Event type: Workshop

Learn the intriguing process of Cyanotype Printing this Spring using our beautiful Bluecoat garden as a source of inspiration.

Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic printmaking technique that creates beautiful blue and white images.

On this short and informative course you will learn all about the process of cyanotype and what chemicals and materials are needed. You will be given an opportunity to collect leaves and flowers from our beautiful summer garden to create your prints, or you can bring your own. After preparing, exposing and creating your own botanical cyanotypes you will have the knowledge to continue this amazing process at home, as well as your prints you’ve made on the day.

The course runs for 2.5 hours per session.

There are two sessions available: Sat 16 May, 11am-1.30pm & Sat 16 May, 2.30-5pm.

All materials included

Celebrate Lunar New Year 2026, the year of the horse, at our ‘make and take’ family craft session. Join us to embrace Liverpool’s unique connections with China and the city’s Chinese community. 

This is a free drop in session aimed towards children aged 3+ and their families but all are welcome.

During this one day course you will learn the basics of screen printing, including learning about the materials used and processes involved in creating a UV exposed screen. After preparing and exposing your own screen, you’ll get time to draw your own image to print, or you can bring a suitable image with you. You’ll finish the workshop by using our screen-beds to ink and print your 2 colour designs onto paper in a small edition that you can take home with you.

All materials you will use are included in the cost of the course, but you are welcome to bring along your own if you choose.

Our studios are environmentally friendly where possible and use greener methods of screen printing, such as water-based acrylic inks. Completing this course will act as an Induction. After becoming a Bluecoat Artist Member you will be able to book into our Screen Printing Studio should you wish to.

Attendees must be 18+

All materials included.

Lithography is a traditional planographic printmaking technique which utilises the principle of water and oil repelling each other. It uses a greasy medium (such as a litho pencil) to draw on to a special slab of stone that is then exposed to various chemical processes to create an invisible ‘stencil’ on the stones surface.

Kitchen Lithography utilises equivalent chemical processes and preparation, but uses readily available household materials to make a simple and accessible introduction into Lithography.

During the session participants will learn the chemical processes involved, produce their own hand-drawn plate and print a small edition of Lithographs. You’ll leave with a set of prints and the knowledge to continue this incredibly interesting technique at home.

All materials are included.

There are two sessions available: Sat 18 Apr, 11am-1.30pm & Sat 18 Apr, 2.30-5pm

Learn the basics of etching, one of the oldest & most unique printmaking processes, at the historical Bluecoat Print Studios.

During this one day course you will learn the basics of copper sulphate etching, including learning about the history, tools & materials of etching and the chemical processes involved in creating a copper sulphate etched plate, as well as inking and printing your design on our fabulous century old Hughes & Kimber Etching Press.

On this course for beginners you will be guided through every step of the etching process from start to finish, leaving with having created a finished edition of prints. All materials are provided on the day as well as a booklet to take away detailing the processes learnt.

£75 (all materials included)

We are running to our normal schedule of the 3rd Sunday of the month,

For those of you who have not been to a Repair Cafè, this is a mostly free service where you can bring in broken items and get them repaired, only paying for any parts that are used in the repair.
You are welcome to come on the day with an item for repair or to help with the repairs. We can cope with many kinds of repair, such as electrical and electronic items, bikes, furniture, computers, clothes and fabric alterations.

You can make a contribution to your repair here via DoEs Liverpool.

Why It Matters

Environmental benefits: Repair cafés help extend the life of products, which reduces waste and the need for new resources and manufacturing. For example, in the Farnham case they estimated a significant CO₂ saving.
Skill-sharing & community building: They provide venues for people to share repair knowledge, reducing isolation and building community ties. The movement links technical fix-skills with social connection.
Behaviour change and culture shift: Repair cafés challenge the mindset of “if it’s broken, throw it away, buy new”. They promote “fix it, learn to fix, reuse” instead.

Economic/financial benefits: They help people save money (by repairing rather than replacing) and reduce disposal costs and waste.

What Happens at a Repair Café – Typical Features
Volunteers (often with backgrounds in electronics, sewing, woodwork, mechanical repair) staff stations where visitors bring items. Owners participate, ask questions, learn.
The items repaired vary widely: electrical and electronic goods (radios, lamps, small appliances), clothing/textiles, furniture, jewellery, toys, clocks, etc.
It’s usually free or based on donations; the idea is accessibility for all. Some parts may be charged if needed, but the labour is volunteer.

Workshops are often monthly