I'm exhausted just looking through the list of items included in the City In Transition programme. This is actually part of the Culture Company's 'Liverpool Performs 2006' and is a sort of umbrella for several things, many of which happen annually anyway. But the common theme is the city and its transformation, regeneration etc.

'As we move towards 2008 the city is experiencing tremendous change at high speed. This is both exhilarating and disruptive and our City in Transition programme for 2006 takes that all on board in a special programme of talks, debates, walks, exhibitions and local and international performance - all connected in some way to architecture, building and the way cities change.'

You'll find all the current details on 3 separate pages: City Talks, City Walks and City Screen.

City Talks: includes a lot of talks about architecture (first is on May 4th) especially during Architecture Week (in June), talks at the Tate, Biennial talks and lots of others.

City Walks: Blue and Green Badge guided tours of regeneration areas, public monuments, etc. the Pool Project's (secret) Elemental Journeys and lots more.

City Screen: includes films, exhibitions and events such as the 37 seconds screenings on the Big Screen, the Made in Liverpool series, Bluecoats Pool of Sound project and lots more.

Take a look and keep an eye on the 08 website, my diary is now full already.

On the Road with National Museums Liverpool takes items from its handling collections to a wide range of venues as part on Museums & Galleries Month

This exciting initiative aims to highlight the collections of National Museums Liverpool and raise awareness about its fascinating displays covering all cultures, subjects and interests.

On the Road visits places where the public gather as well as schools and factories during May.
Role players from World Museum Liverpool’s Treasure House Theatre bring amazing characters from the world’s cultures to life. Demonstrators based at the museum’s Clore Natural History Centre, Bug House and Weston Discovery Centre answer questions.

Merseyside Maritime Museum actors play Albert the ARP Warden along with the Piermaster’s Wife telling tales of wartime Merseyside.

Members of the public can handle such things as fossilised dinosaur poo, animal skulls and things used by smugglers to hide contraband. Staff from the Customs & Excise Museum show how drugs and other contraband are smuggled into Britain. Items covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are also included.

Among the places being visited by On the Road are:
Sunday 7 May: 1000 – 1600 hours Mersey ferry crossing river.
Monday 8 May: 1300 – 1600 hours Williamson Square, Liverpool city centre.
Friday 12 May: 1000 – 1300 hours Lime Street Station, Liverpool.
Friday 19 May: 0930 – 1230 hours Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle.
Saturday 20 May: 1200 – 1600 hours Cherry Tree Shopping Centre, Wallasey

Haven't been able to get through to liverpool08.com all day. Hope they haven't all gone away for the long weekend.
Update: Must have heard me, its back already an hour later

Some nice tranquil still life and portrait oils from 64 year old, Liverpool resident, Pam Usher.She is self-taught and also writing a novel.

Naive John is known as a Stuckist but I just think he paints rather good and interesting pictures. He says...

"I am a local artist, based in Toxteth, who constructed the persona of Naive John in 2004 shortly before founding the Liverpool Stuckist group. The character and pseudonym of Naive John enables me to abandon the normal concerns of the fine artist; notably being ‘relevant’, fashionable and cutting edge, and refers also to my self taught idiosyncratic painting methods. "

"Currently organising the first international symposium on Stuckism and a major exhibition of new Stuckist paintings for Liverpool's 2006 Biennial at John Moores University."

John also has his own website: www.naivejohn.com

It is the first anniversary of the opening World Museum Liverpool (formerly Liverpool Museum) and a staggering 629,000 visitors have passed through its doors – 85% more than in the previous year.

John Millard (Keeper of WML) says: “The remarkable success of World Museum Liverpool shows how the public are flocking into museums in ever-increasing numbers. This year National Museums Liverpool has had more visitors than at any other time in its history and this greater number of visitors are being more inspired and engaged than ever before."

If you go along today (Saturday) you may even be personally welcomed by John Millard and if you're really lucky you'll get a piece of the birthday cake. That's if 4 yr old Simon Bezanson, pictured here, hasn't already eaten it all.
Also seen here are John Millard and some of the staff admiring the cake.

'A Passion for Fashion' - Mrs Tinne's Wardrobe - A Liverpool Lady's Clothes 1900 - 1940.
The Walker Art Gallery April 29th - July 30th 2006

If you had asked me yesterday what a Jabot was I might have guessed it was a type of pizza or something. Such is my ignorance of fashion, as anyone who has met me will testify. But now I know its something ladies used to wear at the neck (maybe some still do).

Apart from not being passionate about fashion myself the other problem I have here is that I thought I'd taken a wrong turning and ended up in the museum. It just looks like a museum show rather than an art show. But, of course, fashion is an art, kids go to art colleges to study it and I'm sure plenty will be here over the coming weeks to see what is probably the largest collection of one persons period clothes in the UK.

From a historical and sociological view its really quite interesting. There are over 700 items in the collection and about 130 on show here and they were pretty much all bought or made in Liverpool when Bold St was the 'Bond St of the North' and GH Lee's was so exclusive because the items were actually made in the workshops on the top floor. Bon Marche (Church St.), Lewis's and Owen Owens were also favourites of Mrs Tinne. Also smaller places such as Cripps in Bold St., De Moysey in Ranelagh St , Madame Val Smith in Church St. and shoes from J. Collinson in Bold St.

There's every kind of fur coat on show, an array of day wear, evening wear, coats, swimwear (even a two-piece woollen bathing suit), shoes, hats and accessories.

Babies’ and children’s clothes from the inter-War period, including the family’s embroidered christening gown. Emily’s eldest child, Elspeth, was born in 1911 and her youngest, Philip, in 1929 and she kept many examples of all six children’s clothes, some of which are featured here.

Lucky there were no credit cards then, she was a bit of a shop-aholic at a time when Liverpool was a wealthy, fashionable city. Yes, even before the Met Qtr arrived! I like the old pictures of the family and their house 'Clayton Lodge' in Aigburth and the old shops.

I have to go now, there's a Placket that needs Faggotting.

You can download the latest 08 Update via this link http://www.liverpool08.com/News/Newsletter/index.asp

Community Broadcast Technician (tenantspin)
£18K (Pro Rata, per annum)
Fixed Term for 12 months, Part Time (4 Days Per Week)

Based in Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008, FACT is dedicated to the support, development and presentation of artists’ work in film, video and new media.

FACT is now looking for a Community Broadcast Technician (tenantspin) to work within the Collaboration Team to be responsible for technical coordination of tenantspin, the management of technical resources and the training of tenants in broadcast technology.

For more information or to request an application pack please contact:
Sheindal Cohen or Becs Ward,
FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool. L1 4DQ

Email: recruitment@fact.co.uk
Tel: 0151 707 4444

Application deadline is 5PM on Monday 15 May 2006.
Applications cannot be accepted after this time.

Interviews to be held week beginning 22 May 2006.
FACT welcome applications from any individual regardless of ethnic origin, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. All applications will be considered on merit.

www.fact.co.uk

Transvoyeur, Egg Space, South Bohemian Gallery, Head Space and associate artists within the city of Liverpool are contributing to the London Biennial international event for the Flagging Down May Day event.

This will be held at the iron bridge in Sefton Park, Liverpool, from 3.00 pm this coming Sunday 30 April 2006.

Everyone is welcome to contribute and to have something included to email Jo Derbyshire at aprilskies1204@aol.com with an image of their submission. However, to turn up on the day with their flags and join in the fun.

This event will be happening across the globe, as well as in Liverpool and London.
Museum Man, Adam Nankervis and David Medalla are the founders of the London Biennial and who have conceived this project which not only stems from London, but Liverpool and many, many other places with hundreds of artists and alike contributing to this.

Opportunity for Lancashire-based Artists

During July 2006, PAD gallery in Preston will be hosting an exhibition of contemporary artist books by Lancashire based artists. We are looking for a range of submissions for the exhibition including Zines and limited additions.
We will also be looking to employ artists to run book-making workshops in the gallery and there will be opportunities for artists to sell books through the gallery shop.

PAD is a brand new contemporary art gallery in Preston, which was developed to showcase work by Lancashire artists and to support their professional development.

To submit work for the exhibition, please send good quality images (jpegs, slides or prints), along with a cv and personal statement to:

Elaine Speight
Harris Museum and Art Gallery
Market Square
Preston
PR1 2PP

or e-mail: e.speight@preston.gov.uk

If you wish to have images etc returned, please enclose a SAE.
The deadline for submissions is Monday 22nd May.

For more information about PAD, visit
http://www.freshcreative.org/page.asp3Fid3D2639

 National Museums Liverpool have kept me busy the past few days, there's lots of new things happening. This story about all the Walkers collection of 6 Rodins coming from a house in Blundellsands is very interesting, I should try and make it to the talks.

Six sculptures by the legendary French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840 - 1917) are on display at the Walker Art Gallery from 28 April to 28 August 2006.

All were bequeathed to the Walker in the 1920s by wealthy Liverpool wine merchant James Smith, who once owned more works by Rodin than any other British public or private collection.

Smith bought the the sculptures between 1899 and 1907. He visited Rodin in his Paris studio in 1903 and ordered the marble version of 'The Death of Athens'. All were displayed in Smith's home The Knowle, in Blundellsands, near Liverpool, together with a collection of more than 100 art works later also bequeathed to the Walker.

'Danaid' and 'The Death of Athens' were placed on turntables - supplied by Rodin - so they could be spun around and admired from all sides. Smith and Rodin corresponded and met frequently in London and Paris, which Smith often visited in the course of his business pioneering the import of Mediterranean wines into Britain.

Art historian and author Edward Morris, former curator of fine art at the Walker, will give a free slide talk about the relationship between Smith and Rodin between 1 and 2pm on Tuesday 9 May 2006. Xanthe Brooke will give a free talk at the display between 1 and 2pm on Friday 12 May 2006.

Fund raising in other words. Well, someone has to do it I suppose.

