Interest area: culture

TreeStory.me website

The brand new TreeStory.me website is now live!

Trees are the perfect vehicle through which to tell a story of the region. Open Eye Gallery and dot-art started inviting the public to create a history of Liverpool through its trees, using personal stories and photography, during the pandemic in 2020, as we all began to value our local green spaces more than ever.

Now they are developing the project further and looking for new TreeStories to collect with a specially dedicated website – TreeStory.me.

This has been funded through a generous grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which saw the team engage schools (Rainhill High School, LIPA Primary, Egremont Primary, Northwood Primary and Wirral Hospitals’ School), community groups (Growing Sudley, Faiths4Change, Rimrose Valley Friends and The Spider Project) and the general public across the Liverpool City Region over the last 12 months, exploring natural heritage by investigating, documenting and celebrating locally and personally significant trees, as well as planting new ones in partnership with the Mersey Forest.

This work has led to a series of fantastic free activity books for families, schools and community groups to download, full of activities and ideas to inspire and stimulate creativity in people of all ages!

Everyone is now invited to celebrate trees that are significant to them, pinning images and stories to a specially commissioned interactive online map. There’s an easy How To Guide to help: make some images of the tree, write or record the story (a history, a poem or just a personal memory), use the map to locate the tree and submit your entry.

The team will review it and publish. There’s also a video guide and FAQs. Get inspired by the existing TreeStories, study the history of Liverpool through its trees and submit your own #TreeStory!

Uploading your TreeStory is a fantastic way of connecting to your neighbourhood and community, of creating your own personal history and of sharing your love and gratitude to nature in the urban areas. It’s also a great opportunity for an early career photographer / writer or photography / creative writing student to get their work seen by not just the general public but also Open Eye Gallery and dot-art.

Share your story here!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Based on the Sunday Times bestseller which inspired one of this century’s most treasured films, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel takes us on a journey to India with an eclectic group of British retirees as they embark on a new life.

The luxury residence is far from the opulence they were promised, but as their lives begin to intertwine, they are charmed in unexpected and life-changing ways.

Starring Belinda Lang (2 Point 4 Children, Oklahoma!), Paul Nicholas (Jesus Christ Superstar, Just Good Friends, EastEnders), Tessa Peake-Jones (Only Fools and Horses) and Graham Seed (The Archers, The Mousetrap). Also featuring Rekha John-Cheriyan (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Tomb Raider, Hollyoaks), Nishad More (King Lear, My Mother’s Wedding) and Marlene Sidaway (Coronation Street, Pride and Prejudice).

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a joyous comedy about taking risks, finding love and embracing second chances, even in the most surprising of places.

Get ready for the journey of a lifetime.

Daily Tours at FACT

Head along to a daily tour (Tuesday to Sunday) between 13:00 – 13:20 for a brief introduction to FACT and their current exhibitions.

Led by FACT’s friendly Visitor Experience team, tours are open to everyone, suitable for all ages and filled with stories and insights about film, art and the history of FACT.

No need to book, just turn up!

Danny Beard LIVE

“High fashion, hilarious and hairy! What’s not to love?” – Graham Norton

The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is hitting the road with their debut solo tour! Join Danny as they take to stage with a show which promises to be bigger, better, and more CAMP than ever before.

Early booking highly advised – a limited number of meet & greet tickets are available to purchase alongside your tickets.

Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderl...

Join the Liverpool Playhouse this Summer for a funked-up remix of Lewis Carroll’s classic, where musical streams and digital dreams collide in a riotous adventure for all the family!

When tech-savvy teen Alice tries to repair her dear Dad’s much-loved old stereo, a slip of the screwdriver hurtles her into a strange new world. As the tape unravels, she meets a host of unlikely new friends and meets her musical match against the infamous Queen of Charts.

Spinning together a familiar story with a company of awesomely talented actor-musicians, this new remix, lovingly created with our friends at Theatre Royal Plymouth and Stockroom Productions, is bursting with brilliant original music inspired by the best of British pop.

