Crime Fiction Writing Seminar

Calling all crime writers. Have you ever wondered what the police think about crime fiction and how their experiences compare to the fictional narratives on TV crime shows or in novels? And how important is authenticity in crime writing anyway? What do you struggle with in your own writing and where do you research all the necessary information about crime scenes and police procedures?

Join academics from LJMU to hear about policing, crime scenes, common crime fiction tropes and styles and what you can do to enhance your crime writing.

Catherine Cole is a Visiting Professor at Liverpool John Moores University where she was formerly Associate Dean, Research and Professor of Creative Writing and a member of the university’s Board of Governors. She is also an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Wollongong in Australia. She has published 11 books including crime fiction, non-fiction, short stories and memoir. Her poetry, stories, essays and reviews have been published in Australia and internationally and produced by BBC Radio 4.

Carol Cox is a former police officer and now heads up higher education’s most successful unit for higher skills in policing in England, the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies (LCAPS), part of LJMU’s School of Justice Studies and a model nationally, praised by chief constables and officers alike.

Heather Panter is a retired American police detective with 2,000 hours of police specific training and a combined 13 years of law enforcement experience. As a senior lecturer, she is the programme leader of LJMU’s MSc Policing and Criminal Investigations and the module leader on the following graduate modules: “Advanced Investigative Skills”, “Forensic and Medicolegal Death Investigations”, and “Drugs: Recognition and Identification”. She created and oversees LJMU’s policing studies crime scene science area where students and staff have a multidisciplinary learning space to conduct “mock” crime scene exercises/ research studies.

Sober Scribbles

A writing workshop for anyone sober, sober-curious or taking a break from booze. A supportive space to gather your thoughts, put pen to paper and connect with other writers.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just looking to try something new, writer Helen Jeffery will support you in getting the creative juices flowing in this 90 min workshop.

You are welcome to share your work with others during the session but there is no expectation to do so.

Monoprint Like Matisse

Unleash Your Creativity with Abstract Botanical Printmaking!

Join the team for an exciting and innovative workshop where you’ll master a unique printmaking technique inspired by the legendary Matisse. Dive into the world of Abstract Botanical Prints, where you’ll create stunning monoprints using bold earth tones and spray paint.

In this workshop, they’ll take Matisse’s iconic cut-out method and give it a fresh twist. You’ll experiment with vibrant colours, explore unconventional tools, and add intriguing textures to your artwork. This hands-on experience is all about embracing creative freedom and finding joy in the process.

Learn how to craft captivating abstract shapes and textures by layering ink, scraping away patterns, and playing with positive and negative space. This versatile technique is perfect for creating eye-catching graphics, enhancing your social media presence, or simply adding a new dimension to your artistic repertoire.

Event

Held at the inspiring Cass Art Store in Liverpool—a haven for artists and creatives—this workshop is designed for beginners, so no prior experience is necessary. Just bring your imagination and enthusiasm!

The Creative Ridiculous Workshop

A 2 day intensive with Lucy Hopkins for clowns and creators of live performance

Connect to the creative, ridiculous spirit of your thing and work out how to share it with a roomful of people in a way that they will love. 

PROCESS: 

1/ Connect to mind, heart, body (and silliness) 

2/ Enjoy yourself (haha doesn’t really matter) 

3/ Try the thing you want to do (bravery gosh I mean this) 

4/ Work out how to go deeper, make it better and fall in love with it (sweet work) 

5/ Build pathway back to reality with treasures gained in workshop (absorb, reflect, share) 

WHAT WILL WE DO? 

We will set some intentions, move our bodies, play some games, show our beautiful, ridiculous selves and try to get to the heart of how to share that thing we love. 

WHY SHOULD I COME? 

To reenergise your creative practice by having a really silly time, get some helpful feedback, meet some cool idiots. To get all the benefits of working in an inspiring, honest and supportive environment and finding out what you didn’t know you could make yet. Also laughter is so so good for you. 

WHO IS IT FOR? 

Clowns and creators of live performance of all kinds who would like the experience of finding or working on something with guidance, in a group of creative ridiculous sorts. 

You can bring an idea or something you’re already working on, or come with nothing and discover something new. Both are an excellent approach. 

All levels of experience encouraged. 

COST: 

PWYW £120 – £240. Please pay what you are able. If these prices remain out of reach, contact Lucy here: wearelucy@gmail.com 

Followed by the opportunity to leap into THE UNKNOWN: a Show-Portal for Very First Shares. Saturday eve 7pm, 90 mins. Mixed bill of 5 minute acts never before performed in front of an audience!

Open to all workshop participants. Hosted by your humble steward of the unknown, Lucy Hopkins. 

Sat: 10.30-5.30pm

Sun: 10-5, followed by a sharing 7 – 8.30pm

 

Algerian Dance Workshops with Hayet Am...

In these interactive dance workshops, explore Algerian Folk dance with Hayet Amar – a specialist in North African traditional dance forms – and Liverpool Arab Arts Festival:

Chaoui [sha-wi] Dance Workshop
Sunday 29 September, 1-2pm
Price: £7.21 (including booking fees)
Booking link

This workshop will explore a traditional dance from one sub-group of the indigenous people (Amazigh) of North Africa, known as the Chawia. This group is home to the region of the Aures mountains in East Algeria. Chaoui dance is maternal and grounded, truly symbolic of this tribe’s respect to the divine energy of nature and agriculture. Famously known by the “bounce” of the belly, this style is danced with strong isolations in the pelvis area.