Corporate Development Officer
Tate Liverpool

If you already have two years experience in marketing, fundraising or PR, then this position could prove an excellent next step in your career. The role focuses on two key methods of fundraising for Tate Liverpool, Corporate Membership and Corporate Sponsorship.

You will manage our Corporate Membership Scheme, which involves account handling the relationships with Corporate Members, maintaining the database and organising corporate benefits. You will also research potential new Members and Corporate Sponsors, and contribute to funding proposals. As there is extensive contact with current and existing corporate supports, you will get to put your strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to excellent use.

In addition to salary, Tate offers generous benefits including the choice of final salary or stakeholder pension.

For an application pack please visit http://www.tate.org.uk
or email daisy.ward@tate.org.uk
or call 0151 702 7418 quoting ref 6010/TL

Closing date: 8 May
Interview date: 24 May

Via Design Initiative...

Catapult Centre Workspace for Creative Industries

The Catapult Centre provides units for St.Helens burgeoning creative industries sector. Due to the growth and relocation of existing tenants space has become available for those in the creative sector, particularly start-up and young businesses that are looking for small to medium sized premises.

The Catapult Centre is situated in the George Street Cultural Quarter of the Town Centre; it provides high quality business space with modern facilities including broadband access.

There is a strong demand for space for the creative industries in St.Helens, businesses that have taken space in the original Catapult Centre, and Catapult Too include: artists, graphic and interior designers and a recording studio.

For further information on lettings please contact: 01744 742041
www.sthelensci.co.uk

BLUEPRINTS II

museumMANberlin is inviting artists, as an open invitational to send works, of any medium, with the subject (see BLUEPRINTS) on the museumMAN website,for an exhibition to open on May 18 2006.This work will be carried over to an installation also included in the museumMAN project of The Liverpool Biennial 2006.
All work will be thoroughly documented and if the last event in February held within the museum is anything to
go by-a large audience will be in attendance.
If you could also include a very brief CV,artists statement I would be very grateful.

The address is
Adam Nankervis+Mona Wehr
museumMANberlin
Kastanienallee 72
D-10435 Berlin
Deutschland
*Germany

www.museumman.org

Still time for artists to be involved in this event, you need to send an image for a flag. Contact Jo Derbyshire before Saturday, email is aprilskies1204@aol.com

London Biennnale 2006 - Liverpool
Co-ordinated by Jo Derbyshire
With help from Transvoyeur artists George Lund, Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney

Flagging Down May Day
Iron Bridge, Sefton Park, Liverpool

This local bridge is famous location of a tragic love story as told by the Liverpool ghost writer Tom Slemen http://www.tomslemen.tk/ of Haunted Liverpool fame and was chosen by the Liverpool artists for its central location.

Sunday 30th April, 3pm

You may recall last month I went to see one of the printmaking classes run by the Bluecoat but now housed in JMU's 68 Hope St building while the Bluecoat is being refurbished. At the time, they were busy organising this exhibtion simply called 'Bluecoat Printmakers' runnig at Out of The Bluecoat in Paradise Street until Sunday April 30th 2006.

There was a good crowd at the viewing on Tuesday to see this well presented show of some twenty artists who attend the 2 classes (Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings).

There's is some really good stuff here and most of it is for sale at very reasonable prices. There are examples of several print making methods. I don't have all the artists names but some that I have noted include the dark black & white pictures of Stuart Munro, other good monchromes include Frederick Jones and Irene Jones (not related), Grace Horne's picture of Leasowe Lighthouse and the thicker lines of Mike Hatjoullis.

There's Eric Orme whose work we saw at Unity recently and Caroline Murgatroyd's bold coloured picture of Egg Cafe. The more subtle colours of Christine Toh, Carole Traynor and Lyn Ben-Yousef. Then there's the very detailed but weird and fanatastical drawings of Julian Ellison.

Well worth a look, to quote from the blurb...
Printmaking opportunities are hard to come by in Merseyside. This exhibition serves to open people’s eyes, alighting their imagination to such an important, but slightly neglected, medium.

What a total plonker! Gives artists a bad name...

Wednesday April 26, 2006

An artist caused large areas of west London to be sealed off this morning after she left five packages police suspected were bombs around Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith.

Some of the "art installations" were cardboard boxes out of which nails protruded.

Police cordoned off five sites around Shepherd's Bush Green shortly after 8am following reports of suspicious packages in the area, and underground rail travel on the Central and Hammersmith and City lines was disrupted at the height of the morning rush hour.

full story in Guardian

AustralianFemaleShorts
Cornerstone Artists Cinema presents a programme of shorts by Australian filmmakers.
Thursday 27th April 6.30pm
Free

Amanda Brotchie
1. Headlock (1996, 14 mins), a graduation short film.
2. Break and Enter (1999, 9 mins).

Katrina Mather
3. Teenage Portraits (1994, 5 mins, DVD) Australian teenagers profiled in their social tribes, shot in a rhythmically sensitive, black and white photomontage.
4. Vernon- the visitor (1996, 1 mins, DVD, Animation)
5. Meta4 (2005, 1 mins 30 secs, DVD) An experimental conceptual argument, that’s all 4…four…for…fore…

Sue K
6. DAZ07/02/012038 (2001, 5 mins, video)
daz07/02/012038 uses an intricate form of editing to remodel time, establishing a rhetoric that questions the provision of motion in film's pictorial space through the succession of still images.

7. STEPS---89 (2004, 17 mins, video)

Curated by Edda Markus.
www.hope.ac.uk/artsandhumanities/everton/cornerstonecinema.htm

Good to see Tenantspin which has links with FACT, mentioned in today's Guardian. Take a look at their website for news of future broadcasts and there's some interesting stuff in the video archives.

www.tenantspin.org

Good job I like poetry, this art blog is being taken over by poetry fanatics.
The BBC have asked me to remind you about this opportunity for poets to perform their stuff on the Big Screen in Clayton Sq.

Reason to Rhyme.

Times running out. Don’t miss the opportunity to see yourself on the Big Screen in Clayton Square performing your own work.
Enter the Nothing Rhymes with Poets competition, deadline 16 May.

From the initial submissions, a shortlist of poets will be given the opportunity to enhance their poetry performance skills to prepare them for a live audition. From the audition five people will be selected to take part in a short film to be broadcast on BBC Big Screen Liverpool throughout September and will receive a cash prize.

Full details in previous posting

Dorrie (who has excellent taste) Recommends...

16 [R]evolutions

Friday 5 and Saturday 6 May 8:00pm at Unity Theatre

New York based Troika Ranch bring their lush multi media dance work to unity for their Liverpool Debut. Performed by a company of UK based dancers, 16 [R]evolutions fuses video, interactive media and imagery, integrating dance and theatre.

With the use of live camera tracking technology, the movements of the dancers generate interactive 3D imagery in real-time, producing exquisite visuals that warp and morph in response to the dancers every move.

Troika Ranch's 2006 tour is managed by Essex Dance and co-promoted with Merseyside Dance Initiative [MDI].

To download a flyer follow this link: http://www.essexdance.co.uk/16revs2006.pdf

£8.00/£6.00 Concessions
http://www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/

NOISE REACHES OUT TO YOUNG CREATIVE TALENT AT HM PRISON HINDLEY WITH BBC BUS TOUR

In partnership with Manchester’s BBC Bus NOISE visited HM PRISON HINDLEY, a youth custody centre in Wigan on the 11th of April.

The NOISE BBC Bus Tour is part of a national campaign to spotlight young creative talent and encourage young people to bring along their work, spend time on the bus and create something original to submit to the NOISE web site at www.noisefestival.com.

Graham Smith, PO Juvenile Caseworker at Hindley says: “Hindley is a youth custody centre that endeavours to provide positive opportunities for young people to gain qualifications and to address offending behaviour, whilst aiding them to reintegrate into society upon their release. Our regime provision includes skilled and experienced staff delivering several strings of learning and skills and we have many talented young people here working in fine art, sculpture, illustration and music.

“The NOISE / BBC Bus tour coming to the establishment at Hindley is a fantastic opportunity for our young people to submit their creative works to NOISE and have their talent promoted across the media - it gives them the motivation and belief that there are opportunities for them beyond Hindley and beyond a life of offending."

Reece, 17 from Manchester who recorded his rap track says:"The NOISE bus at Hindley is a breath of fresh air, it gives us a chance to practice our music and more confidence that people want to hear our talents.”

The 24 Hour Museum (24 HM) has launched its fourth annual Museums and Galleries Month Arts Writing Prize for student journalists.

Museums and Galleries Month (MGM) 2006 runs throughout May 2006 with a host of special events and exhibitions held around the UK in celebration of our great cultural institutions.

The best review or feature about any MGM 2006 event submitted to the 24HM will win a first prize of £250, with two runners up prizes of £50.

Full details on the website

An evening of music, fashion, dance and most importantly raising awareness of fairtrade, organised Local Agenda 21

at the Pacific Road Arts Centre
on Wednesday the 26th of April. 6pm-10pm.

The Fair Traded Fashion Show modeled by Fair Trade supporters from Wirral Schools, recycled wirey creations from Oxton based artist Alison Bailey Smith, local bands and DJs and stalls with local craftwork and fairtrade goods.

Tickets at £2 available from The Green Shop on Christchurch Road in Oxton Village or £3 on the night at the door.
Registered Charity (no 1043886)

Make Poverty History

Now, this is art. Sadly its not in Liverpool. London is still way ahead when it comes to arty trends. Can't wait to see a lot more of these in our local shops.
I spotted this amusing article by Ryan Smith on the (impossible to navigate) Ukula 'Lifestyle' website.

Finally Something New

London is so full of old design it is inescapable. My journey home from the bus stop takes me past a quaint Victorian shop displaying replica turn-of-the-century French advertising posters for sale. Opening my front door forces me to look at ancient stained glass and wrought iron detailing, and once inside I throw my keys on a table kept level with Mozart’s Diary under one leg. It was either that or a stack of Magna Cartas, and I’ve got to wipe my ass with something...

Read full article.

