Available grants…
BBC Children in Need has paused its normal grants programmes and launched two new Covid-19 response grants. The aim of these new grants is to enable organisations to continue supporting disadvantaged children and young people aged 18 years and under. Current grant-holders can apply for funding of up to £5,000 over a six-month period and registered not-for-profit organisations will be able to apply for funding of up to £80,000 over an 18-month period. Visit the BBC Children in Need website for details.
Voluntary Sector Support Grants are now available for businesses that are given charitable business rates relief on a premises with a rateable value of £51,000 or less and have more than six month’s ongoing fixed property cost as evidenced by a mortgage, lease or rental agreement. Applications are open now to small and micro organisations that have suffered a significant fall in income due to Covid-19. Apply now via the Liverpool City Council website.
Calling all creatives…
Knowsley will be the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture in 2022 which is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and create. Through a year long programme they plan to have fantastic major events and moments. Which is where you come in. They’d love to hear from experienced culture and creative organisations and artists who would like to be part of their year and work with a range of local people. So if you have knowledge of delivering creative events, art installations, creative activities and performances then get in touch. Email your expression of interest to [email protected] by Monday 15 June with a brief outline of your experience and examples of previous work.
TMESIS get busy in lockdown…
TMESIS are excited to be working on two new projects in lockdown, creating more work with and about women. Lone Women is a digital, physical theatre project exploring the different facets of women, created and performed by female creatives. Grapevine comprises 20 women responding to the theme Life In Static. Head over to TMESIS to find out more about the great work they are up to.
Reflecting with DaDaFest…
DaDaFest invite you to reflect on their events, trips and travels from earlier this year. This month they revisitnew developments in arts and accessibility whilst out and about in London. From Apps to innovative artists, here’s what they discovered.
Amina Atiq’s Broken Biscuits can now also be experienced from the comfort of your own home. Amina first performed her powerful exploration of a Yemeni-British household at DaDaFest Scratch and they’re absolutely thrilled to be able to share it online as an audio-adaption, with available captions. Watch Broken Biscuits here.
LAAF reveal this year’s highlights…
This year Liverpool Arab Arts Festival are bringing their cultural festival to you for free. Their online programme which will be hosted digitally includes an impressive host of names, from poet and activist Lisa Luxx, playwright and performance poet Dayna Ash to renowned Arabist Tim Mackintosh-Smith. To find out more, support their work and pre-register go to the LAAF website.
Calling all imaginative minds…
Ocean Outdoor, along with Campaign, is launching a Creative Competition to help spur brands and agencies into action as lockdown begins to ease. The winner will bag £500,000 of advertising space, as well as having their entry displayed across Ocean’s portfolio of premium screens – including the Piccadilly Lights. Entries close on the last day of June so get your creative thinking caps on. Find out more and get involved here.
Stream Shakespeare’s sitcom from home…
Enjoy The Merry Wives of Windsor courtesy of the Shakespeare’s Globe from the comfort of your own home. Directed by Elle White, it stars Olivier Award-nominated Bryony Hannah as Mistress Ford, Sarah Finigan as Mistress Page and Pearce Quigley as Falstaff. Drawing influences from British 1930s fashion, music and dance, the production celebrates women, the power and beauty of nature, and with a witty mix of verbal and physical humour, it rejoices in a tradition that reaches right down to the contemporary English sitcom. Watch here before Sunday 14 June.
LOVE not FEAR…
Artists, musicians, dancers, writers, illustrators, craftspeople and makers are invited to create personal works in a positive response to the current global situation. LOVE not FEAR is an open collaboration to create a digital community vision board of people’s hopes and visions of the new world; a place to plant the seeds and spread the message of positive changes we want to see in our future through all creative mediums. You can browse the current works here.
Girl decoded…
The ever popular Book Club is back on Tuesday 30 June. During this virtual session, Rana El Kaliouby Ph.D. will discuss her latest book, Girl Decoded, and her vision for how technology and empathy should work in parallel. Sign up and register your place here.
Community support…
Mandela8 have created a crowdfund to provide emergency food parcels to the most vulnerable and elderly in our communities from all background and cultures, particularly those who are self-isolating and who struggle to get to the shops. To support and donate visit their Spacehive page here.
Home…
Liverpool artist Kiara Mohamed has created a new film entitled Home. Using spectacular drone footage shot above the artist’s L8 Toxteth neighbourhood in Liverpool, the film reflects on the lessons we are learning from the Coronavirus crisis. Watch the powerful and poetic piece in full here.
Exploring new places…
Join the Bluecoat this week as they explore new places whilst staying safe at home. Create your own map by following along to their Scatter Cities video and learn how to make your own imaginary city.
Following on the theme, why not also take a look at Ed Farrells incredible aerial landscapes of Liverpool at different stages of its history. In this recently recorded video conference, he talks to Bluecoat’s Artistic Director Bryan Biggs and Head of Participation Laura Yates about how he creates detailed paintings that bring Liverpool’s past to life. You can see Ed’s paintings in greater detail and the maps they are based on, with accompanying notes, in this blog.
Pens at the ready…
Writing on the Wall (WoW) are launching their seventh Write to Work course. The popular online programme is aimed at those looking to develop key writing skills and make positive steps to further their career. The 12 week course starts on Tuesday 30 June and includesworkshops, masterclasses and social meetings with published writers and industry professionals, all offering their personal insights and tips for success. At the end of the course participants’ work is published in an anthology, which will then be sold in local bookstores, Waterstones and online. To find out more and to apply to take part head over to WoW before the closing date of Wednesday 17 June.
At home with Penguin…
Here’s a chance for you to connect with some of our most loved authors in their kitchens, studies and living rooms. In these isolated circumstances, authors are inviting you into their homes to share how they’re spending their time, talking about the books they are turning to and taking questions from readers. A great chance to connect with inspiring writers and fellow readers, so join in here.
Time to top up your knowledge…
Curious Minds invites you to join them and a series of special guest speakers online for an upcoming season of FREE CPDL. Topics include A Beginner’s Guide to Social Media Marketing, A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Your Impact, A Beginner’s Guide to Safeguarding Online, A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Your Online Events and A Beginner’s Guide to Marketing Strategies. Intentionally short, these ‘beginner level’ courses have been commissioned in response to freelancers who have very little experience in these areas. Interested, then find out more and book your place here.
A Poem to say Thank You…
I Drum for You at Eight
I drum for you,
to fill the air
with vibes of purity
and share
my unconditional love
as you battle
for what is best in us.
I drum for you,
with affirmative rhythms
that journey
to the farthest point,
where you toil
for the sake of strangers
you have never met.
I drum for you,
so when you hear my call
you will know
and the vibrating spirits
will envelope you with strength
and feed you nutrients
of belief and hope.
I drum for you,
sending beats of energy
that caress your weary brow
so that when you feel
exhausted
from never ending darkness
my loving textured tones
will give you food
to stand firm and take another step
for you are strong.
On Thursday
At Eight o’clock
I will always drum for you.
By Francisco Carrasco (May 2020)
