process of bringing together memories and moments to include in the app. If you would like to contribute, email: info@switchboard.org.uk.

Discover the full story of House of Memories and download the My House of Memories app here: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/house-of-memories

 

MerseyMade has opened a brand new shop in Wirral, which is set to support local artists, artisans and makers by bringing their work to the heart of West Kirby. The inviting MerseyMade shop, located on Banks Road, is the much-loved independent’s first Wirral venture and its second store opening since launching in Liverpool city centre in 2019.

A treasure trove of original artworks, ceramics, jewellery, candles, gifts and cards, MerseyMade showcases and sells the work of over 100 of the region’s most talented creatives, with the addition of a further 30 Wirral-based independents being signed up as part of the recent expansion. MerseyMade’s West Kirby hub will predominantly focus on the work of Wirral artists, artisans and makers, which will be showcased alongside a collection of beautiful handmade creations from the wider region.

Reflecting its coastal location, the new MerseyMade venue features original artworks capturing familiar local views including West Kirby Marine Lake, Hoylake Beach and Hilbre Island. Among the local artists whose work can be found at MerseyMade’s Wirral hub is Hoylake-based Beth Sheldrake, who is known for her paintings of the peninsula’s dramatic seascapes.

Visitors can also discover distinctive ceramics inspired by the colours, textures and motion of the seas, which are hand-crafted by Lonn Landis at his Neston home, using locally foraged clay and glazing made from mussel shells from Red Rocks Beach.

The delightful new shop is brimming with unique creations including a collection of handmade jewellery from Soul Seeker Healing, designed to promote balance, harmony and wellbeing. Combining beautiful design with the healing properties of crystals, each meaningful piece is crafted using ethically sourced materials, infused with positive energy.

Speaking on the opening of MerseyMade in West Kirby, Founder Vicky Gawith, who lives in the area with her husband and four children, said: “Bringing the MerseyMade concept to the Wirral has long been an ambition of mine and I am thrilled to have found the perfect location in West Kirby. As an independent creative hub, we’re looking forward to enriching the local community and supporting Wirral’s talented artists, artisans and makers, particularly those who tend to work from home or in small studios.

“Our aim is to source original artworks and unique pieces that have been created right here on our doorstep and bring them all together for people to uncover at MerseyMade. Opening a second shop in West Kirby allows us to strengthen our connection with Wirral-based creative businesses as we champion their achievements and provide a new setting for their work to be discovered and enjoyed.”

Kara King, Manager of MerseyMade in West Kirby, is also well-known in the local community having set up and run Staacks Art Gallery for over 12 years. She said: “There’s been lots of excitement about the opening of MerseyMade in West Kirby and the local support has been incredible. Anyone who has visited MerseyMade in Liverpool city centre will be familiar with some of the pieces in the collection at our new West Kirby shop and there is plenty more to discover as we are now working with more Wirral based creatives than ever.

“Our coastal location is very much reflected in the work we have chosen to showcase in West Kirby, which is  predominantly centred around Wirral creators and pieces inspired by the local area. I would describe our West Kirby shop as the little sister of MerseyMade’s main hub and I would encourage anyone who enjoys picking up unique gifts and original artworks to pop in to find out what’s in store.”

MerseyMade has attracted a loyal following since it opened almost four years ago and the award-winning business has been invited to run several successful pop-ups at Liverpool ONE, just a stone’s throw away from its main hub at the historic Chancery Building in Liverpool city centre. A real hidden gem, the vibrant Liverpool venue features the popular Scribble café, a shop, artists’ studios and an events space, where regular workshops take place in everything from calligraphy and upcycling to wine tasting.

MerseyMade’s West Kirby shop, which is open between 10am – 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday and 12 – 4pm on Sundays, is located at 126 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 0RF. The new location is also a pick up point for orders placed through MerseyMade’s online shop. Find out more about MerseyMade or explore the online collection at merseymade.uk.