I love architecture, I think its fascinating and often beautiful and I'm not talking about the actual buildings we end up with (though some of them are great too). How can anyone fail to admire the skill and imagination that goes into these drawings by architecture students now on show at the RENEW rooms?
This is the first time the 'Presidents Medals' awards have been exhibited outside of London. The President's medals attracts entries from over 100 schools of architecture around the world and the current President of RIBA, Jack Pringle was here on Friday evening to inform us, amongst other things, that the only people who hold a negative view of British architecture and architects are the British themselves. The rest of the world thinks RIBA and its members are fantastic.

He then introduced Yew Choong Chan who won a silver medal for his 'Vertical Energy'' scheme. His plan is to reintroduce marshlands into the Lea Valley area of London and build 60-storey high towers that will house pods that grow spinach. Why spinach? Because there is a guy at MIT who is pioneering the use of spinach juice to generate electricity, something to do with photosynthesis. Its all very 'green' of course, all architects are green nowadays if only they could find the developers willing to build their projects. So the towers include vertical gardens and little platforms for birds to stop off.
Take a look at his fantastic drawings on the Presidents Medals website.

The other medal winners are equally fascinating. Unfortunately the exhibition is a bit small so its difficult to get of full picture of all the plans but well worth a look, you may be inspired.

The RIBA Presidents Medals at RENEW, Wood St. April 24th - May 19th 2006.

Fundraising event for Zoe's Place Baby Hospice
Friday 12th May 2006
starting at 7pm
at Zoe's Place, Yew Tree Lane, West Derby, Liverpool.

liverpoolgallery.com In conjunction with Zoe's Place, an Exhibition and Sale of art and photographs from the gallery's artists.
All artwork exhibited will be for sale and there will be an auction during the evening for a few selected pieces.

Admission is free. Wine, coffee and nibbles will be available.

Note that the deadline for applications for the Biennial Independents board and the job of Creative Consultant has been extended to April 29th. See details in a previous posting.

Here's one for the dancers....

Merseyside Dance Initiative
is proud to present the next eventin our series of exciting dance intensives.

Event: Finola Cronin dance intensive.
Date: Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st May
Time: 10-4pm.
Venue: Liverpool John Moores University, IM Marsh Campus, (The Egg studio),
Barkhill Road, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 6BD.
Cost: £25

Finola Cronin Dance Intensive
Finola Cronin is a choreographer and lecturer on dance. She trained in classical ballet and contemporary dance in Dublin and London (London School of Contemporary Dance). She was a founder member of Company Vivienne Newport at TAT in Frankfurt (Germany) and later joined Tanztheater Wuppertal (director, Pina Bausch) where she worked for over ten years. She continues to occasionally guest with the company.

Workshop
The two-day workshop series will offer an insight for participants into the working processes, and composition methods of Pina Bausch. One key aspect of Bausch's methodology is the gathering of material from her performers
towards developing material for her work. Bausch does this by setting tasks and/or asking questions of her performers and we will endeavour to replicate this process.

Each day will begin with a warm-up / class based on movement techniques developed by Hans Zulllig, (a member of Ballet Jooss and former director of the Folkwang Tanzschule Essen).

The latter part of the morning session will involve participants exploring movement tasks. The afternoon sessions will allow for further development of the movement tasks and participants will be facilitated to consider how to
implement Bausch's composition processes.

This workshop should support participants towards the development of their individual choreographic practice. The methods explored would also be useful for dance educators and those who work with actors or primarily people who have little experience in professional dance techniques.

To book on this exciting and informative dance intensive fill in the attached form and send to Merseyside Dance Initiative, 24 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BQ or fax to 0151 707 0600 or call Claire Quinn on 0151 708 8810

Some delightful new prints from our favourite Faery artist, Michelle Campbell. The series is called the Sub-urbans and feature Goth-style faeries.
See more on her website: www.faerywoods.com

Shame it was only here for the weekend but, no doubt, we'll be seeing more. This banner says 'The Arabic Cultural Foundation Welcomes You', its the work of local children and was only just finished in time for this exhibition celebrating Arabic culture.
It was a fascinating collection of all kinds of items put together by the Arabic community in the North West.
I was greeted by Muslim Chaplain, Adam Kelwick, who is Director of the Arabic Cultural Foundation which organised the event along with staff at Liverpool World Museum.
I enjoyed some Arabic coffee and big juicy dates before looking round the items in the Weston Discovery centre on the 3rd floor. Here I saw examples of traditional clothing, kitchen utensils, incense, ornaments and just a few of the medals won by the foundation's Shotokan Karate club which has members of the GB team training for the London Olympics.

On the ground floor the maths teacher and artist Fauzia Khan was giving calligraphy demonstrations, not just Arabic lettering but also Celtic and others and drawing ones attention to the similarities. After all, the different cultures have been learning from each other, trading and co-operating for many hundreds of years. There was also an exhibition of her paintings, mostly including text in both Arabic and English, painted with watercolours, gouache and ink. Her work is very much on the themes of peace, tolerance and the positive role of Women in Islam.

'Arabic Cultural Foundation Exhibition' at Liverpool World Museum. April 22nd - 23rd 2006

The Poetry in the City (Liverpool) 2006 Festival starts on Tuesday April 25th with a Writers of Colour Group at Central Library then Levi Tafari at the Unity Theatre. Lots more as it runs until May 13th.
There's a nice website with complete listings: www.poetryinthecity.co.uk

I caught up with events in Smithdown road yesterday morning starting with a coffee at Ginger Up which is a nice little juice bar/cafe. Very tidy and clean and some delicious looking cakes on show. And on the walls there are photographs by Susanne Richter. The exhibition is called 'In Transition' and will be here until the end of April. All local scenes I think, shots of old, dilapidated houses and shopfronts and demolition sites, some quirky and interesting. Can be a bit depressing though which can negate the desired 'ginger up' effect.

Then across the road is South Bohemia Gallery, the place is constantly changing. Not just the artwoks but also the activities. Peter is now taking orders for small printing jobs and did some very nice business cards for me. He has recently made some space available on the walls to display Easter related works by children from the Wellington Road Toddler group.
I also spotted some very nice original paintings by Derek Colligan who is a professional book illustrator.

Just further up the road is a shop called Mini Amsterdam which, amongst other things, sells art of various kinds. They do their own wood burning, glass engraving, wooden toy and games making etc. This Ouija board is one example of their work.

Personally, I think if you are going to work in someone elses gallery you should be paid. But its up to you....

VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR NEW LIVERPOOL GALLERY

Passionate people needed to help run a new gallery in Liverpool due to open over the next few months. Must be reliable and have a genuine interest in visual art. Great work experience opportunity. Hours / days flexible.

Please email enquiries@dot-art.co.uk for more information or to apply.

From biennial.com....

Liverpool Biennial Update Event

The next Liverpool Biennial UPDATE event is taking place Friday 5 May from 6-9pm at Liverpool John Moores University, 68 Hope Street.

The first part of the evening will involve 1-2 minute updates from the biennial team, local artists, arts groups and arts organisations, to share plans and ideas for Biennial activity and let each other know of opportunities that may exist. This will be followed with the chance to chat further over a glass of wine.

The event is open to anyone working within the arts in Merseyside and there is no need to book. More information on the event will be posted on the website shortly.

See you there.

MOMENTUM in collaboration with Hope Street Ltd present Physical Fest2

With workshops from:
a.. Marie-Gabrielle Rotie (Butoh UK)
b.. Andrea Buckley (CH4PTER)
c.. Momentum (Yorgos Karamalegos&Elinor Randle)
d.. CORPUS SOMA/EX-GENERAL LUDD(Yorgos Bakalos)

7 DAYS OF EXCITING PHYSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOPS IN LIVERPOOL FROM 30TH OF MAY TO 6TH OF JUNE
Physical Fest is an annual physical theatre workshop festival with the aim to introduce powerful and experimental movement forms and styles,to research into body expression, exchange information as well as finding different ways of producing theatre material.

For more information and a booking form, please go to http://www.momentumtheatre.com or Contact Momentum (Yorgos or Elinor)on: info@momentumtheatre.com 01517071816/ 07813301517

All workshops will take place at Hope Street Ltd:13a Hope Street, Liverpool,
L1 9BQ Entrance from Arrad Street (the back of the Everyman Theatre)

I've just been to see this exhibition of Chinese art & calligraphy curated by Xia Lu. It includes several of her delighful small works alongside some other large works by some really well-known masters of chinese painting. Its really good, read full details in the Dialy Post article and go see it before it finishes on April 27th (open 10-16.00).
Daily Post Link

Have to admit I'm getting a bit tired of all the photographic exhibitions lately, but edible photographs! Now that sounds like a good idea. I propose a cake exhibition lasting just 2 hours. 1 hour for people to admire the pics on top of the cakes and another hour to eat them all. So you don't even have that arduous task of de-installing the whole thing.
www.eatyourphotos.co.uk

Arabic Cultural Foundation Exhibition

An exhibition celebrating Arabic culture opens at World Museum Liverpool for this weekend only, 22-23 April 2006.

Special events, organised by the Arabic Cultural Foundation, will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about all things Arabic, from calligraphy to the kitchen. Touch, sound, taste, scent and vision will be used to evoke the diverse and rich cultures of Arab countries, from North Africa to the Middle East.

The programme will include:

* The Arabic Cultural Foundation’s children’s art exhibition.
* Coming Together Through Calligraphy - a look at the history of Arabic calligraphy and art.
* Traditional Clothing - featuring examples of traditional Middle Eastern dress
* The Incense Trail - a wide variety of different scents, perfumes and incense for everyone to try.
* An Arab Kitchen - a look at some of the pots and utensils used for generations in a traditional Arab kitchen.
* Hands-on activities for children - flag making, worksheets, badge making, Arabic exercises and world culture trails.
* Currency Collection - an assortment of bank notes, coins and designs from across the Arab nations.

