Event type: Talk

An Afternoon with The Reader and speci...

Wirral Borough of Culture 2024: Join UK charity The Reader for afternoon author event with award-winner Sarah Hall

Award-winning Cumbrian-born author Sarah Hall and inspirational Pakistani-born British poet Imtiaz Dharker are the first special guests announced for a trilogy of Shared Reading events celebrating Wirral Borough of Culture 2024.

National charity The Reader is hosting a trilogy of Shared Reading events with special guest writers to celebrate Wirral Borough of Culture 2024.

Sarah Hall is the first author to join the organisation for an afternoon of Shared Reading at Birkenhead Central Library on Tuesday August 27, 12.45pm – 4pm, to talk about her fifth novel, The Wolf Border. This award-winning story explores environmental and human concerns about rewilding wolves in the Lake District, rebirth and renewal.

These events are a chance to enjoy Shared Reading with a difference. Shared Reading differs from conventional book groups in that, in most groups, people read a book and come together to talk about it. In Shared Reading The Reader uses stories and poems to help people connect and share thoughts, feelings and experiences.

This time, though, the author will join the group to hear people’s responses and answer questions. There is no pressure to talk or read aloud.

Sarah has written short fiction and novels including The Carhullan Army, How to Paint a Dead Man and The Electric Michelangelo. Twice nominated for the Man Booker Prize, she is the award-winning author of six novels and three short-story collections: The Beautiful Indifference, which won the Edge Hill and Portico prizes, Madame Zero, winner of the East Anglian Book Award, and Sudden Traveller, shortlisted for the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction. 

She is also Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. 

Sarah said: “As a writer you always hope for readers to connect personally with your work and find in it thoughtful and emotional resonance. 

“It’s fantastic to be part of an event where exactly this connection is being explored and talked about. I can’t think of a better format.”

Tickets are available to book here. 

 

SRD 2024: Dorothy Kuya Memorial Lectur...

For the 25th Slavery Remembrance Day commemoration we welcome Saint Lucian artist, filmmaker and historian, Fiona Compton, to Liverpool to deliver the Dorothy Kuya Slavery Remembrance Memorial Lecture.

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.

“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.” Fiona Compton

Doors open at 5.30pm with the lecture starting promptly 6.30pm. There will be refreshments available on arrival.

Please note – this event is taking place at Liverpool Town Hall.

Slavery Remembrance Day 2024 Events Programme

SRD 2024: Health, Medicine and Transatlantic Slavery Workshop (20 August)

SRD 2024: CSIS Symposium Space and Place – Building on the Past Panel (21 August)

SRD 2024: A Walk of Remembrance (23 August)

SRD 2024: CSIS Symposium Space and Pla...

Curators, scholars, and community-based knowledge makers will reflect on buildings and spaces connected to the representation of slavery and its legacies.

This includes conversations about the Transatlantic Slavery Gallery (1994), the development of the International Slavery Museum, which opened in 2007 during the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the British Slave Trade, and projects, buildings and spaces throughout the African Diaspora.

The event will also explore the connections between the Waterfront Transformation project in Liverpool, models of co-production and design, African architectural history and practice, and diverse knowledge systems. Additionally, it will consider how local landscapes interact with the global perspective and how we inclusively and equitably utilise past experiences and new practices in future museum design and development.

Speakers will include Dr Richard Benjamin, Senior Lecturer for Contemporary Museum Practice, Professor Ola Uduku, Head of School at the Liverpool School of Architecture, Michelle Charters, Head of International Slavery Museum and Mike Boyle, Liverpool historian and author of “Liverpool Black Heritage: From Granby to Pitt Street”.

Please note that this event takes place at the School of Law and Social Justice Events Space University of Liverpool.

Illustration by Tinuke Fagborun

SRD 2024: Health, Medicine and Transatlantic Slavery Workshop (20 August)

SRD 2024: Dorothy Kuya Memorial Lecture – Fiona Compton

SRD 2024: A Walk of Remembrance (23 August)

In Conversation: Alice Rawsthorn

Join Tate Liverpool for a special talk with award-winning design critic and author Alice Rawsthorn.

Rawsthorn will respond to works and themes in the gallery’s Brickworks display and she’ll talk about the design history and evolution of bricks.

