Culture in Liverpool
-
Creative Spotlight: In Conversation – Jon Barraclough
“To teach is to learn.” The artistic journey of Jon Barraclough is remarkably diverse – spanning drawing, photography, film, teaching, and research. Born in Bradford, he has lived and worked in numerous cities, including Newcastle, London, New York, Manchester, and now Liverpool and North Yorkshire. He has held significant positions, such as the Director of The Liverpool School of Art, and have been instrumental in initiatives like Drawing Paper UK and the Drawing(Paper)Show. His current…
-
Manchester Collective Bring SERENITY 2.0 To The Tung Auditorium This March
This Saturday, cutting-edge, experimental ensemble Manchester Collective will enthral audiences on The Tung Auditorium stage with an innovative, boundary-pushing performance… one minute, the sound vibrates through you, your hairs pulled on end. The next: a blissful calm descends. The Collective will perform Ben Nobuto’s SERENITY 2.0 – a glitched-out collage of frenzied strings, percussion and samples. Transcending into the eclectic soundscapes of prolific musician and composer Nabihah Iqbal’s What Psyche Felt – Nabihah’s first commission…
-
Creative Spotlight: In Conversation – Ruth Dillon
Ruth Dillon is a multi-disciplinary artist working across photography, film, stop motion animation, and 3D installation. Her concept-driven work explores collective and living community memories, often addressing social issues. Beginning her career in photography and videography, including documenting the first National Aids Day event on Merseyside, she quickly became involved in socially engaged projects. She honed her film and darkroom skills, even contributing to the UK’s first Mobile studio for communities. A short film she…
-
Creative Spotlight: In Conversation – EB Lauren
Liverpool and Merseyside has a rich history of being a vibrant hub of creativity, home to artists whose work reflects the region’s rich culture and diversity. This new monthly column celebrates local talent by featuring a creative artist whose journey and craft has inspired and captivated across the region and internationally. Each article will explore the personal stories that shape their artistic style, uncovering how their background, experiences, and influences contribute to their unique vision.…
-
The Reader Announces Winter Programme For 2025
Baby it’s cold outside! Cosy up inside The Reader’s Grade II listed mansion in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park with some hearty fare, a wintery journey into the woods with Winnie the Pooh and Burns Night celebrations. Burns Night, rediscovered black British novelist Jacqueline Roy in conversation and a deep dive into Beloved by Toni Morrison are among the highlights at The Reader this coming New Year. The charity’s new Winter programme for 2025, from 17 January…
-
In Conversation – Ethan Leyland
Up and coming Merseyside Fashion Designer Ethan Leyland takes time out to speak to Steve Kinrade about how he became interested in fashion and design, his influences, and the challenges of a young working-class student navigating the demands of an intensive degree course in the fast moving fashion industry. Liverpool Noise: Can you remember how old you were when you first took an interest in clothes and fashion? Ethan: I would say that my interest…
-
Dip Into Pride Rainbow Bath Set for Charity Auction to Support LGBTQIA+ Community
The Dip Into Pride Bath, known to many as simply the “Rainbow Bath”, will be auctioned for charity at Adam Partridge Auction House on 6 November. The brightly coloured bath was originally created in 2023 when photographer and arts producer, Laura McCann was curating an exhibition for Pride. Laura wanted to include something interactive at the event and thought a roll top bath would be a fun way of encouraging people to immersing themselves in…
-
In Conversation – Daniel Draper & Christie Allanson of Shut Out The Light’s ‘Liverpool Story’ Film
Liverpool Story captures a year in the life of Liverpool, exploring its unique character across every postcode. Filmed in 2023, the documentary by director Daniel Draper and producer Christie Allanson captures familiar and unexpected sides of the city, from drag nights to doggy daycare, revealing Liverpool’s rich culture beyond the backdrops seen in TV and film. In our conversation, Dan and Christie discuss how they aimed to capture the true essence of Liverpool through themes…
-
New Exhibition At FACT, Cosmotechnics, Redefines Technology With Installations From Latin American Artists
From Friday 8 November 2024 to Sunday 26 January 2025, FACT presents Cosmotechnics, a group exhibition curated by FACT’s 2024 Curator-in-Residence Beatrice Zaidenberg. Cosmotechnics showcases a series of transformative installations featuring video, sound, sculpture, and digital media. Using plants as a guide, the exhibition invites audiences to explore the relationship between culture and technology through the works of three Latin American artists. Cosmotechnics includes existing works by Atractor Studio, alongside new works by Patricia Domínguez…
-
Building A Musical Community For Little Ones: The Story Behind Music Bus South Liverpool