Other special timed events include:

* Tastes of the Middle East - a chance to try Arabic coffee with a variety of different dates and sweets from the region. (12 noon and 2pm)
* Arabic Cultural Foundation’s Shotokan Karate Demonstration -
Meet the Karate club including members of the GB team training for the 2010 London Olympics. (12.15 and 2.15pm)
* Peace Presentation - A tour by F. Khan of her work; the development and diversity of Islamic art. (Every hour)

The exhibition offers an insight into the work of The Arabic Cultural Foundation, a community initiative, which has recently been nominated for the ‘Best Youth Group’ in the Community Foundation Merseyside’s (With patronage of Cherie Booth QC) ‘Spirit of Merseyside Awards 2006’.

Excellent news!!

MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL GETS THE GO AHEAD

The Northwest Regional Development Agency today announced a grant of £32.7m to support the development of the Museum of Liverpool. This news, which follows a successful planning application in December, means the museum now has the green light to proceed.

The Museum of Liverpool, with a budget of £65m, will be one of the world’s leading city history museums reflecting Liverpool’s global significance through its unique geography, history and culture.

Building on the incredible success of the Museum of Liverpool Life, the new museum which will be located on Liverpool’s famous waterfront, will provide a showcase for social history and popular culture. The museum will draw on National Museums Liverpool’s vast wealth of collections, many of which have never been on public display. As a vital part of the legacy of 2008, when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture, it will express Liverpool's confidence as a great 21st century European city.

David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool says:

“The Northwest Regional Development Agency decision means this new museum is now in business and Liverpool is about to get one of the world’s best museums right in the heart of the city. It will attract people from far and wide and will be a brilliant learning and recreational resource for local people.

“There are still hurdles to overcome but this museum is becoming a reality. Work on site will begin in the autumn and the building is due for completion in 2008.”

To enable building works the current Museum of Liverpool Life will close on 4 June 2006. A programme of special events for the public has been planned for the museum’s closing weeks, giving visitors a last chance to see some of the most popular exhibits and take part in exciting events and activities.

In the run-up to the new museum opening two major exhibitions about Liverpool will be staged at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. In 2007 a large-scale exhibition will explore Liverpool’s history over the last 800 years, told through the lives of ordinary people, the famous and the infamous. A major multi-sensory, exhibition in 2008 will celebrate Liverpool as the capital of pop and rock, exploring Liverpool’s popular music heritage from 1945 to the present.

There are plans to take the Museum of Liverpool on the road with a series of displays of our collections in shops and venues around the city later this year.

Museum of Liverpool – an Overview

The new museum will provide 5,000 square metres of exhibition space and will be unique in its approach to display, featuring flexible spaces that regularly change showing more of the collections than ever before. The museum will focus on four main themes: Port City, Global City, My Liverpool and Expressive City.

As visitors enter the building they will find Port City, a gallery that will exploring Liverpool’s role as a port city and the development of its architecture, infrastructure, people and commerce. This will follow the story of the industrial revolution and will feature Lion, a 1838 steam locomotive as its centrepiece. The main gallery will explore stories about the people living and working underneath the rails of the Overhead Railway, or the Dockers’ Umbrella, and will feature an original third class Overhead Railway carriage, suspended above the gallery at its working height.

Also located on the ground floor, Global City will explore Liverpool as a world city. The main attraction will be the 200-capacity Liverpool Theatre featuring an unmissable show experience created by Liverpool film makers, writers and artists, using local voices to tell the blockbuster story of Liverpool’s history.

Plans for the first floor include the History Hub, a resource centre housing over 10,000 objects from the NML collections. Featuring an interactive zone, the Hub will offer highlights from the collections and an opportunity to explore stories and objects in depth. Aimed at everyone from children to academics, this will be a one-stop shop for exploring Liverpool and Merseyside’s archaeology and social history.

On the second floor visitors will find People’s City. This gallery will explore the city and its people through themes such as housing and health, opportunity and deprivation, social reform, religion and trade unionism. The centrepiece will be the model of the proposed Liverpool Catholic Cathedral by world-famous architect Edwin Lutyens which was never built.

In Expressive City visitors will be able to discover the unique and creative character of Liverpool. The gallery will explore why this city has produced such an amazing roll call of writers, performers, comedians and sportsmen. The gallery includes some unique Beatles objects, including the original stage on which John Lennon’s band the Quarrymen played in 1957. A special immersive experience in the gallery captures the excitement, passion and intensity of football in Merseyside through the fans’ eyes. The story of the history of the clubs will investigate how they have become such a cornerstone of the city’s identity.

The new museum visitors will give visitors breathtaking views of the city and river.

Joan Miro was born on April 20th 1893 so Google have done one of their special doodles to celebrate his birthday. Its a good one I think, barely recognisable as Google, if you click on it you're taken straight to a page of search results for the artist.

Schools, don't forget the google doodle UK competition

Apologies to the Telegraph for just copying their headline but I thought it rather good and an entertaining article by Clive Aslet.

The largest collection of 'naughty' art goes under the hammer next week. Clive Aslet takes a peek

Christie's in Paris is the sort of place where even Louis XVI would have felt underdressed. The glacial young women behind the desk, whose matching uniforms make them look like two of the early Supremes, are faultlessly coiffeured, sublimely correct. The austere neo-Classical architecture and wood panelling exude the very strong impression that vulgarity - let alone hanky-panky - will not be tolerated.

Yet this aesthetic holy of holies is currently housing a collection of what the sale room likes to call "historical erotica" but is basically the biggest collection of very naughty books in private ownership. They are to be auctioned next week in what is the first sale of its kind for Christie's.

Link to full article

Oh no, is it Christmas already! I suppose you have to plan well ahead for these things.

Participants for Christmas Craft Market (Greater Manchester)

Who: artists and makers in the north west region
Where: Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, Greater Manchester
When: Friday 9 December 2006

What: Opportunity to participate in a Christmas Craft Market at the Turnpike Gallery. No commission will be taken on sales and there is no charge for a stall. Participants will be responsible for setting up their own stalls and
for handling sales during the day.

To apply: Postal Applications Only. Send a maximum of 6 images on disk (jpeg format), up -to -date CV, artist's statement and price list to Christmas Craft Market, Turnpike Gallery, Civic Square, Leigh, WN7 1EB.

Deadline: 31 May 2006

Exhibition Opportunity

Who: artists and designers working with plastics, e.g. jewellery, lighting, furniture, product design

Where: Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, Greater Manchester

When: 9 December - 20 January 2007

What: exhibition looking at innovative and unusual ways of working with plastics in contemporary art and design

To apply: Postal Applications Only. Send a maximum of 6 images on disk (jpeg format), up -to -date CV and artist's statement to Plastic Fantastic,
Turnpike Gallery, Civic Square, Leigh, WN7 1EB.

Deadline: 31 May 2006

ReNew06: A Collaboration at JMU 68 Hope Street until April 21st 2006

Not another student exhibition..except it is...sort of. Its been curated by 2 Art History students for their 3rd year practical module. Martyn Coppell and Vicki Maguire both fancy being curators when they graduate so this was a good opportunity to practice.
So the theme is renewal and regeneration not only within Liverpool, but also in its wider context. The artworks featured in the show comprise photography, painting, video and installation pieces. Each exploring different aspects of progressive change.
The artists:
Jane Anderson (ah, fluffy little bunny rabbits scattered around the floor, but a reminder that their skins are used for fur coats)
Kenneth Ashton (photos making close ups of the detritus of modern life look interesting)
Rob Davies (series of small drawings, pinned within a frame, chaotic but inter-connected)
Neal Dawson (photos of Liverpool/Wirral waterfront as if in fog, transformed by the changing light)
Graham Gorman (video created from stills, shows the changing scenes on the city streets, made my eyes go all funny)
Kevin Hunt (regenerating old furniture by covering it in grass. Anyone else remember that 'flowerbed' that was on the grassed area at the junction of Seymour St and Nelson St for 20+ years until the big dig flattened it? It was literally a big iron bed planted up with flowers, excellent. I'm sure that was created by JMU students at the time. Of course, it was never maintained and now its gone.)
Sally Kidall (pictures of an installation of 'tip-toe footprints' placed on various materials, sand, gravel, mud etc)
Alan McKernan (more of Alan's excellent black and white photos of local scenes)
Jamie Reid (2 works transforming old ads for banks, examining the darker side of development)
Matthew Verdon (documenting the short life of 7 fly postings on a London St, they were soon covered with other posters or removed by the council)
David Wightman (and, finally, some paintings. Target shapes painted onto embossed wallpaper, interesting)

I think the curators did a good job. I would have liked to see more painting but the theme comes through well and there's plenty to hold the viewers interest.
And you know I like good clear labels, information and a nice catalog too. Well done.

Liverpool Biennial, tenantspin and FACT (Foundation for Art & Creative Technology) proudly present WAYS OF SEEING VOLUME 3. In the third of these collaborations, six live webcasts in the lead up to Liverpool Biennial 2006 will focus on community participation. How has the Biennial affected peoples' lives since it began in 1999? tenantspin presents some of the remarkable stories, meets some creative Merseysiders and finds out how they have been involved in the Biennial.

Participants include Halewood Resource Centre, Kelly Mark, Biennial Network, local photographer John Macdonald and Young Mums From Speke

Go to www.tenantspin.org to watch the broadcasts and ask questions live at 2 pm on the following dates:
April 12th, May 17th, June 14th, July 12th, August 16th and September 13th.

Each of these broadcasts will be archived on the tenantspin website and can be accessed after the event.

I mentioned this a while ago but the deadline for submissions seems to have moved.

Get under the skin of the city for Made in Liverpool 06!

Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool Culture Company and the Scarman Trust are looking for films, no longer than ten minutes in length, that reflect the energy of our changing city and that respond to the theme “Beneath the skin of the city”.

Selected films will be screened across Liverpool and on the BBC big screen during the opening weekend of Liverpool Biennial 2006 (16 September – 26 November). Celebrations will also include a special screening and awards ceremony.

If you have a film that fits the above criteria we would love to hear from you!