Future Yard and Wirral Metropolitan College have announced plans to align in a strategic partnership as part of their shared regeneration vision for Birkenhead.

The partnership will create meaningful pathways to employment and offer opportunities beyond study for young
people and adult learners, enhancing students’ social and cultural wellbeing whilst creating a flagship relationship between the Wirral’s most exciting cultural organisation and leading further education institution.

Since opening in 2021, Future Yard has reimagined a live music venue as a learning opportunity for young people. By utilising skills and training programmes to nurture the talent of young creatives, Future Yard creates clear routes to careers in the music industry, providing transferable skills and raising aspirations for local people. By utilising the power of music Birkenhead will change for the better, creating life-changing opportunities and shaping a new
music future.

As the largest provider of post-16 learning on the Wirral peninsula, and with five campuses across the Wirral, Wirral Met is perfectly positioned to partner with one of the UKs boldest arts organisations who are able to offer support via a highly-experienced team who have years of experience in the music industry, from PR to publishing and beyond.

Future Yard opens up opportunities to students across a diverse range of creative courses, such as photography, creative and digital media, illustration, marketing and more.

Illustration students from Wirral Met have already taken the chance to engage with Future Yard, creating work based on briefs by touring international artists performing at the venue to design screen prints which have been sold and displayed at gigs. Students from the college’s music courses recently performed at Future Yard in a student-led performance as part of the college’s Eurovision celebrations.

You have just days left to visit Liverpool Art Fair 2023 at the Royal Liver Building, before it closes on Sunday 20th August.

The event, which is free to attend, is open Tuesday to Sunday, 12-6pm. Visitors can view and buy an amazing array of paintings, sculptures and prints on display in this iconic space, by a record 175 local artists, starting at just £20.

This year’s Liverpool Art Fair, which has returned after a four year COVID-enforced break, is the first to be held at the Liver Building and has proved to be a huge success, with hundreds of art lovers taking home their own piece of Liverpool’s art world.

On Tuesday evening the winner of the People’s Choice award was announced, after visitors had voted for their favourite artist since the event opened. Allerton based painter Hilary Dron was the lucky winner, with Chris Halliwell and Max Eugeni named Runners Up.

Hilary receives:

•    Her work displayed on Open Media screens across Liverpool for 2 weeks
•    A 2 week exhibition at Cass Art Liverpool
•    Cass Art Vouchers
•    1 year dot-art Membership
•    Family ticket to RLB360

Also at the event, which was held in partnership with the BIPC (Business and Intellectual Property Centre), was An Audience with Faith Bebbington, which saw the renowned local sculptor talk about her 30 year career with BBC Radio Merseyside’s Claire Hamilton.

The partnership with BIPC has also seen a series of Drop In Advice Clinics for Artists to head along and get free advice from Gary Millar and his team on volunteer business advisors.

Liverpool Art Fair is also sponsored by CBRE, who manage the Royal Liver Building, and Evelyn Partners; they are incredibly grateful for their generous support.

For more information, please visit: liverpoolartfair.com/

 

Asylum Entertainment Limited are very proud to announce who they have signed to design the attractions for Newsham Scream Park to create a truly blood-curdling Halloween experience in Liverpool.

AtmosFEAR! Scare Entertainment are one of Europe’s biggest producers of scare entertainment mazes, attractions and shows.  Over the last two decades they’ve delivered over 350 individual scare entertainment projects for theme parks, FEC’s and heritage attractions in Europe, including in Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Their multi award-winning scare attractions place guests into a four-dimensional living story and their latest creations will feature at Newsham Scream Park. The Orphanage, Insanitorium and HELLuminati will wind through the dark bowels and spooky staircases of the historic building, heralding a new chapter for the UK’s scare industry. 

Jason Karl, Creative Director for AtmosFEAR! Scare Entertainment, says “We are excited to bring Newsham Scream Park to life by creating three different attractions in such a unique space.”