Come with us down the rabbit hole, through the looking glass and into a Wonderland like you’ve never seen before!

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

To celebrate Chinese New Year, World Museum are partnering with the University of Liverpool’s Departments of Languages Culture and Film to show films featuring Chinese cultures and characters, or created with Chinese directors.

This screening is made possible by funding from the University of Liverpool and the Confucius Institute.

A legendary warrior’s stolen magic sword becomes the centrepiece of epic, intertwining love stories, set against the breathtaking landscapes of China.

The film will be shown in its original Mandarin with English subtitles.

Talk from the Terraces…with Dave Whi...

Liverpool-born artist Dave White is widely acknowledged as the creator of the trainer art movement, starting in 2002 with his Pop Art-inspired work for Nike.

Join Walker Art Gallery as he talks about his work in the exhibition, and his collaboration with this major sportswear brand.

Arrival from 6.00pm with an arrival drink included. Talk from 7.00pm with Q&A. After-hours view of the exhibition from 8.00pm with a cash bar available.

Work with Convenience Gallery Meet up

Want to work with Convenience Gallery across our 2023-24 cultural programming?

At Convenience, they are looking ahead to the future. They want to create a programme of events, exhibitions, workshops, projects and opportunities representative of the needs and wants of the local community across 2023-2024. They want to champion your ideas, projects, needs and dreams. So if you have an idea and want to work with Convenience Gallery then please get in contact and book on for a slot at their Work with us meet up on Wednesday 18th January.

There are a number of one-to-one 30 minute slots that can be booked across the day or a group session from 5:30-7:00pm. These sessions will be a casual and informal opportunity to chat with the gallery team, share any ideas or project that you have and to ask any questions that you have about the 2023-24 programme.

If you are unable to attend or book a slot on the day please get in contact at conveniencegallery@outlook.com and they can look for another time to meet with you alternatively you can fill out the ‘Work with us’ form here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdWjsJJrn9XGKJKUxe3oQctWza_Atho4_kGcRBRpZ8m9NT4A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Additional information about the programme:

For next year they are working on the theme: ‘The Town is the Gallery’. The Town is the gallery intends to create art access across the town of Birkenhead across multiple venues and will be a multi project initiative. They believe anywhere can be a space for culture. This programmes will make arts and creativity a part of everyday life.

What will this programme look like?

Exhibitions
Installations
Events
Film festival
Community groups
Multi venue arts trail

They are open to all disciplines and practices across the diverse field of creativity so please share your ideas and proposals with us.

Event

 

Unsolicited (An Unsafe Space for Strai...

Oi! Men! Yes, You. Straight men. The ship is setting sail and needs you aboard! We can’t guarantee a safe journey, the winds are getting stronger, the waves are swelling, and a storm is brewing on the old sea of misogyny.

This journey is for you but it’s about us, women. It’s about our unsafe spaces, our fears, your unwanted dick pics, approaches, harassment, and your responsibility. Will it be lairy? Yes. Will it be lady-like? Hell no! Girls bring your fellas, you husbands, partners, mates, brothers, sons, dads as we get to grip with this giant and humongous wave.

This performance has been created and devised by a collective of brilliant female artists from the Northwest.

Content Warning 18+ This performance contains verbatim descriptions and graphic details of sexual assault, rape, sexual violence, murder, abusive and sexist and offensive language.

The event is held Royal Court Studio, 19/20 January, 7.30pm.

Geek Bazaar

Join FACT for an inclusive Geek Bazaar hosted by Empire Sector. This event is open to everyone and anyone who wants to experience a geeky event created by people who wear the geek badge with pride.

The Geek Bazaar creates an open and welcoming space for fans of any horror, comic, manga or cosplay. If you are a fan of any geeky media this is the event for you.

Event

Browse and shop from independent sellers who have a wide variety of products from Funko Pops to comic books plus meet and chat with local artists and writers.

Empire Sector is an independent geek business based in Liverpool which specialises in manga, comics and gaming.