For more information and to apply for in Made in Liverpool 06 please contact Renae Belton on 0151 709 7444 or email renae@biennial.com

Deadline for submissions is 7 July 2006.

If you are interested in finding out more about Liverpool Biennial 2006 please visit www.biennial.com

This year National Museums Liverpool has welcomed more visitors than ever before with 1,608,133 people enjoying visits to the eight museums and galleries in the group. This is a 5% increase on the number of visits in 2004/05.

World Museum Liverpool, one year old on 29 April 2006, has been the star of the show, becoming one of the most popular museums in the country outside London. Over half a million people have flocked to attractions such as the Aquarium, the World Cultures gallery and the Bug House, as well as to the hugely popular temporary exhibitions Face to Face, Eye for Colour and Mongolian Buddhism.

The Lady Lever Art Gallery has continued to build a loyal group of fans, with figures a massive 20% up on last year. This fascinating gallery, nestled in the heart of the Wirral, has continued to delight visitors with its quirky collection and through exhibitions such as Beside the Seaside and Pulling the Lever: Pete Ellis, and most recently the hugely popular Pre-Raphaelite Drawings. The Lady Lever Art Gallery also had the honour of hosting a Picasso painting on loan from the National Gallery in Berlin.

Other highlights of the year have included the Steady States, an exhibition of work by contemporary artist Conrad Shawcross at the Walker Art Gallery, showing our new Beatles acquisitions at the Museum of Liverpool Life and 100% Cotton at the Merseyside Museum.

Peter Carr is a young but experienced professional photographer from Merseyside. A university graduate and former professional web designer.

His passion is simply photography. From the beauty of landscapes to the atmosphere of a gig to the lines in architecture. Capturing life and creating bold images is what drives him.

He has recently been featured on the BBC Northwest News, published in calendars, magazines including one in Mexico, the BBC Merseyside site, and has won numerous regional and national photography competitions.
www.petecarr.net

At FACT - May 3rd -4th 2006. Sounds interesting, lots of details about the project on the website.

Attention Please! An experiment

We're seeking gallery goers in Liverpool to take part in an interactive experiment. The experiment asks nothing more than for you, the audience to give your attention. “Attention Please!” is a video installation with a difference; your attention is important and valuable, pay your attention carefully, and it will be rewarded.

Artist Sara Smith is working with technology partner Kisky Netmedia on this experiment using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. We're mixing techno tags with vivacious video. We're exploring presence and your effect on the art.

As people, ideas and hot new products compete for our attention through TVs, billboards, and the Internet, do they know if we're really paying attention? What if your attention can be measured? What happens when we pay attention to art? And if we do, will it change or react? Will it know? Does it matter? It does now.

We're looking for individuals and groups to participate in our experiment. Come alone, bring your friends or family; it's fun!

Pay attention at The Box, FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ. 03 & 04 May 2pm - 6pm
** Just turn up or pay attention online at www.attentionplease.co.uk

Attention Please! An Experiment is a research project supported through ITEM, the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology’s research and development programme for new media tools. ITEM is supported by NESTA and Arts Council England. www.item.org.uk

Looking forward to seeing you!

**If you want to bring a group before 2pm or only finish work at 6pm and want to come afterwards, contact us and we would be happy to accommodate you!

You can now buy postcards and posters of Antony Gormley's 'Another Place' installation at Crosby Beach from the South Sefton Partnership
The 'iron men' are here until November 2006, don't miss them.

The Sefton Open 2006 an exhibition of contemporary art for artists working in any 2D medium.

£2500 in prizes.

The Atkinson Art Gallery
Lord Street, Southport
11 September - 4 November

Deadline for entries: 20 July 2006

Artists may submit up to six slides/images.

Free entry.
Entry forms and details from:
Sefton Arts Development
Netherton Arts Centre
Glovers Lane
Netherton
Merseyside
L30 3TL
Tel: 0151 525 0417
email: philip.wroe@leisure.sefton.gov.uk

Local artist, Craig Atkinson spends far too much time messing about with websites for my liking. He should spend more time on his artwork. But good to see he's now got a really nice blog going which, of course, you can subscribe to via the rss feeds just like you can with mine (hint).
I use bloglines.com to scan through over 100 blogs each day or you can add them to your google personal home page or msn or yahoo or whatever.
www.craigatkinson.co.uk/blog

Oh, I'd love to be a designer for Muji but it must be really difficult. How do you come up with new ideas for such plain stuff? Looking around the corners of my rooms all I seem to keep there are waste paper baskets, standard lamps or those little piles of dust that collect on the laminate floors. I hope we get to see some of the designs.

隅　2006年の公募テーマ “SUMI”-corner/edge/end

Entry period:15th may -31st August 2006

Muji is launching an international design competition. A project calling for entries from all over the world of designs that shake up and stir people. The results will be announced at the Milan Salone. Our first theme is “SUMI”, We're asking you to focus your design, not on the major pieces that are central to a room, rather to observe the extremes of the space, the unexplored areas of consciousness. We invite anyone in the world to propose a new Muji product!

Theme
“SUMI” - corner / edge / end
The objective is not to design something that is placed in the middle of the room, but towards the edges, not at the centre and not directly around the centre; you should look for somewhere that evades the eye, send us an object designed for that place, and name it as you wish.
We are not asking for any particular genre, it could be anything from furniture, stationery and office equipment, to everyday items.
Entry period From 15th May 2006, Entries must arrive by 31st August
Prize money
Gold prize winner (1 award) 20,000 US dollars
Silver prize winners (3 awards) 3,000 US dollars
Bronze prize winners (6 awards) 1,000 US dollars

http://www.muji.net/award/eng_essentials.html

ReNew06: A Collaboration
curated by Martyn Coppell & Vicki Maguire

April 18th - 21st
Viewing 18.30 - 20.00 Tuesday 18th April 2006
at 68 Hope Street Gallery

Featuring artworks by: Jane Anderson/Kenneth Ashton/Rob Davies/Neal Dawson/Graham Gorman/Kevin Hunt/Matthew James/Sally Kidall/Alan McKernan/Jamie Reid/Matthew Verdon/David Wightman.

ReNew06: A Collaboration is an exhibition exploring regeneration and renewal, not only within Liverpool but in its broader context. The artworks featured in the show comprise photography, painting, video and installation pieces. Each exploring different aspects of progressive change.

Another date for your diaries...

Neon Highway Guest Poets
All welcome
Free Admission
Steve Sneyd
Sci-Fi poet and publisher
http://booksmusicfilmstv.com/HilltopPress.htm
Steve will be reading from a selection of his poems at:
The Planetarium
World Museum Liverpool
Saturday 29th April
12-2pm
(Free Admission)

Steve Sneyd’s work has appeared in numerous magazines, anthologies worldwide, on the Net, on Radio Four’s
Stanza On Stage “Poetry in Space’ Special and he has read at the SF event of National Year of Literature (UK),SF Conventions.

Most of his nearly 40 collections include SF Poetry, such as Bad news From the Stars (Ocean View Books, USA
and Ahaseurus on Mars (Atlantean Publishing)

Alice Lenkiewicz editor of Neon Highway Poetry Art Magazine will also be reading from her first novella,
Maxine published by Bluechrome, www.bluechrome.co.uk,

A question and answer opportunity will also take place at the end of this event.

Publications will be on sale and there will be a coffee break. This event is hosted and sponsored by Neon Highway: www.neonhighway.co.uk

For further information please contact World Museum Liverpool Planetarium on: 0151 478 4393

Not to be missed at FACT

Mark Lewis in Conversation with Laura Mulvey and Philippe-Alain Michaud
26 April 6.30pm-8.30pm £7.00 (£4.50 FACT Members & Concs)
A chance to hear one of today's most prominent film critics, Laura Mulvey and Philippe-Alain Michaud, Curator of Film at the Pompidou Centre in conversation with Mark Lewis. All ticket holders at this event will be entitled to a discount on the new Mark Lewis publication created for this exhibition and featuring essays by Mulvey and Michaud. More info...

The Inaugural Roy Stringer Annual Lecture - speaker, Ted Nelson
09 May 7.00pm - 8.30pm £7.00 (£4.50 FACT Members & Concs)
The first in a programme of annual lectures in honour of FACT's late Chairman, Roy Stringer, who was instrumental in the development of FACT. Roy's close friend and internationally renowned sociologist, philosopher, designer and pioneer of information technology Ted Nelson, will launch this significant, new event in FACT's annual calendar. Best known for coining the terms" hypertext", "hypermedia" and "virtuality", his main aim was to make computers easily accessible to ordinary people. Since founding his Xanadu project in 1960 he has emerged as something of a controversial, radical figure referred to as "one of the most influential contrarians in the history of the information age". Here he gives his current views on the world wide web - sure to start discussions that will echo throughout Liverpool and the world (real and virtual) beyond.
(Picture shows Roy portrayed in the permanent artwork at FACT created by Amrit & Rabindra K.D. Kaur Singh).

Rhubarb-Rhubarb - Four days of Portfolio reviews, Exhibitions, News, Seminars and Networking in Birmingham July 27th - 30th 2006.
For 'Photographers and Image-Makers'.
All the info and lots more of interest on the rhubarb-rhubarb website: http://www.rhubarb-rhubarb.net/

Well everyone loves Henry Moore don't they? A national treasure and all that. What with Turner on the ground floor and Stubbs at the Walker there's a wealth of Brit Art on show in Liverpool, I'm so proud!

I prefer Moore's big stuff, the reclining figures and such that you can walk around and peer through the shapes and holes on a grand scale. These smaller items are just a bit dull, especially as you can't touch them, running ones hand over the smooth brass curves would make it a much better experience.

Still, its quite interesting to see Moore's sketches as his ideas develop from the natural forms such as bones, shells and stones to the bumps and hollows of the final works.

Henry Moore - Natural Form at Liverpool Tate April 8th 2006 to February 4th 2007

Amongst other things I've been busy re-jigging a few pages on the artinliverpool.com website this weekend. What else are Public Holidays for?
The gallery listings page had grown too long, too much scrolling, so I've split it up into 6 sections with tabs across the top. Now I can put more into each section and have already added more information from NML museums.