Liz Hare, the passionate owner of Music Bus Liverpool South, combines her love for music and working with kids through her fun, multi-sensory music classes for babies, toddlers, and little ones up to four years old. These sessions aren’t just about the kids having a blast—they’re a great way for families to connect too. Liz’s journey from working in events to becoming a finalist for ‘Most Loved Activity Leader In The North’ at the What’s…
-
In Conversation – Dave Barlow (DB Tours)
Dave Barlow, founder of DB Tours, has spent nearly 15 years guiding visitors through Liverpool’s cultural and sporting history. After working for major attractions like LFC Stadium Tours and City Explorer, Dave launched DB Tours to offer bespoke, personalised tours tailored to his tourist’s interests. In this interview, Dave shares how his passion for Liverpool and its hidden gems has shaped his business, and why the city continues to inspire him as both a guide…
-
Preserving The Heart of Kensington: The Fight to Keep Kensington Library Alive
The weather in Liverpool this summer has been dreadful, with our skies constantly under attack by the monotonous grey clouds. However, on any gloomy day, Liverpool’s Kensington Library never fails to brighten things up, even though the library deals with constant adversity. A Historical Gem: Kensington Library’s Architectural Legacy Kensington Library, designed by architect Thomas Shelmerdine in the late 19th century and constructed in 1890, expanded by 1897 and eventually earned its status as a…
-
La Feria Festival Returns To Celebrate Latin American Culture In Liverpool
Luma Creations is delighted to announce the 6th annual La Feria Festival in Liverpool, a vibrant celebration of the beauty and diversity of Latin American culture. Running from 10 – 15 September, the city will come alive with music, dance, theatre, art, and food, offering an immersive experience embodying the essence of Latin America, across a series of iconic venues. This year’s festival promises a thrilling array of events and activities that highlight the rich cultural…
-
The Reader To Host Series of Shared Reading Events To Celebrate Wirral Borough of Culture 2024
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 from The Reader, 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…
-
Milap Announce Autumn Season of Indian Music And Culture, Including Diwali Celebration
Following the successful return of their bi-annual INDIKA Festival last November, Milap have announced an Autumn 2024 season of Indian Arts & Culture, taking place across Merseyside from September. Showcasing some of India’s most acclaimed musicians, alongside both established and emerging talent from the UK, the city region will also enjoy an expanded programme of Diwali celebrations, featuring Visual Art, Food, and more. The opening show sees Milap take a short trip across the Mersey,…
-
Commune: The Bar Where Live Music, Art and Community Come Together
There’s a new bar in Liverpool’s Fabric District, lovingly brought to life in the former home of Melodic Distraction. But, Commune is more than just a bar—it’s a space that breathes life into the local arts and music scene, fostering a sense of community and togetherness. Born out of a spontaneous opportunity and a shared passion for live music, the arts, and community engagement, Commune stands as a testament to the power of creativity and…
-
New LGBTQIA+ Shared Reading Taster Sessions Announced At Liverpool’s Everyman
The Reader is excited to be launching new LGBTQIA+ inclusive Shared Reading taster sessions at Liverpool Everyman. Two drop-in sessions will accompany a debut play set in the Aids epidemic, Tell Me How It Ends, by Tasha Dowd, agraduate of the award-winning Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) programme. These pre-show sessions on 19 and 20 June are open to everyone and FREE to attend. At Shared Reading groups people talk, connect and share experiences using stories,…
-
Milap Arts School Returns To Liverpool This Summer
Based in Liverpool, the Milap Arts School has become a cornerstone for education and career pathways in Indian Arts. This term-time education programme offers weekly classes in a diverse range of Indian performing arts, catering to students eager to immerse themselves in rich cultural traditions. The Arts School’s curriculum is comprehensive, featuring an array of classes in both classical and folk disciplines. Students can delve into the intricate rhythms and expressive movements of Bharatanatyam and…
-
The Reader’s 5th Annual Bookshelf Reveals Theme of ‘Wonder’
Liverpool-based national charity The Reader has launched its fifth annual Bookshelf 2024/5 and the new theme is ‘Wonder’. This annual collection of 24 novels, plays, poetry and non-fiction for adults, young people and children is a carefully curated list exploring a different theme each year. It is designed to inspire people to discover a diverse range of literature, old and new, including through Shared Reading. Highlights of this year’s recommended list include Jonathan Swift’s 18th…
-
Artwork Responds To New Research Into The History of The Mansion House in Calderstone’s Park
This February, The Reader will present a painting by artist and illustrator Sumuyya Khader which responds to new research into the history of the Mansion House in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park where the charity is based. Now We Sit With It will be permanently displayed at the Mansion House from 29 February 2024 and was created as part of Making Meaning at Calderstones – The Reader’s two-year project to uncover and celebrate the unique stories…
