Community Post Type: News

Slavery Remembrance Day 2023 will look at the theme of transformation through a series of lectures, workshops, and performances, as National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool City Council and other partners across the city observe this important date in the calendar.

This year, Slavery Remembrance Day is a week-long series of activities from Sunday 20 August to Sunday 27 August, as the city comes together to reflect, remember and encourage learning.

Since 1999, Liverpool has marked Slavery Remembrance Day on 23 August. This is a significant date as it commemorates an uprising of enslaved Africans on the island of Saint Domingue (modern Haiti) in 1791. The date has been designated by UNESCO 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 is too often forgotten – or not even acknowledged.

Michelle Charters, Trustee at National Museums Liverpool, said: “As someone who has been involved with NML’s, International Slavery Museum (concept and growth since 1994), it is good to see that the 2023 Slavery Remembrance Day has expanded its activities this year.  Going forward, we are committed to ensuring this comprehensive partnership approach continues to develop and grow. We thank all contributors and partner organisations who, over the last 24 years have played their part in ensuring we continue to reflect, remember and acknowledge our ancestors.”

Each year Slavery Remembrance Day invites a keynote speaker to deliver the prestigious Dorothy Kuya Slavery Remembrance Memorial Lecture. This year, Professor Hakim Adi, Professor of the History of Africa and the African Diaspora at the University of Chichester will deliver the lecture – a key part of Liverpool’s Slavery Remembrance Day programme, which takes place at Liverpool Town Hall on Tuesday 22 August.

A Walk of Remembrance and libation ceremony will take place on Wednesday 23 August. Starting at 12pm from Williamson Square, the walk takes people on a journey through Liverpool, highlighting areas of historical significance across the city, with performances at various places including the Bluecoat and Liverpool ONE, with a performance by Katumba. The event ends with a libation ceremony at Canning Dock.

Other events throughout the week include curator talks from National Museums Liverpool, including ‘Carving Out Truths’ – exploring the links between Walker Art Gallery’s sculpture gallery and the slave trade, and the opportunity to meet the International Slavery Museum’s curatorial team to find out about their research on collections, and what they can tell us about slavery and its legacies.

Claire Benjamin, Head of Learning & Participation at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Slavery Remembrance Day allows us to consider the many legacies and achievements of people of African heritage throughout the diaspora. It is also a time to reflect on the continuing fight against racism today. While Transatlantic Slavery is over, the foundations on which it stood have not been fully dismantled.

“We are honoured to once again be a part of the city’s Slavery Remembrance Day commemorations, bringing the city together in remembrance and action.”

For full listings including information on other artists talks taking place and details of all events, please visit: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/SRD.

The Beatles Story invites you to celebrate International Beatleweek with a whole host of free events in their Fab4 Café and Discovery Zone at the historic Royal Albert Dock.

‘Come Together’ to learn about and enjoy the story of your favourite band with the people who lived alongside them. You will have the opportunity to meet John Lennon’s sister Julia, and friends of The Beatles Mike and Bernie Byrne, who will be signing copies of their books.

Include the whole family, too, with fun educational workshops in The Discovery Zone, including crafts, music, storytelling and more!

Julia Baird: My Brother The Poet

20th August 2023 1pm The Fab4 Café, Royal Albert Dock

Julia Baird – author, teacher and John Lennon’s little sister – invites you to explore John’s life and words at The Beatles Story in the lead up to International Beatleweek.

The Beatles Story’s Nick Hale will be reading extracts of John’s work, with Julia providing insights into the meaning of John’s words and into his life at the time of writing. The event will be an insightful and moving exploration into the work of one of the 20th Century’s most famous poets, John Lennon.

Stick around after the talk for live music and cocktails – and you’ll also have the opportunity to meet Julia and purchase a signed copy of her book ‘Imagine This’.

Julia’s book ‘Imagine This’ is the true story of John Lennon’s childhood and reveals the full extent of the pain and difficulties – as well as the happier times – that living inside of John Lennon’s family brought. The book is available to buy on site in their Fab4 Store.