Similarly, the artists directory now has over 100 artists and the page was too long and also a bit slow to load all the images. So this is now in 2 sections; A to M and N to Z.

Any comments welcome, there'll be lots more changes on the way. We never stand still (we just sit still, tapping away at the keyboard)

Get yer rocks off!
Unique music and media arts competition opens in Manchester

Futuresonic, the UK’s leading electronic music and media arts festival, today announces the launch of its competition for musicians, club promoters, programmers and curators.

** Futuresonic EVNT Competition offers cash prizes to enable up-and-coming new music and arts events to appear during Futuresonic’s July festival, and is open to anyone in the world. **

See THIS PAGE for full details.

This is a unique opportunity: Futuresonic is the only festival to provide support in this way for independent events, promoters and programmers.

This year’s Futuresonic – which runs 20–23 July at venues across Manchester - builds on the success of last year’s Futuresonic EVNT Showcase, where venues throughout the city’s Northern Quarter opened their doors to music lovers for an entire weekend of independent electronic, dance, post-rock and club gigs. Over 30 events took place during last year’s EVNT Showcase alone, with acts from as far afield as New York, Moscow, Berlin and Dallas

Yes, I know its Manchester but its good and they keep sending me stuff.

MARKETING OFFICER & ASSISTANT PRODUCER
Freelance posts available at Futuresonic

NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN THE INNOVATIVE URBAN FESTIVAL IN ITS 10TH YEAR

Futuresonic is an annual 3-day festival of electronic music and media arts that is urban, international, inclusive, and in Manchester. Our 10th anniversary year is 2006, and Futuresonic is now looking to expand its team.

MARKETING OFFICER
We are seeking a dynamic Marketing Officer to bring energy and creativity in reaching our diverse arts and music audiences. You will work with the festival team to develop and deliver the marketing action plan, generating profile and audiences, for the forthcoming Futuresonic 2006 festival. Taking our key messages forward for 2006, you'll deliver the creative marketing campaign that our 10th anniversary festival deserves. You'll join a bustling, energetic team at Future Everything, the not-for-profit creative company responsible for Futuresonic, at an exciting time in our growth, working alongside the Director across all media.

Please send CV and covering letter to Drew Hemment
Email: job14@futuresonic.com
by 6pm, Tuesday 26th April, putting MARKETING OFFICER in the subject line.

Further details and info pack available from:
http://10.futuresonic.com/marketing_officer.html
Please do not apply without first obtaining this information.

ASSISTANT PRODUCER
We are seeking a dynamic Assistant Producer to bring commitment and creativity in supporting the delivery of the festival. You will work as a key member of a bustling, energetic team at Future Everything, the not-for-profit creative company responsible for Futuresonic, to provide the best possible support to artists, partners and venues, and the best possible experience to audiences.

Please send CV and covering letter to Eliza Tyrrell
Email: job15@futuresonic.com
by 6pm, Tuesday 26th April, putting ASSISTANT PRODUCER in the subject line.

Further details and info pack available from:
http://10.futuresonic.com/assistant_producer.html
Please do not apply without first obtaining this information.

We present... live music performances focusing on the best and up-and-coming music. We also commission unique one-off projects and artist collaborations, with a special emphasis on projects using emerging technologies. The festival celebrates creativity across artistic boundaries, and draws together visual arts, music and new technologies.

Future Everything positively welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Closing date for applications is 6pm on Tuesday 25th April 2006.
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 3rd May.

Futuresonic 2006, 20th-23rd July, Manchester

http://www.futuresonic.com

So, I finally made it out to Kirkby to see Paul Elliker's exhibition at the gallery in the Library there. 'The Last Best Place' has been on show since January 23rd and I should have gone a long time ago, it ends on Sunday 16th April 2006 (i.e. Tomorrow!).

Shame on me, but it was well worth seeing. I like Elliker's work, in fact I own a small sketch of 'For My Husband', and was delighted to see the massive full colour version here. There's also 'Mambo nomads' which featured in the John Moores 23 exhibition at the Walker in 2004.
I like the bold, unconventional colours of the simplified acrylic landscapes. You can see (and buy) more of his work on the britart website

The library and gallery is a nice modern place but I could not see anything else to recommend Kirkby, I was soon on the train back to Liverpool Central.

 'Configurations' - Sue Lucine and Terry Kane at the Unity Theatre until May 27th 2006.

Several new (and a few not-so-new) figurative works by the two local artists in the corridor and bar area of the theatre.
Painting in oils, almost always on canvas, Terry also has several notebooks full of pen and ink drawings.
Terry's influences vary, but a major one is the work of the German expressionists.

Sue has been painting since the age of 5 and hopes to die with a paint brush in her hand.
“I am of the firm belief that a visual experience loses so much in translation to the verbal. A painting is rather like a hallucinogenic trip in that neither can be translated into words.“

David Bixter has been experimenting with simple pencil lines and repetition and you can see the results at the Domino Gallery within Green Fish Cafe until early May 2006.
Several works, all black graphite on paper, beautifully mounted and framed and for sale.
Sometimes its the lines or the shapes they make sometimes its the shapes of the blank areas, sometimes both.

'Dare to Dream' An Independent Poem Art Exhibition' is on the 4th Floor of Maritime Museum until May 21st 2006.
A very nice little exhibition this which acts as a nice break from all the maritime related stuff on show in the rest of the museum. Poetry and visual art are often mixed together (which is good because I like both) and this exhibition was originally designed for the 2006 Poetry in the City festival which starts on April 25th but now exists perfectly well in its own right and may well go on tour to Liverpool's twinned cities over the next couple of years.

The 14 artists are all past or present staff of National Museums Liverpool and were invited by Liverpool Front House to create individual artworks inspired or responding to poetry. Some have even written their own poems.

Liverpool Front House is a community based arts project designed to promote the creative talents of the city centre's working community. The idea is to get several (all!) workplaces displaying artworks created by their own staff. If you are interested in this scheme, contact Paul Miller by email at liverpoolfh@merseymail.com

The artists: Josie Bramley, Charlotte Stead, Nathan Pendlebury, Melody Sparks, Jason Thompson, Paul Miller, John Lavell, Stuart Williams, Katie Halsall, Arthur Roberts, Ian J Foster, Carol McKenny, Dave Brown and Michael Pace-Sigge.

The RENEW Rooms in Wood Street are hosting the RIBA President's Medals Exhibition from Fri 24th April - Fri 19th May. This is the first time the awards have been exhibited outside of London. The President's medals attracts entries from over 100 schools of architecture around the world and suggests an exciting and innovative future for architecture.

There's an exhibition of Claire Stringer's paintings inspired by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in the bar area of the Philharmonic Hall until May 31st 2006.
There are 20 studies, mixed-media on paper visualisations of music showing the energy and movement of the orchestra.

Claire says, "My work has been investigating ways to express time, movement, rhythm and energy. I started thinking about ways to translate music into a visual language, looking at the relationship between abstract qualities in music and art. This new work has returned to something more physical and representational. I made observational drawings of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) during rehearsals, then returned to the studio to develop the images.

These studies retain my original ideas of expressing music visually while simultaneously referencing the observational drawings. I enjoy the patterns that occur when watching the RLPO, particularly the bows, as their movements parallel the sounds and rhythms of the music being played.
The scale of co-ordination and organisation amazes me when watching the orchestra. This is where my fascination with the language of music begins. However, I enjoy it beyond its functional level, in an abstract way, as a drawing. This interest has resulted in using music in my drawings and paintings."

The paintings are for sale at a very reasonable price. See more on Claire's website: www.clairestringer.com/gallery5.htm

Bluecoat Arts Centre – Artists required for The Blue Room

The Blue Room will be a pioneering contemporary arts participation programme for adults with learning difficulties, based in Bluecoat Arts Centre in Liverpool City Centre when the building reopens in 2007 after a major capital development and renovation programme.

Up to 45 people from the Liverpool area will attend The Blue Room over three days each week, working in collaboration with visual artists on projects that use Bluecoat’s artistic programme as a starting point.
We are seeking four visual artists from the North West region to help us develop the project and then work on a regular and ongoing basis at the centre.

Training will be provided and you will be paid £90 for each half-day session you work (except for an initial induction session). After the training we will evaluate your approach and hopefully you will become a committed part of the team for at least the first three years of operation.

We are seeking practising artists with excellent communication skills and some experience of working with groups of people in a collaborative way. Trained support workers will always be present, however an up to date CRB check (dated in the last 12 months) is still required.

The Blue Room will be managed by Bluecoat Arts Centre, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, each contributing the expertise and resources to make the programme a success. The development phase and pilot scheme have been funded by Arts Council England North West through Grants for the Arts.

For an application pack please contact Annie MacLean on 0151 703 9248 or email annie@bluecoatartscentre.com.

The deadline for receipt of application is Monday 8th May 5pm. Training will take place on Thursdays in late June and early July. Interviews are likely to be held on 8th and/or 15th June and will involve the engagement of a group in an activity or discussion relating to a contemporary artwork of your choice.

Neuro Support Logo Competition

The Mersey Neurological Trust, based in the Glaxo Centre in Liverpool, is devoted to offering support to people with neurological conditions, their carers and families.

2006 is a big year for the trust. Already it has hosted a holiday exhibition for Disabled people, held a major conference on Mental Capacity and Human Rights and worked with Merseyside Disability Federation on a major project aimed at working with Disabled people from ethnic and diverse communities in across Liverpool. But
there's more to come.

The Trust is changing it's name this year to Neurosupport� and it's home is to become 'The Neurosupport Centre'. So, it's time for a new image, a new slate of exciting events and a brand new logo.

The Trust is holding a competition, aimed at talented artists and graphic designers, to find a brand new logo to use on it's letterheads, literature and website. The Trust has a national reputation for advising and providing
information for people with neurological conditions so this is a great chance for up and coming graphic designers/artists to get their work seen and noticed.

