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Critical Mass -
North West Visual Arts Open
THE first North West Visual
Arts Open takes place from 2 March to 3 March 2012 in Liverpool.
An exciting programme of free public events has been organised by
galleries across the city to showcase and promote access to local
and international artists and their work.
Not one but a further 2 North West Open Arts weekends are
planned in Manchester and Cumbria/Lancashire in April and May this
year.
Artists, galleries and studio groups based in these regions have
organised clustered programmes of studio visits, talks, discussions,
exhibitions, workshops and salons across three separate weekends.
The North West Visual Arts Open weekends have been organised to
encourage artists and people interested in the arts from other towns
and cities across the North West to visit new galleries, or places
they haven’t been for a while, to experience what the visual arts
has to offer and current developments in artist’s practice.
Dave Moutry, director and chief executive of Cornerhouse in
Manchester said:- "The Liverpool visual arts scene continues
to be one of the most dynamic and exciting in the UK, so it’s
fitting that the first North West Visual Arts Open is taking place
in the city, with a wide variety of artists and galleries involved.
We’re looking forward to Manchester and Preston hosting similar
events in the coming months."
Key highlights an event on Friday, 2 March 2012 at FACT (The Box),
that will be a seminar called:- Cracking the Curatorial, running
from 2pm to 5pm. It is FREE to attended.
Marking the launch of Open CuRate It, a 3 month programme of events
designed to experiment with new models of curation and institutional
engagement, this seminar questions the role arts institutions and
new forms of media play in facilitating community connections and
generating frameworks for public meaning.
At the Tate Liverpool, a tour called:- "Charline von Heyl: Now
or Else" will take place from 3pm, for visitors who purchase an
exhibition ticket, costing:- £7.20 or £5.40 concs. The event tour
will will be lead by Join Gavin Delahunty, Head of Exhibitions. he
will take you on a tour of Tate Liverpool’s latest exhibition.
Distinctive, imaginative and always surprising, Charline von Heyl’s
work offers a fresh and exciting approach to the world of abstract
art. Von Heyl is at the forefront of a new generation of abstract
painters who have rejected late modernism’s emphasis on a singular
signature style. This is the first major exhibition of the artist’s
work in the UK and features 42 large canvasses and a number of
unique works on paper in Liverpool's The Bluecoat, a private view of
"Topophobia" will be held from 6pm to 8pm. Topophobia is an
exhibition about fear of place. 10 artists - Anne Eggebert, Matze
Einhoff, David Ferrando Giraut, Polly Gould, Marja Helander, Uta
Kogelsberger, Abigail Reynolds, Almut Rink, Emily Speed and Louise K
Wilson - respond to this intriguing subject through drawing, video,
painting, photography sculpture, sound and installation. Please
contact the Bluecoat for more information."
In the Arena Gallery, they will be holding an event called:-
"Acetate Steps", again another private view. It will take
place between 7pm to 9pm. the exhabition is a collaborative
installation by Arena artists Niamh Crimson and Carol Ramsay with
sound by Iain Yell. Digital technology has replaced the cassette
tape but can we ever forget the pleasure taken in ‘taping’ the Top
40 from the radio on a Sunday night or making a mix tape of
favourite songs for the one you loved? Join us for a celebration and
a reinvention of the joy of tape.
In the Elevator Café & Bar an aftershow party will be held that
includes DJ set by The Coral’s Nick Power. That will run from 9pm
till midnight! For further information visit:-
northwestopen.wordpress.com.
On Saturday, 3 March 2012... Agin at the The Bluecoat, in their
Bluecoat Open Studios, running from 10am to 6pm, will be a free
event as part of the weekend’s city-wide focus on revealing more
about contemporary artists’ practice, some of the Bluecoat’s
creative community artists open their studios to the public.
In The Royal Standard, a talk will be held by artist Oliver Braid,
from 2pm to 3pm. Agin this will be free. If you did not know who he
is, last year Oliver embarked on a mission to develop relationships
with the 5 most attractive young male undergraduates from Glasgow
School of Art, in the hope of better understanding his interactions
with other men. The documentation and interpretation of these
encounters form the basis for his new work My Five New Friends. Join
Braid, and writer and Art-psychotherapist Stephen O’Toole, on the
final day of the exhibition, for a talk about the project.
The Bluecoat will also be hosting a workshop called:- "Reactor
micro-projects" that is part of The Royal Standard Dialogues
programme. It takes place from 4pm to 6pm, and also will be FREE!!!
Reactor is an art collective that creates projects in which
audiences become active participants. Reactor leaves no room for the
passive observer, creating work in which, rather than being forced,
active engagement becomes the norm. Group dynamics and social
interaction come to the fore, as participants immerse themselves in
an unknown that invites risk-taking and a heightened sense of
reality. You are invited to experience the results of a day-long
workshop, in which Reactor will have worked with participants to
develop a series of micro-projects.
In the Wolstenhome Creative Space, a closing party will be held
called:- "Fixation" runing from 7pm to midnight.
Wolstenholme Creative Space opens its doors for 1 last chance to see
current exhibition Fixation, curated by Joe McNulty. Focusing on the
nature of obsession, Fixation presents work from a variety of
sources in an exhibition that is diverse but cohesive in theme and
media, producing a focal point for dialogue and reflection. Come and
join us for an evening of drinks and interesting sound performances!
