The Abandon Normal Devices festival took place in Liverpool recently, from September 29th to October 2nd. I was lucky enough to be there and while I'd attended some smaller AND events before, I had little idea of what to expect. Nevertheless I dove into various exhibits, discussions and performances over the weekend.
Come feast your eyes – and, of course, your ears - on an evening of awe-inspiring music videos, astounding online nuggets and a unique brand of sit down comedy with Adam Buxton - comedian, writer, broadcaster, video director, general music video enthusiast and YouTube comment wrangler. Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Adam presents a selection of his favourite music videos from the BUG shows at London’s BFI Southbank over the past year, along with some delightfully unbalanced commentary from the YouTube community, all interspersed with his some gems of his own making.
Open Culture announce that Liverpool's third annual Winter Arts Market will take place on the 3rd & 4th of December at the Grade I listed St George's Hall. It's going to be bigger than ever for 2011, with the event running for 2 whole days of crafty fun!
If you've not been before, it's a huge festive celebration of arts and crafts where you can discover work from over 120 artists, designers and makers. Taking place in the lead up to Christmas you'll find perfect presents at prices for all pockets including: paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, textiles, knit wear, clothing, cards, ceramics, jewellery, glass, beauty products, accessories and much more.
The Myth of Escape
In the wake of the anniversary of 9/11, a provocative, timely dark comedy that asks the question we are often too entrenched to ask ourselves… are any of us truly free?
Billy finds himself in a cell next to Alex. Neither are sure what they have done wrong. Perhaps nothing. It doesn’t seem to matter. Someone wanted them imprisoned and so they have been. Everything is permitted but nothing goes unpunished.
“Enthralled” The Observer
A Happystorm Theatre / Breathe Out Theatre World Première Tour
The Myth of Escape By Rob Johnston, writer of Rid The World (Unity Theatre). Directed by John Garfield-Roberts, director of Theatre Uncut (Everyman Theatre).
Seeking emergency accommodation…
In June 2011, greenroom, Manchester’s iconic theatre for all things new, contemporary and experimental closed its doors for the final time. Beyond the loss of one of the Manchester‘s ‘hidden treasures’, there is also the story of the creative community it nurtured over the course of its existence, as a ‘home’ for artists, giving opportunities to literally thousands of young people looking to take their first steps into an often precarious career.
ONE NIGHT ONLY
An evening of celebration and fundraising for Urban Strawbery Lunch (USL) and St Luke’s (bombed out) Church
Friday 9th September at St Luke’s from 6.30 pm.
USL have worked closely with the Fab Collective since 2009, when they held their first exhibition at St Luke’s. Since then they have returned for two more exhibitions, and been a major contributor to our Hollywood Homeless project.
Above the Beaten Track: Honky Tonk: A festival to celebrate the creative grass roots scene of Liverpool
This August, the fourth annual Above the Beaten Track returns to the Bluecoat to showcase the best of Liverpool’s cultural underground with an assortment of live music and DJs, live art, poetry and audio-visual extravaganzas.
Explore Art by the Ferry at Woodside Ferry Terminal for its first FREE arts and craft fair where visitors can find picture perfect views of the Liverpool Waterfront and a wonderful mix of arts and craft!
This coming weekend of 20th-21st August, families are invited to enjoy a fun day out with arts, craft and live music at the Grade II listed venue. A wealth of affordable and unique creations can be found from local artists including paintings, cards, home wares, prints, textiles, photography, glass and more.
Over the weekend of the 13th – 14th August, Liverpool city visitors are invited to enjoy a flurry of creativity as Thomas Steers Way in Liverpool ONE becomes a hub for arts, craft and music.Liverpool based organisation Open Culture is working with Liverpool ONE to transform Thomas Steers Way into an open-air arts, craft and musical boulevard with the Stalls in the City Arts & Craft Fair, coupled with piano performances as part of Tickle the Ivories Liverpool’s first ever piano festival.
Homotopia, the only lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans’ (LGBT) combined arts organisation in the north of England, has been awarded 3 year funding following a successful complaint to Arts Council England.
Liverpool based Homotopia applied to become a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) earlier this year along with over 1300 other arts organisations nationally. Only 695 applications were successful and 28 organisations complained – of these 28 only 3 complaints were upheld and reassessed. Homotopia, which was initially judged to be ineligible, was the only one of the 3 to have the original decision overturned and become a NPO with 3 year funding from 2012.