Event type: Workshop

Make & Stitch Your Own Festive De...

Don’t miss this opportunity to join Design Laser Play to participate in a festive session to create unique, sustainable and hanging decorative items for your home or to gift to a loved one.

In the session you can decide which type of decorations you would like to make and stitch – a collection of small strung pieces or a large individual shape. A selection of different laser cut plywood shapes, needles and an assortment of attractive sparkly coloured threads will be available to you to choose from to create your own sustainable and personalised decoration.

Each of the laser cut shapes has an arrangement of holes which allow a variety of decorative patterns to be stitched across the surface of your shape. You’ll be using a needle to add sparkles of coloured thread, enabling you to produce a decoration to take away, and are bespoke and unique to you!

Guidance on possible thread patterns, colour combinations and technique will be provided during the session and also in the form of design sheets.

Children 14+ booking this workshop must be accompanied by a paying adult.

This workshop is usually charged at £45 per person and is heavily discounted. Thanks to Liverpool BID Company, GPO Food Market and Metquarter for sponsoring this workshop in celebration of the festive season. Find more Christmas offers from Liverpool BID Company members here.

GPO Food Market is in the heart of Metquarter, the workshop will take place in their activation space. GPO is a hub of Liverpool’s Food Hall Scene and showcases the best up and coming independent food and drink talent.

You’ll receive 10% discount to use on the day at all the GPO Food Market vendors.

By booking and attending this workshop, you’re not only supporting Open Culture, the social enterprise who manage all the workshops, but you’re supporting a local artist, designer and maker and keeping your money in the local creative economy.

Looking for more festive workshops?

🎄 Nov 26: Wreathmaking Workshop – SOLD OUT
✨ Dec 9: Fabric Fairy Lights with Bluebird Upholstery
🕯 Dec 10: Beeswax Candle Making with B 4 Biodiversity – SOLD OUT
🖌 Dec 16: Block Printed Table Runner Set with Red Button Press – SOLD OUT

Makers & Shakers: A Creative Fami...

Join Bluecoat this December for an extra special Christmas edition of Makers & Shakers.

Bring the whole family for a session of festive moving, making and shaking. Create Christmas decorations with the Bluecoat, and follow Santa’s trail across the globe in a dance session led by artists from Movema. Yule be sad to miss out! Book Now to avoid disappointment.

They have two sessions available:

Sunday 10 December 2023
Session 1: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Session 2: 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Make a Print Edition with Tim Spooner

Grab your friends and join artist Tim Spooner in learning Block Printing techniques to make your very own print edition inspired by his current exhibition, A New Kind of Animal at the Bluecoat.

You’ll also have the rare opportunity to meet and hear from the artist, who will share an insight into the inspiration behind his retrospective and newly commissioned works in our galleries.

They’ll keep your hearts warm and your bellies full with a complimentary Mince Pie Martini by Liverpool Gin Distillery on arrival and delicious veggie platters provided by Lunya.

You’ll also enjoy a special sweet treat that will be sure to inspire your creativity.

Veggie and vegan options available.

Sponsored by @liverpoolgindistillery

Tickets: £40

Festive Wreath-Making with Gemma Longw...

Get into the festive spirit and join in for a hands-on wreath making workshop where you’ll learn to create your own bespoke wreath using fresh foliage.

This workshop, led by Gemma Longworth (from Channel 4’s ‘Find It, Fix It, Flog It’) , is perfect for both beginners and seasoned crafters.

All materials are included but we suggest bringing sentimental items or additional decorations to make your wreath unique.

Limited availability, Book Now to secure your place.

Festive Print Workshop

Join the Bluecoat for a festive print making session this December. Print your very own Christmas cards, wrapping paper and decorations using linocut, whilst getting into the spirit of the season with festive tunes and a complimentary tea and mince pie.

Sat 02 Dec, 11am – 5pm

During the session you’ll be able to learn, socialise and let your creativity flow in the relaxing setting of Bluecoat’s Garden Room as you create a pack of hand-printed Christmas cards, wrapping paper and a wooden bauble decoration to take home with you. You can even continue to print at home by taking your hand carved lino block with you after the session.

Your session will be led by a local artist and printmaker. You’ll learn the basics of linocut, how to create and register a multiple colour design and how to print your design using a traditional barren or on their A3 Tofko tabletop relief press. You’ll then be given ample time to print your designs and experiment.

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.
Our studios are environmentally friendly and use greener methods of printmaking where possible.
Attendees must be 18+
What’s Included
All materials needed for your printing session
5 cards and envelopes to print onto
MDF bauble decoration to print onto
Your own lino block to take home and continue printing with
complimentary tea and a mince pie

Family Festive Print Party

Get creative this festive season in this family friendly printmaking session.

Sat 25 Nov, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm

Use print foam to design, sculpt and print your own pack of Christmas cards and artworks, and create beautiful monoprinted decorations for your tree.

Children will be able carve the print foam themselves, or a parent/guardian can help. There will be ample time during the session for children to print their cards, decorations and get creative.

There will be activity packs available for £1.50 extra and the opportunity to leave the workshop to grab drinks and snacks.

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.
Our studios are environmentally friendly and use greener methods of printmaking where possible.
Attendees must be 4+
children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Soap and Smiles

Why not combine a visit to the museum’s Happiness! exhibition with the opportunity to learn a new skill?

Join their friendly team who will guide you through the steps of creating your own soap. There will be plenty of chat about memories of Doddy while the process of making soap is completed, followed by the opportunity to have a look around the exhibition. Once your visit to the exhibition is completed, your very own soap will be ready and is yours to take home.

Sessions take place at the museum at 11.30am and 1.30pm on 8 November, 23 November and 7 December.

Aquarium Behind The Scenes Tour

Please be aware this event is for adults and children ages 6+. Due to the nature of the behind the scenes environment this is to ensure the safety of visitors. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Ever wanted to know what it takes to look after all the amazing animals in our aquarium?

Wonder no more! Why not book onto this 20 minute guided tour with one of our knowledgeable aquarium team members.

You’ll be taken into back of house facilities to see how they look after the animals in our care.

Each tour will have a maximum of 10 visitors and is for years 6+ they also ask for a minimum ratio of 3 children to 1 adult.

* Please can you collect a consent form at the front desk when you arrive at the museum, please hand this to your guide at the meeting point (level one by the fish tank) 10 minutes before your tour starts.

Painting Trees

Get creative with guest artist Jan Phoenix! Jan is an experienced workshop leader and will show you some simple methods to explore mark making using alternative materials and simple tips and tricks to achieve realistic tress in a fast and fun art workshop.

This workshop is suitable for beginners. Due to materials being used we ask that all attendees are aged 12+.

They will be using paint and while disposable aprons may be provided we recommend that you wear clothes that you do not mind getting messy.

Sessions will run at 10.30, 12pm and 1.30pm

Youth Engagement Forum

Youth Engagement Forum is an informal session for 16-24 years old to come and meet up with other young people on a monthly basis and do creative projects inspired by exhibitions and displays in NML venues.

You’ll get to plan, create, produce and organise events and activities for other young people in the city and help make our art galleries and museums more diverse, inclusive and a space for everyone to enjoy.

See the Youth Engagement Forum web page for more details.