Connecting our Communities: Arts and Culture Round-Up


RISE Together…


In 2019 Culture Liverpool commissioned RISE, a season of commissions, exhibitions, events and happenings exploring and telling the stories of women in all their power and glory, through a cultural lens. Featuring women from Liverpool, the UK and the rest of the world, RISE shone a light on those females whose legacy educates, empowers and inspires us and future generations.

The RISE programme was ongoing for 2020 but the recent COVID-19 pandemic has, as with other events and activities, brought it to a halt for now. However, as women surely we have something to say about current events, the impact they’re having on our everyday lives and those of others around us and our communities, the impact this will have on our work, our families, our arts and cultural organisations now and in the future. How will we RISE out of this situation?

Culture Liverpool is proud to present RISE Together, a specially curated programme which once again showcases the fantastic talent, creativity and the female strength and spirit. The programme is a social commentary on social inequalities, isolation, and how this has become the new norm through loss and separation. The stories are told through the eyes of female artists of different ages and backgrounds and brings them visibility through a digital platform of podcast, blogs, music, visual art, and comedy. Take a look at the fantastically thought provoking series of stories which are sure to make you smile, laugh and cry.


Supporting local community…


Created by the Mayor of Liverpool in partnership with crowdfunding platform Spacehive, Crowdfund Liverpool gives people across the city the opportunity to imagine, fund and create projects that bring their local area to life. Crowdfund Liverpool aims to give residents with project ideas the ability to attract funding from their communities, the council, local businesses and foundations all through one portal. The Mayor is putting forward a dedicated fund of £100,000 to support crowdfunding campaigns. This programme will become a springboard for locally-led ideas to attract funding more easily, while enabling everyone who cares about Liverpool to contribute. Together we’ll help make Liverpool even better for those who live, work and study here.All of the amazing projects can be viewed here.


Music for the mind & soul…


Milapfest is back with their popular music concert series Music for the Mind & Soul. Now available online, you can watch newly produced exclusive concerts featuring brilliant artists right from the comfort of your own home. You are invited to 45 minutes of sublime music, designed to give you a sense of calm, relaxation and inspiration! Head this way if that sounds good to you.


Lockdown dance…


Movement director and choreographer Grace Goulding has been hard at it working on One Big Dance, a lockdown project that aims to spread joy by bringing people together through the creative artform of dance. By sharing online inclusive choreography everyone has the opportunity to join in. What’s more if you feel confident enough, you can record your moves and be part of the One Big Dance film. To find out more and to get involved follow @onebigdance on Instagram and Twitter.


Fairytale theatre…


The Royal Opera House continues to bring theatre to your home. As part of their #OurHouseToYourHouseseries, sit back and enjoy their Premiere of Laurent Pelly’s production of Massenet’s Cendrillon, an adaptation of the famous Cinderella fairytale. Settle down, get comfy and watch here.


Better music cities…


Global music policy leaders Sound Diplomacy have launched the #BetterMusicCities campaign, a call to action to ensure music is at the heart of recovery in cities around the world. The campaign is accompanied by a comprehensive guide and 9 point plan for recovery – the Music Cities Resilience Handbook.

The Handbook offers strategies any city, state or region can take to increase the value of music in their communities. Reforms include recognising music and culture in infrastructure plans, aligning relief to creation, establishing city music registries to support local songwriters and refining and diversifying music education programs. To read more head over to their website here.


Sunday entertainment…


This Sunday, why not take a break from repetitive family quizzes, Netflix binges and baking to come together virtually and enjoy all the fun of the fete. Urban Village Fete is providing a whole day of entertainment from whichever room you fancy and included sets from high profile DJs, workshops and innovative talks. Sounds good to us!


Follow me…


Join Jennifer John on Saturday 6 June for her online soul based singing workshop, where you will be taught the melody of Follow Me, a club classic by Aly-Us using basic soul techniques. To experience the power of collective singing and the opportunity to create a vocal remix of a disco-house track, in collaboration with Liverpool based choir Sense of Sound find out more here.


Throwback Friday…


Did you know it been 30 years since The Stone Roses played Spike Island on the banks of the Mersey estuary? 25,000 people went along and it remains one of the world’s most iconic gigs even by todays standard. Getintothis’ epic article includes exclusive interviews of those that played, the promoter of the gig, plus many more of the Merseyside musicians and fans who were there. This way to a great read.


Hallucinations & consciousness?


This week Bluecoat share with us an exclusive UK preview of Suki Chan’s new film HALLUCINATIONS (2020) which is currently on show at the Science Gallery in Rotterdam. The filmis an immersive journey into the personal experiences of two people living with dementia, juxtaposed with the perspective of two carers. It forms part of a wider body of work that explores what it means to be conscious in a technological age. CONSCIOUSwill be coming to Bluecoat in 2021. The short film, along with her 2017 film Lucida is available to view until 5pm on Wednesday 3 June.


Calling all participatory theatre makers & facilitators…


Throughout June Collective Encounters is hosting a series of free events, the aim of which is to provide a safe and fun space for makers and facilitators to share and develop their practice in delivering participatory theatre activities at a distance. Attendees are encouraged to suggest topics and themes to explore ahead of the online event. To find out more and to secure your place for Wednesday 3 June follow this link.


Find your voice…


Speak Up! is a four-week online course open to anyone aged between 14-18. Using spoken word and performance, the course helps individuals to find their voice, creatively express what matters to them, whilst gaining a Bronze Arts Award in the process! The online sessions begin Monday 8 June and will be led by writer, performer and youth theatre director Ben Mellor, with special guest artist Keisha Thompson. Interested or know someone who may be? Book here.

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