Live music: ‘The Global Beatles’ and ‘Mike Byrne & the Sunrockers’

25th August 2023 1pm The Fab4 Café, Royal Albert Dock

in their mutual love of The Beatles, ‘The Global Beatles’ have Come Together from Canada, the UK, and the USA to perform at The Beatles Story this International Beatleweek. Expect a music-filled afternoon and enjoy the sounds of Merseybeat musician Mike Byrne and his band the Sunrockers!

Stick around to get your copy of ‘The Birth of The Beatles Story’ signed by authors Bernadette Byrne, a Cavern regular who went on to date both George and Paul, and Mike Byrne, a fellow Merseybeat musician and acquaintance of The Beatles. The book is the story of their amazing and uniquely personal journey. They not only witnessed music history being made but they went on to build The Beatles Story. The book is available to buy on site in our Fab4 Store.

Open Mic and The Beatles Story pub quiz

Sunday 27th August 10am – 6pm The Fab4 Café, Royal Albert Dock

The Beatles Story invites you to enjoy free entertainment – or why not join in! The award-winning attraction is hosting an open mic day packed with music, fascinating talks, and more – and you’re invited to come along and show off your talents! The event is suitable for all ages, and the attraction’s Discovery Zone will be hosting free craft activities for families. Find out more…

If you’re interested in performing, simply come along on the day and book your slot with a member of staff.
Stick around and test your knowledge with The Beatles Story pub quiz! There’s no need to book, so turn up and enjoy the free quiz – the winning group will receive a gift hamper of Beatles goodies! The quiz will begin at 4:30pm. Find out more…

Discovery Zone free educational workshops

Every day in the Summer holidays 11am – 3pm The Discovery Zone, The Beatles Story

Here Comes The Sun! Come Together with all the family this August at The Beatles Story’s Discovery Zone and enjoy a series of FREE Summer workshops. Join in with an exciting range of activities including crafts, music, storytelling and more. Award-winning ‘The Beatles Story’ on the Royal Albert Dock is the perfect family day out to learn all about Liverpool’s famous Fab Four sons, after which you can relax and listen to your favourite Beatles’ songs in the

Beatles-themed Fab4 Cafe. Evoking the spirit of the 1960s with hints of Abbey Road and Revolver under Cavern-club style arches, sit back and enjoy speciality coffees and fantastic pastries. Finish your perfect day by browsing through a fantastic range of gifts and souvenirs available in the Fab4 Store. There’s something for all the family this summer at The Beatles Story.

Here Comes The Gin!

The Beatles Story is proud to have developed a range of four fab flavoured gins with the locally-based Murphy’s Gin. While you’re at The Fab4 Café, you can try the brand-new bespoke flavours and buy your favourite from The Fab4 Store!

To buy tickets to The Beatles Story exhibition, visit beatlesstory.com

The Grand Central Dome in Liverpool’s Renshaw Street has already proved to be a huge hit with partygoers intent on a great night out, all based around live music and DJ events, and the buzz is already building around Stardust, who will be hosting one of their legendary nights there this autumn.

Stardust is the brainchild of two of the city’s most successful promoters, Pez Tellett and Peter Wilson, who have both earned solid reputations for attracting the very best talent. 

Stardust has already enjoyed a hugely successful run of events, building its own global following after already hosting internationally renowned and recognised artists such as Purple Disco Machine, Mousse T, Dr. Packer, Danny Krevit, Full Intention, Lenny Fontana, Late Night Tuff Guy and The Reflex, to name but a few. This next event is one which is already creating a huge wave of excitement. 

Devoted to music lovers who are all about infectious disco and house energy, the night will be an unforgettable event filled with mirror ball beats, non-stop dancing, featuring a stellar line up designed to draw in the most discerning of crowds. The confirmed acts are the best-of-the-best, with Dimitri From Paris in place as the headliner. This elegantly devoted dance music fanatic has a career which has already spanned three decades, and is a cult figure for dance music connoisseurs. His eclectic taste, which he will be bringing to Stardust, takes inspiration from 70’s funk and disco, through to house, with reference to 50’s and 60’s cult movie soundtracks. From Ibiza to Tokyo, via the Royal Albert Hall, Dmitiri From Paris brings his own uplifting sensibilities, which has seen him delight the crowds at Glitterbox this summer at The Superclub Hi.