The Trust would particularly like to hear from Disabled designers/artists, especially those with experience of a neurological condition but the competition is open to anyone who believes they can make a bold design statement about the Trust's work and aims.

For more details about the Trust, it's work and a competition brief please contact Danny Start, Senior Admin and Marketing Officer, at danny@mntuk.vianw.co.uk or telephone 0151 298 2999.

I just found this page on the National Museums Liverpool website with all the latest news on the large capital projects.
The plans for the new Museum of Liverpool, The Slavery Museum, the refurbishment of Sudley House etc.

Got my 08 Ambassador Welcome Pack in the post this morning complete with a nice new badge and lots of fact cards for me to quote at random people
e.g. "FACT - £16.2m will be invested in events and arts in 2008 alone"

If you are passionate about Liverpool you can be an ambassador too, just go to the website to sign up, you have to enter a few details and words of nonsense about why you think Liverpool is dead good.
Link

There's a nice flash advert for Super Vision on the 08 website.
Take a look. Link
Also more details in my previous posting
At the Royal Court 4-6th May 2006.

I was at Tate Liverpool at noon today to witness the greeting of their 10 millionth visitor. Of course, visitor numbers are not an exact science but those little magic eyes above the doors have been counting roughly 600,000 visitors per year since the place opened.

So, here we have Lilian Dunlop from Manchester) and her grand-daughter, Gemma Bantham (Stockport) between the Executive Director, Andrea Nixon and the Director, Christoph Grunenberg.
As well as receiving a free bag of gifts from the shop, a bottle of champagne and a free meal in the Cafe they were treated to special guided tour of the galleries with Information Assistant Bob Gallie (that's him in the orange shirt). In 2004 Bob was winner of the Academy Ambassador Awards for Excellence in Customer Care (Arts & Culture Staff), so he was best placed to give the visitors the VIP treatment.

Speaking of this special occasion, Director Christoph Grunenberg said:
“Welcoming the ten millionth visitor is a proud moment for the Gallery. We are delighted to be providing the quality of exhibitions, and levels of service, that visitors come back to time and time again. Tate Liverpool is now confirming its position as a world-class gallery for the City of Liverpool, and with our twentieth birthday and the European Capital of Culture celebrations coming up in 2008, there’s a lot more to look forward to in the future.”

Whilst there, I had a quick look at the 2 new exhibitions just opened on the 2nd floor. Both well worth a visit, I'll be going back for another look soon.
Henry Moore: Natural Form
and
Marie-Louise von Motesiczky

Reason to Rhyme.

Times running out. Don’t miss the opportunity to see yourself on the Big Screen in Clayton Square performing your own work.
Enter the Nothing Rhymes with Poets competition, deadline 16 May.

From the initial submissions, a shortlist of poets will be given the opportunity to enhance their poetry performance skills to prepare them for a live audition. From the audition five people will be selected to take part in a short film to be broadcast on BBC Big Screen Liverpool throughout September and will receive a cash prize.

Harry Hawkins, Nothing Rhymes With Poets 2005 participant

My sister walked out of Tesco's under the Big Screen to see me for the first time in years. She phoned me to say: "can you hear it?" My image, regaling a peace march, echoing around Clayton Square, on a big screen, everyday for a few months. For me it was about identity, a search for identity, I didn't know I was from Liverpool until I left Liverpool! And I didn’t know I was a poet! But I do now.”

Owing to the success of last year’s pilot project, ran in association with Liverpool Centre For Arts Development, Nothing Rhymes With Poets have now received funding from the Arts Council England’s Grants for the arts programme and Awards For All. Working in partnership with BBC Big Screen Liverpool and collaborations with Dead Good Poets Society, The Windows Project, First Take and Toxteth TV, Nothing Rhymes With Poets are hoping to illustrate once again the commitment to enhancing Liverpool’s creative community.

Chair of Nothing Rhymes With Poets, Jacqui Lee said: “ we are really looking forward once again to receiving some fantastic poems. I’m just glad I’m not on the selection panel, I would want to choose them all! ”

For more information and to download an application form go to
the BBC Big Screen Webpage
or pop down to BBC Radio Merseyside, 55 Paradise Street, Liverpool, L1 3BP to pick up an application form.

From Amanda DeAngeles who certainly knows how to gather a large group of performers into one room.
There's some art in the somewhere. e.g. Bob Iddon & Friends Art/Photography www.digi.webeden.co.uk
Breifly... (see Amanda's webpage for more details)

PACIFIC PARTY SHOW
PACIFIC BAR, TEMPLE ST,(OFF VICTORIA STREET),LIVERPOOL
FRIDAY 21st APRIL 2006 8pm (£3 admission)

All details correct at print date 11/4/06
INTRO
Simon Mack DJ (PUBLIC NOTICE / CHEEKY)

ACT ONE
Lee Sayer- Pacific Bar and Grill Owner www.pacificbarandgrill.co.uk

Bob Iddon & Friends Art/Photography www.digi.webeden.co.uk
Bob will take over screens and gallery space for a ONE NIGHT EXHIBITION of his photographic images. Come capture the moment.

Amanda DeAngeles Host www.amandadeangeles.net me!

Greedy Jesus MUSICAL MIRACLE WORKER ALMIGHTY!

Razza- Poet/Comedian I dared to cast him. The Moon Ryder,

Tracey Lawrenson- Poet . . . will give Razza what for!

Touchee Dance www.millingtonsdanceacademy.co.uk/welcome.html

Richard Knight- Writer-The Monologist
Richard is intelligent, satirical, close to home and fun. His words deliver.

Some funny surprises. Stand Up! TBC

ACT TWO
The Erotic Nightmares - www.ulbb.net/index.html
Rock n Horror
Time is fleeting . . . moving on to a select few from their full orchestra.
(Liverpool University Big Band members) perform music and dancing theatre-style. Showtime and fashion statements rule.

Touchee www.millingtonsdanceacademy.co.uk/welcome.html warmed-up earlier.

ACT THREE
CATACOUSTIC www.catacoustic.co.uk/
A full hour dedicated to the cream of Liverpool’s acoustic music.

Hoonose www.hoonose.com . . . may or may not be all there but their music will be hiding around corners somewhere, maybe?

Martin McGuffie One of my songs 'Inclined' was voted song of the day on the 'Garageband' web site.

The Rushun (not Russian), has a good, masculine deep voice. He’s a guitar finger-picker and has well-crafted melodies and lyrics.

Robin Clarke 'I'm currently working on a four-track EP-Tracks include,'Anytime Anywhere' &' Blaze of Fire', ready this month!

Alister www.AlisterSaid.com featuring cellist Nicole Collarbone.

Ryan Middleton is good looking with long dark hair. When I saw him play, he opened with a long slow ballad.

FINALE Simon Mack -DJ keeps up the funky sounds until late.

There are about 150 photographs in this exhibition, all black & white. I like the way the total absence of people or traffic allows you to concentrate more on the landscape. A really good show at Liverpool University Art Gallery, Abercromby Sq until July 28th 2006.
There is a free talk by Alan McKernan in the gallery on May 19th at 13.00

The series explores the changing face of the city, of particular relevance in the last five years due to the extensive redevelopments it has undergone. As well as startling and unique interpretations of iconic Liverpool landmarks, such as the Liver Building, Alan has also sought to expose the residential heart of Liverpool, offering a view which is both honest and stimulating. None of the images include cars or people, allowing the architectural landscape to speak for itself. Furthermore, dramatic effects of natural light, combined with the hand printing process, produce highly theatrical photographs.

As Alan explains:
‘As a photographer, I’ve long been fascinated by, and experimented with, the ever-changing quality of light as it plays upon the landscape; sculpting and re-defining it. The challenge I set myself commencing in 2000, was to celebrate those ephemeral qualities of light, by utilising traditional photographic materials. I have distanced myself from the immediacy of high-tech. digital photographic equipment, utilised in so much contemporary consumerist photography. Instead, I have engaged with traditional silver-based film to record my initial alternative images of Liverpool.

By comparison with the casual capture of a digital image, which may then be just as casually deleted, the production cycle I use is slow and deliberate. I begin with careful observation of the subject matter over time. Progression to the camera work is only possible when I consider the lighting conditions are appropriate to sculpt the landscape, highlighting the qualities I wish to re-present to the viewer. The conjuring of the image is then continued into the darkroom. My revival of the specialist craft skills of hand-printing has enabled me to harness the power of light a second time; firstly with the camera, secondly with the enlarger in the darkroom. In this way I am able to personalise the final interpretation of the negative, with the production of the finished silver-gelatin print.’

This exhibition is accompanied by a publication ‘Unfamiliar Journeys’, featuring 100 images of the city, produced by the University of Liverpool in association with the artist and Liverpool University Press. Copies will be available to purchase during the show

... Essen (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey) and Pecs (Hungary). Still to be ratified by the European Parliament.

They keep changing the rules and the rules will change again next year so it will be interesting to see what they come up with for the years after 2010.
I may be wrong but as I understand it, last year, 2005, Cork (Eire) was the first European Capital of Culture. Before that there were Cities of Culture (often more than one each year).
This year, 2006, its Patras in Greece.
Then we have joint EU and Non-EU Capitals
2007 is Luxembourg (EU) and Sibiu (Romania - Non-EU but hoping to join that year)
2008 Liverpool (EU) and Stavanger (Norway - Non-EU)
2009 Linz (Austria - EU) and Vilnius (Latvia - oh, hang on, Latvia is in the EU!)
Then we have EU, Non-EU and New-EU. Hence..
2010 Essen (Germany -EU), Pecs (Hungary - New-EU) and Istanbul (Turkey, Non-EU)

Is that clear?

Pyromedia specialises in digital art and photography and has a website at www.pyromdeia.tv

Pyromedia says
"I like to mix traditional and contemporary techniques. My work usually starts with a photograph or drawing, which is then manipulated in Photoshop. Some pieces are then printed out, painted upon, and sometimes even re-scanned and edited again.