Kabyle Dance Workshop
Sunday 29 September, 3-4pm
Price: £7.21 (including booking fees)
Booking link

This class will explore the Kabyle, an Amazigh group of Northern Algeria. This dance is heavily grounded on the feet, connected to nature, and is known for its with strong hip reverberations or “shimmies”.

A cultural form thousands of years old, we connect with a dance from a community that has been a strong leader in cultural preservation of the Amazigh culture, language, and history in Algeria.

To bring: Regular scarf to tie around your hips + another scarf (preferably square)

Chaoui [sha-wi] Dance Workshop

This workshop will explore a traditional dance from one sub-group of the indigenous people (Amazigh) of North Africa, known as the Chawia. This group is home to the region of the Aures mountains in East Algeria. Chaoui dance is maternal and grounded, truly symbolic of this tribe’s respect to the divine energy of nature and agriculture. Famously known by the “bounce” of the belly, this style is danced with strong isolations in the pelvis area.

Hayat Amar Bio:
From her earliest days, Hayet harboured a fervent love for Algerian dances. She honed her skills in Kabyle dance, blending her innate talent with formal training from a professional folk ballet in Kabylia, Algeria. In addition, she underwent instruction in other Amazigh Algerian dance forms, including Chaoui dance.

Her artistic mission is to preserve the genuine techniques of Algerian Amazigh dances, ensuring their transcendence through future generations in their purest traditional form.

Produced by Culturama in association with Liverpool Arab Arts Festival.

Part of DzFest 2024 – The Algerian festival for Arts & Culture.

Introduction to Multi-Colour Lino Cut

Learn the basics of Linocut and how to design, carve, register and print an edition of 2-colour lino prints.

During this one day course you will be guided through the basics of Linocut, an enjoyable process that makes a perfect introduction to printmaking. You will learn how to transfer an image onto your lino, carve your lino blocks and create a small edition of 2-colour prints. You will also gain insight on the materials and tools used, and how you can continue the process as home.

On this course for beginners you will be guided through every step of the process from start to finish, leaving with confidence in linocut printing and having created a finished edition of prints to take home with you.

Useful Information:

All materials are provided on the day and included in the price of your ticket.

Feel free bring a simple image or drawing with you on the day as a source of inspiration to create your design from.

Lunch is not provided in the cost of your ticket, however there will be a lunch break during the course and the Bluecoat Cafe will be open for food and refreshments.

Their studios are environmentally friendly and use greener methods of printmaking where possible.
Attendees must be 18+

Tickets: £60

Printmaking for Beginners

This 3 week evening course is a perfect taster session into 3 different print techniques; monoprint, linocut & drypoint etching. You’ll learn the basics of all 3 techniques and create prints using each technique.

The course is designed for beginners who would like an introduction to printmaking and those who would like a taster of various techniques before committing to a day course. It’s also great for creating work for a portfolio.

The course schedule is as follows:

Week 1: You will learn all about monoprint. The session will guide you through the process of creating a beautiful monoprint while learning about the history, tools, materials and techniques used.

Week 2: You will learn all about linocut, and use the session to create your own linocut print whilst learning about the materials, tools and techniques of the process.

Week 3: You will learn all about drypoint etching and be guided through the process of creating a drypoint etch, including using our beautiful 100-year-old press to print your plates.

£125 (for 3 sessions, all materials included)

Neil Cooper Drum Clinic

Head along and join them at Outpost, Renshaw Street, Liverpool at 2pm on Sunday 13th October for an exciting Drum Clinic with the legendary Therapy? drummer Neil Cooper!

Get ready to be blown away by his incredible skills and learn some new tricks to up your drumming game.

This in-person clinic is a must-attend for drum enthusiasts of all levels. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to see Neil in action and pick up some valuable tips.

Neil will be demonstrating his skills by drumming along to numerous well known Therapy? tracks along with some Beyond tracks for the old skool and there’s also an opportunity for a Q&A.

Bring along your fave Therapy? Beyond, Gorilla or Cable items and get them signed on the day as well!

Trauma Informed Practice for Participa...

Although it’s very important to maintain the distinction between art and therapy, participatory artists are often in positions where they need to support their participants’ mental health.

This training is specifically for artists and facilitators and takes a person-centred approach to understanding trauma and incorporating this understanding into your creative practice.

This training will:

Provide an overview of the physiology of trauma and an insight from the perspective of a clinical psychotherapist;

Unpick popular perceptions and misuse of language around trauma and PTSD;

Offer practical tips for creating safe spaces for participants and avoiding practices which may retraumatise participants;

Create a space to explore problem solving using real-life scenarios.

This event is aimed at artists working in communities, theatre-makers and activists interested in using the arts as a tool for positive change.

For attendees supported by their organisations the full price of a ticket is £55.00 For freelancers and individuals from non-regularly funded organisations attendees the price of a ticket is £35.00

For those on low or no income the ticket price is £18.00. They also have a small number of bursary places available for those with limited funds, please email info@collective-encounters.org.uk

Please Note: Ticket sales will end 24 hours before this event is due to start.

Applying For DYCP Funding

Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP) funding from Arts Council England (ACE) supports cultural and creative practitioners who want to take time to focus on their creative development.

Join this free workshop to gain insights into successful applications and discover resources to assist you in drafting your own.

A representative from the Arts Council and artists who have received DYCP funding will be on hand to offer valuable advice and guidance on both DYCP and Project Grants, with plenty of opportunities for questions.

Find out more about DYCP funding