Melon Bomb have already built a determined following and after a busy summer in Ibiza and Croatia, as well as hearing their mixes in the dance tent at Glastonbury. This team will also be bringing their explosive vibe to the Stardust event. An award-winning collective of Paul Reynolds, Scott Gray, Ben Santiago and Corbi, Melon Bomb bring with them a wealth of experience and their own unique take on straight-up house music, blended with elements of funk and disco. 

Ralphie Dee will be bringing his own legendary status with him to the event. With a covetable CV spinning back to New York’s legendary, original disco days, back to the venue where Saturday Night Fever was filmed, the soundtrack of which really launched disco as a worldwide dance movement, the 2001 Odyssey Disco in Brooklyn. His career starting at just 16 meant that Ralphie Dee’s pioneering style has taken him though the 80’s to the 2020’s, having collaborated with the finest names as well as being awarded a Legends of Vinyl DJ Hall of Fame award.

A spokesperson for Stardust adds: “This city is one which loves a party, and so it doesn’t really obey rules about seasons ending – it’s all about extending the disco vibe all-year-round.

When it came to working with a location which would be able to host this amazing Stardust event, there was really only one venue we had in mind: The Grand Central Dome. With a state-of-the-art sound system, updated lighting and venue amenities, as well as a new air-conditioning system, we needed a space which could accommodate world-class DJ sets as well as a major crowd. Its stunning original 1920’s features also add a sense of history and embrace a theatrical atmosphere.

Here at Stardust we are delighted to have signed such prestigious headlining acts for our night, each with their own flavour and reputations. Most of all, we are pleased that Liverpool as a city holds its own against some of the leading dance locations around the globe, and Stardust at The Grand Central Dome will give everyone something to look forward to this autumn.

We know the crowd will give our talented headliners a warm welcome, and in return will be provided with the best night out that the dance world has to offer.”

Stardust’s event will take place on Saturday 21st October 2023 at Grand Central Hall, Renshaw Street, Liverpool.

Ticket information is available here: https://skiddle.com/e/36398433

One of Europe’s first ever giant outdoor digital billboards, the Liverpool Media Wall, has been a city beacon for 15 years. Last week, the British grime artist Stormzy and Rockstar Energy took over the Wall for an interactive digital concert.

After 15 years as the Gateway to Liverpool, thousands of campaigns and two £1 million facelifts, the legendary Liverpool Media Wall, Ocean Outdoor’s first ever large format full motion screens, deserves its moment in the spotlight. So here are 15 milestones and special moments which define the Liverpool Media Wall, its originality, place and purpose.

Top of the Pops. Measuring a mighty 30.36m long and 6.58m high, the unmissable Liverpool Media Wall (LMW) was first unveiled on July 22^nd 2008 with big brands like Coca-Cola, now official partner of Liverpool FC, among the first advertisers.

That was the year Liverpool was European Capital of Culture, the LMW adding to the international reputation of Liverpool as a modern, forward-thinking city.

Ocean’s first large format full motion digital screen was originally designed as a façade along the Lime Street entrance to St John’s shopping centre. It’s a one-of-a-kind bespoke City Gateway which sits directly facing the entrance / exit to Liverpool Lime Street.

From Usain Bolt and Stormzy to Kermit the Frog, a plethora of famous faces, stars and legends have lit up the Liverpool Media Wall which reaches more than one million people a fortnight.

The Liverpool Media Wall not only walks the walk, it talks the talk. In 2009 Virgin Trains advertised their fast connections to London by “talking” to people who were passing by, delivering personalised messages in real time.

In 2013, the LMW became a permanent fixture, receiving a £1million upgrade using smart technology to reduce its running costs and power consumption. Better screen resolution also improved the viewer experience.