Alice Rawsthorn is an award-winning design critic and the author of critically acclaimed books on design, including Hello World: Where Design Meets Life, Design as an Attitude and, most recently, Design Emergency: Building a Better Future. She is a co-founder with Paola Antonelli of the Design Emergency project to investigate design’s role as a force for positive change. In all her work, Rawsthorn champions design’s potential to address complex social, political and ecological challenges.

Meet the Maker with Talia Hasid

On Saturday 10 August 2024 Bluecoat Display Centre will be joined in the gallery by Talia Hasid, who will be chatting informally about her collection ‘The Language of Birdsong’ and demonstrating some of her techniques.

Talia is a recent illustration and graphic design graduate from Liverpool John Moore’s University. ‘The Language of Birdsong’ is a series of gouache bird portraits and handmade concertina books exploring the unique language of bird sonograms by using embossing and burnishing techniques. They aim to capture the individuality of each bird and the peaceful presence they bring to the world.

Talia is inspired by nature, literature and the simplicities of life. With a love for craftsmanship and the delicate process of creating artworks, she aims for her work to evoke feelings of peace, and to connect others with her illustrations.

Booking is not required for this event, just pop into the Bluecoat Display Centre between 2pm – 4pm to gain a valuable insight into this talented emerging maker’s work.

Heritage Open Days – The Bluecoa...

In response to this year’s Heritage Open Days theme of ‘Routes, Networks, Connections’, the Bluecoat reveals some of the threads running through our building, past and present through a series of talks, open studios and tours.

The Bluecoat’s Director of Cultural Legacies, Bryan Biggs charts the various networks and connections in the early twentieth century that developed the building into the UK’s first arts centre.

Heritage Open Days: Open Studios

In response to this year’s Heritage Open Days theme of ‘Routes, Networks, Connections’, the Bluecoat reveals some of the threads running through their building, past and present through a series of talks, open studios and tours.

Sat 7 Sep, 12pm – 4pm

Explore their open studios, meet some of the Bluecoat’s creative community and find out about their practices, which range from painting and photography to jewellery and illustration.

Free, drop in

Bill Tidy – Is there any news of...

Join Sylvia Tidy-Harris as she shares her many often hilarious and sometimes tragic memories of her late father, Bill Tidy  MBE.

Discover the man behind the cartoons through stories from his illustrious career as a beloved cartoonist and media personality, as well as intimate anecdotes from his home life with the love of his life, Rosa, and their three children, Sylvia, Nick and Rob.

So whether you’re a long-time fan of Bill Tidy’s work or new to his legacy, this talk promises to offer heartfelt and entertaining insights into the life of one of Britain’s most cherished cartoonists of all time.

An Evening with David Morrissey

Award-Winning Actor David Morrissey Returns to Liverpool Everyman for a Special Evening

The Everyman’s 60th birthday celebrations continue with a special event, An Evening with David Morrissey on Thursday 24 October. A Liverpool native and alumnus of the Everyman Youth Theatre, David returns to the stage where his career began.

David Morrissey has enjoyed a long association with the Everyman; from discovering the youth theatre in his early teens, to appearing on stage in the title role of Macbeth in the Everyman’s final production at the old building before its redevelopment in 2011, and as a trustee for the charity which runs the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.

The Everyman Youth Theatre played a significant role in igniting David’s acting career. As soon as he stepped through those doors, David found a supportive space that provided a safe environment, fostering not only his passion for the stage but also valuable life skills and confidence. He also met the inspirational Roger Hill, the Everyman Youth Theatre organiser, a man with a punk spirit and unwavering belief in theatre’s power. Roger’s inclusive approach left a lasting impression on David and many of his peers.

QueerBook Club in Conversation with…...

For a special, one-off edition of Queer Book Club, they’ll be joined by journalist and author Laura Kay, who will be reading from her book Wild Things: A Novel (Vintage, 2023).

Wild Things: A Novel is about two best friends. One huge crush. A year that could change everything…

Laura Kay will join them to talk about her work, and welcomes questions from attendees. Copies of Wild Things: A Novel will be available to buy from The Book Stop, which Laura will sign.

Laura was invited by members of Queer Book Club; an inclusive reading group open to anyone from St Helens to come together to read and discuss LGBTQIA+ literature. Founded in Autumn 2023 by a group of local queer artists, producers and book-lovers, Queer Book Club is a space to share a love of queer novels, memoirs and writing.

Safer Spaces:

These events will use Heart of Glass’ Safer Spaces Agreement to create a space that aims to be as welcoming and respectful as possible.