Guests will encounter a fusion of special effects designed to create a totally immersive experience. A scare maze is a live multi-sensory attraction which places guests in a simulated horror story.  High impact effects and live scareactors combine with visual, physical, audio and lighting effects to create an immersive experience intended to scare and entertain the audience. This Halloween, Newsham Scream Park set to become the UK’s most unique scare entertainment experience.

Newsham Scream Park – The Three Scare Attractions

Insanitorium – The Doctor will see you now…

Check in for your appointment at The Goodwell Institute, where the masterminds of unethical medical science are attempting to discover the answer to the eternal question: what happens to the soul after death?

But be warned, The Invasia Procedure is not going to plan, and now delirium rules the wards inside the Insanitorium – you would be MAD to miss it…

The Orphanage – There will be no mercy…

Since 1913 The Blessed Sisters of Mercy have housed orphaned and unwanted waifs and strays at The Orphanage, providing an education and a home, dictated by a stern religious philosophy.

But home is not always where the heart is, and at the rotten core of the sisterhood dwells an ancient evil first invoked by Sister Mary Mercy, and which must be appeased in the most diabolic way…

HELLuminati – Membership is open

Hidden within the bowels of the Asylum lies the headquarters of an ancient secret society known as the Helluminati; a worldwide network of wealthy individuals with omnipotent global control.

The members amuse themselves by doctoring what they call ‘the meat’; obtained by illegal auctions in the deepest parts of the dark web.

Membership is now open. But are you suitable to join the sick and twisted minds of the members, and their enigmatic leader – Omega, inside HELLuminati, or are you simply ‘meat’?

Newsham Scream Park

Running from Friday 13th – Sunday 5th November on selected dates

11B Orphan Drive, Tuebrook, Liverpool, L6 7UN

First scare attraction from 6pm – last entry is 9.30pm

Insanitorium and The Orphanage – £25 + booking fee (aged 14+)

HELLuminati – £15 per pair + booking fee (strictly aged 18+ only)

Tickets on sale now from: www.newshamscreampark.com 

The Krazyhouse is back once again on Bank Holiday Sunday 27th August 2023. Yes, that may seem like a long time to wait, but they want this one to be the best ever, so they are giving everyone plenty of notice to get the babysitters sorted!

Sun 27th Aug from 8:00 pm- Mon 28th Aug at 4:00am

Much loved nightclub, The Krazyhouse, will be making its return as part of a reunion event this August bank holiday. Electrik Warehouse, as the venue is now known, which is based on Wood Street, will be open from 8pm until 4am. The Krazy House was a firm favourite on the Liverpool nightlife scene for decades before shutting its doors for good back in 2018. 

Krazyhouse was rebranded to Electrik Warehouse after being saved by local independent operator, Pub Invest Group, after the site fell into financial difficulty. 

The huge building now regularly honours its predecessor with weekly club nights, as well as an eclectic medley of alternative music that made the Krazyhouse so popular.

In an age where a lot of the superclubs and large venues across the UK have sadly closed their doors there was a sigh of relief amongst fans of alternative music in the north west where this iconic site was saved.

General manager of Electrik Warehouse Adam Coffey said: “We’re really looking forward to hosting another Krazyhouse night back at Electrik. It’s become a much anticipated date now on the calendar with the August bank holiday seeing us host the KrazyHouse reunion for the past few years.We see faces old and new come from all over the region for this one.”.

Expect 241 drinks, loads of your favourite K DJs returning, K1/K2/K3, free Pot Noodles at the end of the night, and more to be announced soon!

Final Release tickets are priced at £12.00+BF and are available via 

Electrik Warehouse on Wood Street, L1 4AQ

The Krazyhouse 2023 Official Reunion (Doors 8pm) at ELECTRIK WAREHOUSE, Liverpool on 27th Aug | Fatsoma