For the People. “The Liverpool Media Wall has become part of the fabric of Liverpool. It forms part of Liverpool’s annual Remembrance Day Services and is used to mark important events like the 30^th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. In its role as a community noticeboard, the Media Wall will continue to support causes that are important to the city and people of Liverpool,” says Susan Finnigan, Commercial Director, Culture Liverpool.

Lest We Forget. On November 8 2015 the Wall broadcast a specially produced film made by Welton Media, telling the story of Liverpool’s involvement in the Great War, featuring photographs of local people and their role in the war effort. This was the first time that long play content had been designed specifically for broadcast through DOOH.

The LMW continues to push boundaries. In 2017 it was transformed into a vast virtual tank using CGI to raise the plight of Orcas being held in captivity. Created on behalf of The Born Free Foundation, the work went on to win a prestigious industry Cannes Lions.

Liverpool in lockdown. During the pandemic, the LMW joined other landmarks saying thank you to local heroes and key workers on the frontline who had gone above and beyond to keep the city going.

So what lies ahead for the next 15?

Mark Williams, Executive Director, RivingtonHark, said: “An integral part of St Johns, the iconic Liverpool Media Wall is designed to welcome everyone to a creative, friendly and diverse city. Ocean have been great partners to work with and have enthusiastically partnered with us in supporting Liverpool through all major events that have impacted the city. Over the next 15 years, working together, we will continue to deliver long term value to all stakeholders, the wider community, Liverpool City Council and the people of Liverpool.”

Video: Happy 15th Birthday Liverpool Media Wall on Vimeo

Tate Liverpool and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) are forming a new partnership on Liverpool’s historic waterfront.

Tate Liverpool + RIBA North will see the art gallery join RIBA’s national architecture centre from 27 October 2023 to coincide with the temporary closure period of the museum’s building for its redevelopment, which is due to be completed in autumn 2025.

The two organisations will collaborate to deliver a programme of temporary exhibitions, family activity, public talks and other events inspired by the unique collections held by RIBA and Tate. Presented at RIBA’s building at Mann Island, the programme will focus on art, architecture and ecology. Alongside this, the venue will also have a shop and café run by Tate, providing a complete visitor experience. The partnership will reanimate RIBA North – a world-class architecture centre that has been closed since the pandemic.

The first partnership exhibition will show works from the RIBA collection, one of the largest and most wide-ranging architectural collections in the world. Long Life, Low Energy: Designing for a Circular Economy considers how the design, construction, maintenance, and demolition of buildings is vital in the journey towards global net zero targets. As Tate Liverpool undergoes a transformation to its Victorian warehouse home, this timely exhibition reveals the way architects and designers are innovating to reuse and repurpose anything from small materials to whole buildings and how we might look to the technologies of the future to navigate the climate emergency today.

Helen Legg, Director, Tate Liverpool, said: “Moving to RIBA North during our temporary closure period will allow us to continue our presence on the waterfront and preserve the vital connection for our audiences. Although our usual home will be undergoing a transformation, we will still be able to share the wonderful art from the Tate collection and provide family activity to visitors alongside our much-loved shop and café offer. We’re thrilled to be partnering with RIBA and collaborating on an inspiring programme in the year ahead.”

RIBA Chief Executive, Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE FRCGP (Hons), said: “I’m delighted RIBA is forming a partnership with Tate Liverpool and that RIBA North will again be open to visitors. This collaboration will bring a vibrant public programme to Liverpool’s historic waterfront, and in joining forces, we will create an exciting opportunity to connect art with architecture. RIBA members, visitors and the local community will benefit from this partnership, as will new audiences who will be able to experience and enjoy RIBA’s world-class collections.”

When announcing its redevelopment plans, Tate Liverpool committed to retaining a presence within the city while its Royal Albert Dock venue is transformed. The partnership with RIBA will be the cornerstone of that activity with three spaces for exhibitions, events and family activity for visitors to look forward to.