For further information about what’s on all the events visit:-
northwestopen.wordpress.com
today!
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World Book Day
event is out of this World!
LIVERPOOL will celebrate
World Book Day with an evening dedicated to the works of Polish
science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem. On Thursday, 1
March 2012, at Toxteth Library Merseyside Polonia presents Lemistry;
a book celebrating the great Polish writer's legacy. Attending the
event will be 2 special guests:- award-winning screenwriter Frank
Cottrell Boyce and the science fiction specialist Andy Sawyer, who
both collaborated on the book.
Cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon
said:- "This event has already been a huge success across the
UK but this is the first time it will be held in Liverpool. It is
great for the city to be celebrating World Book Day with such
renowned authors and writers."
Merseyside Polonia was set up in 2008 to strengthen bonds between
Polish people and local residents and encourage friendships between
people of different cultural backgrounds. It has been a huge success
giving people the opportunity to get to know Liverpool’s Polish
community better and enjoy Polish and international culture, films,
food, art and now science fiction.
Gosia McKane from Merseyside Polonia said:- "It's very
touching to see how many people Stanislaw Lem influenced through his
writing and, that in spite of censorship, his work reached to the
West. It will also be a great privilege to host Frank Cottrell Boyce
who will talk about his Lem inspiration."
Author of the twice-filmed novel Solaris, Stanislaw has many titles,
accolades and credits to his name, but his influence is felt more
widely than his name is known. Lem is the inventor of virtual
reality, nanotech-warfare, eBooks and The Sims computer game to name
but a few. Lem died in Krakow on 27 March 2006 at the age of 84 due
to heart disease.
The evening will finish with a chance to see an American short
animation based on one of the stories by Lem. There will also be
time for questions and discussion as well as chance to buy some of
Lem’s books in English translation.
The event is free to attend and there will be tea, coffee and
biscuits available on arrival.
Developer chosen for £25m housing
boost
LIVERPOOL based company
Leader1 (Liverpool) Ltd has won a contract with Liverpool City
Council to refurbish houses and build new homes in the city. The
contract, which is subject to the completion of a legal agreement
and it will see £25.6m invested in refurbishing 149 houses as well
as building 50 new homes. The properties involved are in the Granby
Four Streets area, Webster Triangle and Arnside Road. Leader1
(Liverpool) Ltd, are to be awarded the contract following a tender
process which invited proposals to regenerate neighbourhoods
following the withdrawal of the Government’s Housing Market Renewal
funding. The City Council has been looking at developing innovative
approaches to housing and Leader 1 (Liverpool) is part of this
approach. Their refurbishment and new build scheme forms part
of a wider housing plan to deliver housing renewal in designated
Neighbourhood Renewal Areas in the inner core of the city. It will
involve refurbishment of homes to a good ‘Eco standard’
for sale and rent in a range of 2 bedroom to 5 bedroom sizes, as
well as improvement to local streets. Work is expected to start in
May and take about 3 years. Local residents shared their ideas with
Leader 1 to develop the scheme during the tendering process. Ongoing
proposals to involve local residents in the project include holding
'recruitment open days' to employ local 'refurbishment
teams.'
Liverpool City Council Leader, Councillor Joe Anderson, said:-
"The partnership between Leader1 (Liverpool) and ourselves offers
the potential to bring massive benefits to neighbourhoods in need of
renewal in Liverpool.” In tough economic times, it is more important
than ever that we find creative ways to work with the private sector
and bring in the investment so vital to our future. The city council
is always looking at new ways of driving forward regeneration,
improving housing and delivering major schemes for the benefit of
our residents."
Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community
Safety said:- "I am absolutely delighted that Leader 1
(Liverpool) is going to invest significantly in our neighbourhoods.
They have worked closely with local communities about what type of
housing is wanted and they can look forward to much improved homes
in the future."
Paul Iredale, a Director of Leader1 (Liverpool) Ltd told us:-
"I believe that this is a fantastic opportunity, not just for
ourselves, but for the whole of Liverpool. We are delighted that we
can be part of the Council’s housing renewal plans and we hope that
this pilot scheme can be repeated elsewhere in the city, our
priority is to get this project up and running first. In the main,
these are great houses, which when extensively refurbished and the
areas renewed, will make fantastic homes and neighbourhoods for
those families wanting for a property of their own. It is important
to point out that this project is not just about refurbishing empty
houses. A priority for us, going forward, is to continue our
dialogue with the local people, businesses and organisations to
deliver an effective, holistic regeneration plan."
Leader1 (Liverpool) Ltd has the financial backing of The William
Pears Group who also offer added expertise and experience in dealing
with Victorian housing refurbishment projects.
Chris Wheatcroft, Director of Residential Estates at William Pears
explained:- "Our long term commitment to the City of
Liverpool, Leader1 (Liverpool) Ltd and Liverpool City Council is to
further future growth and development, particularly in the area of
housing and regeneration. We are committed to use local craftsmen
and businesses. Our investment will directly benefit Liverpool
people and local families, bringing these properties back into use
and we look forward to getting started on the ground. We have
further plans to assist Liverpool City Council, to deliver
regeneration on a comprehensive basis in these areas, and we will be
sharing these plans with the Council soon." |