RIBA North is RIBA’s national architecture centre on Liverpool’s Waterfront. RIBA North opened in 2017 and held 19 exhibitions before closing to the public, during the pandemic, in 2020.  This included working with Liverpool Biennial 2018 on the Hack the Root exhibition; showing RIBA’s collections in Liverpool (e): Mover, Shaker, Architectural Risk-taker; and It’ll Never Work, 25 Years of Urban Splash, celebrating 25 years of Urban Splash architectural practice. RIBA has also held an exhibition with Grimshaw Architects featuring Eden Project Morecambe.

This new partnership is the start of a long-term relationship between the two organisations, initially helping Tate to maintain a presence on the waterfront in Liverpool while helping RIBA to fulfil its charitable purpose to promote architecture to the public.

Unity Theatre’s annual celebration of Merseyside artists – Up Next Festival – is back for 2023 for an extended, two-week long programme featuring brand-new shows from Merseyside’s most exciting artists and companies.

The line-up of 14 artists/companies has been selected through the award-winning Unity Open Call scheme, which provides Merseyside creatives with funding, producing support and a slot in Unity’s programme.

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

Opening the festival, Andrew McKay – known for drag persona Filla Crack – presents a new show using interviews from within the drag community to explore the highs and lows of having an alter ego of the opposite sex (Wed 4 Oct). The opening night will also see the launch of a brand-new exhibition by photographic journalist Hellen Songa.

More world-premieres from Merseyside playwrights at Up Next Festival include Borrowed by Sasha Georgette – a radical story about a pregnant fat girl and a prejudiced healthcare system; At The End of the Day She’s Still Your Mother by the award-winning Jess Green – a darkly comic look at the mother/daughter relationship set in a Breast Cancer Clinic; Smashed by Helen Jeffery – a new show exploring sobriety and drinking culture; and Sass: A Chained Melody by Olayemi Z. Ade – following RnB girl group member Buki as she explores queerness as a Black and North African person.

Other new shows premiering at the festival include a Friday night double-bill of coming-of-age “tales-with-a-twist” in Berber Boy by Habibi Theatre and Space Invaders x Liar by Tip Tray Theatre. Week two then begins with a captivating new sound installation Earth is Lost by Sonic Mutiny, that will take over Unity One and propel audiences into space.

The following Friday (Fri 13 Oct), Merseyside Woman of the Year Natalie Denny and her much-acclaimed social enterprise, Skywriters Ltd. present Revival – a showcase of writing by Black and Minoritorised women, created through community workshops and culminating in a performance for Black History Month.

Finally, Up Next Festival 2023 concludes with a Saturday packed full of laughs, beginning with eccentric drag king comedy Cockroach by The Barry, Brian & Bean Company, followed bythe festival’s first-ever comedy night. Hosted by Unity regular and Open Call alumni, the award-winning comedian Sian Davies, this stella line-up of scouse comedians is the perfect way to finish Unity’s two-week celebration of Merseyside artists. Already announced as part of the line-up are sets by Alex Stringer, Niki Rooney and Sian Davies, with more coming soon.

All tickets are capped at £8 and every performance will be captioned, BSL interpreted and/or audio described to ensure the festival is as accessible as possible.

Find out more here

Moving Buses Forward – have your say

Buses are the backbone of our region’s local transport network, with 8 in 10 public transport journeys being taken by bus. Half a million people across the Liverpool City Region use the bus every day, and choose buses to get them to work, to school, to the doctors, to visit friends and family, or to have a day out. Buses are key to keeping our city region moving.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has new powers to improve bus services by taking greater public control of the network – either through an enhanced partnership with bus operators or by introducing bus franchising.

After undertaking an assessment of these options, the Combined Authority has reached the conclusion that franchising would be the best option to reform our bus services. Before any final decision is made, we want to know what the people who live and work in the Liverpool City Region think.

Anyone can take part in the consultation. You do not have to live in the Liverpool City Region or be a regular bus user. Even if you do not use buses, you can still take part – we want to hear from everyone. You can answer as a member of the public or on behalf of an organisation.

Find out more and fill in the questionnaire here.