I am epecially interested in fantasy and fetish/alternative photography, and am currently experimenting with lighting effects. Other media I work with include video, website design and animation."

Please form an orderly queue...

"We are four Liverpool artists who are opening a space for the duration of the Biennial 2006, building on the success of two shows in London and one in Manchester earlier this year.
However, we only wish to exhibit for the first two weeks.
If there are other artists or groups of artists who would like to talk to us about exhibiting after this period, please get in touch via whythewormturns@hotmail.com
We are in the process of finding the space and applying for arts council funding and we envisage either getting funding, or paying very little for the running of the space.
This will be a relatively hassle free way of exhibiting in the Biennial, as you would be inheriting a space which is already up and running."

Poetry & Art Fans, here's a date for your diary as part of the Poetry In The City festival.

Performance at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Saturday 13 May 2006, 2.30-4.30pm

The Walker performance premieres new works by Philip Davenport and Tony Trehy. Davenport’s “Constellation of Luminous Details” is collection of found poems made from overheard conversations. Trehy’s “50 Heads” is a meditation on language and control. Improvisational sound artist Ben Gwilliam will record both performances and process the words using the gallery space as a sound resonator. Trehy and Davenport work to revitalise poetry as experimental art that is as attentive to the space in which it occurs as to notions of language and expression.

Philip Davenport explores the space between poetry and visual art, often in collaboration with artists, designers, and musicians. His Imaginary Missing People poems, made by collaging missing persons notices with his own diaries, were bill-posted in Manchester, London and Brighton in the period 1998-2001 as part as various art exhibitions and published by Bob Cobbing’s experimental press Writers Forum in 1999. In 2002 Davenport collaborated with transvestite artist Phil Sayers to make the Vogue Divine poster poem series, bill-posted throughout Manchester. His collection Heart Shape Pornography – poems ‘reclaimed’ from porn – were handwritten onto hundreds of apples as a commission for Liverpool Biennial 2004. Throughout 2004, Davenport was Poet in Residence at Bury Art Gallery where – as well as writing poems – he co-curated the Bob Cobbing retrospective for groundbreaking text art/visual poetry Text Festival.

Some interesting mixed media work from the latest addition Kevin Brown who says
"The artworks I produce are often the result of a long drawn out thought process, the expression of an acquired obsession. Works are created sporadically usually during a period of change or altered arousal.
The media I choose often depends on what I see around me at the time I need to create, I prefer to use what I already have.

My art is an expression of my thoughts, mainly questions.....sometimes I pause...... "

Lucy Byrne at Dot-art is very busy lately and has done well to get some works by local artists up for sale in the Culture Company's information '08 place' in Whitechapel.

Cultural Centre hosts an exhibition of work from Liverpool based online gallery dot-art

dot-art is delighted to announce a new selling exhibition at the 08 place, Whitechapel (opposite the new Met Quarter shopping centre), Liverpool's one-stop culture shop for a range of services for the local community and visitors to the city. Embracing the latest technology, the high-impact multimedia centre, which opened in 2005, features
interactive displays, internet access, a video wall, a ticketing and booking office.

dot-art will be displaying a rotating selection of artists work in the venues' innovative window boxes, starting with ceramics by Helen Mitchell and hand carved wooden pieces by Caroline Henderson. Both artists graduated from Liverpool Hope University in 2005.

"We are very excited about this opportunity to work with the 08 Place, as we feel it is a fantastic venue and an great way for local artists' work to be appreciated by the whole community" says Lucy Byrne of dot-art, an organisation which aims to raise the profile of local artists around Merseyside through events such as this as well as their
website, http://www.dot-art.co.uk

On Friday 7th April, Catalyst Media launched the latest edition of 'Nerve' - their local arts and social issues magazine.

Nerve 8 is available for free in the wonderful News From Nowhere, as well as all local cultural venues, cafés and libraries.

Features Include:
* Editorial
* Lost Souls - Casual Building Labour
* Niall Griffiths Interview
* Tescopoly - Tesco's Expansion Plans
* The Road to Ruin - New Deal For Communities?
* Ken Sprague - People's Artist
* The Emperor's New Clothes
* It's a Stick-up - The ban on flyposting
* Unfair Cop - Who's Policing the Police?
* Jamie Reid - Punk Prophet
* The End of Council Housing in the Capital of Culture

It can also be read online at http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/nerve_latest_index.htm

Also a benefit night on Friday 28th April at 52 Roscoe Street,
line-up to be announced - will include music, theatre and poetry.

Catalyst Creative Media
0151 709 9948
http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk

This is a large collection of black & white photographs of Liverpool taken mostly in 1969 though there are a few from the early 70's. Artist/Photographer Peter Leeson was commissioned to record the destruction of the old Scotland Road area as it was being cleared for road construction and housing clearance.

Its not all about Scotland Road though, there's the kids playing football, women talking on street corners, workers on the march and I like the pictures of the docks and ferries covered in a thick blanket of snow, a rare sight, winters were so much worse then apparently.

Well worth a look and all pictures are available for sale.

'Memories of Merseyside' by Peter Leeson at Liverpool academy of Arts until Thursday April 13th 2006.

Some serious money on offer here to 6 lucky applicants. There's also vacancies for a Curator Fellow and Trainee Curators. See the webpage for full details: www.artsadmin.co.uk/artistsadvisor/decibel.html

deciBel 2006 Visual Arts Awards

deciBel is a national Arts Council England initiative to support the work of contemporary artists and contemporary art curators in England who are of Black African, Caribbean, or Asian descent, and to promote opportunities for diversity in contemporary visual art

Arts Council England and Artsadmin are pleased to announce the second round of the deciBel Awards

6 Awards for Artists of £30,000 each paid over 2 years

Contemporary visual artists working and living in England are invited to apply for these significant awards to support their practice, for time to research and develop new work.
Closing date for applications: Monday 15th May 2006

This is the first nationwide Doodle 4 Google competition and is open to every school in the UK.

The 'Doodle 4 Google - My Britain' competition asks young people across the UK to design a doodle that represents what it means to be British today. The winning doodle, which will be displayed on the Google UK homepage for a day, will be seen by around 18 million people.

All the information re deadlines, judging, etc. is on the website: http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/events/doodle.html

Schools need to register by May 31st 2006.

You can read about the original google doodler, Dennis Hwang here: www.google.co.uk/intl/en/events/doodle/doodler.html

See winners of last year pilot competition here: www.google.co.uk/intl/en/events/doodle/2005.html

I just discovered this organisation called Media Arts Network which exists to
"raise the profile of media* arts practice through discussion, presentation, dissemination and collaborative creative opportunities.

(*By the term 'media', this is understood to include the use of lens-based work, sound, installation, multi-media communications and emergent technologies).

ma-net currently consists of members who work in organisations, companies and educational institutes with a geographic spread across Cumbria, Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester, enabling both rural and urban agencies to communicate and work together. "

Excellent! They have a nice website at www.ma-net.org though there's not a lot of content yet there are some good reviews by journalism students and listings of media arts events. FACT and Open Eye feature prominently, I even spotted one or two links to artinliverpool so they're obviously on the ball!

Article in today's Guardian about Jude Kelly from Liverpool who is now the Artistic Director of the South Bank...

"Perhaps all artistic directors speak like this, as if they have been listening to audio tapes of Foucault in their sleep. Or perhaps it is Kelly's response to the condescension she has suffered as one of the few women working at her level in arts management - the word "lightweight" has never been used, but it is implied in some criticisms of her work as a director. She is also sensitive to slights about her Liverpudlian background. For whatever reason, the harder she tries to explain her philosophy, the more it feels like looking at one of those 3D images, the ones you stare at for ages until the outline of a ship or a horse jumps out at you. I think, in Kelly's case, it is quite a well-drawn horse. But it is difficult to tell."

Full article

from the Culture Company...
Its Free, book now!

In conjunction with The Builders Association workshop we are pleased to announce that Artistic Director Marianne Weems will give a lecture on the work of the Builders Association
Friday 28th April
at the Unity II Theatre
at 2pm.
Free of charge.

Marianne Weems will present the work of her New York based theatre company the Builders Association. The lecture will revolve around the increasing incorporation of media in performance, its effect on contemporary theater, and the political and social implications of the 'mediatization' of culture.

For more info /booking please, call Unity Theatre box office 0151- 709-4988 or alternatively go to www.liverpool08.com or call Myriam on 0151 233 4136.

Gary Sollars - Dollman’s Carnivalesque Discoteque

!!!Attention!!!

Fun warning Dollman’s Carnivalesque Discoteque is happening on 6 May 2006 at a brand new venue with indoor toilets and nice leather seats.

The fun kicks off at 8.00 pm, so book your tickets at £6.49 and your baby sitters right away. Bring a fun head and your dancing feet!

Ticket info from

E-mail: ges1967@hotmail.com or itsgary@hotmail.com

06 May 2006, 8.00 pm onwards.
Tickets £6.49
!!!NEW VENUE TO BE REVEALED!!!
Order your tickets NOW!!!

www.garysollars.co.uk

A very nice exhibition of works by six local artists connected with the Bluecoat Display Centre.
Apologies for my poor photos, dare I say, it was too sunny!

 The featured artists are:

Jenny Barker, her glass work takes on sculptural, ornamental and architectural dimensions in the form of wall hangings. Much of her inspiration comes from landscapes and nature, which is often representative in the work's shape, texture and form.

Rebecca Gouldson works in a variety of metals to produce wall pieces for domestic and architectural context. Her love of drawing and printmaking is directly related to the marks made on the metal. The
artist creates distinct qualities of line and texture.

Rachael Howard designs colourful and imaginative embroidered narrative wall hangings. The work shows her fascination with everyday life. Her designs focus on the innocent pleasures of living.

Cathy Miles constructs three-dimensional wire wall works. She cleverly combines iron-binding wire with found objects and materials to create witty depictions of birds in conversion. Her characters come to life to reveal their grumbles and gripes, bad habits, love interests and attention seeking behaviour.

Andrew Peter's works are all unique, limited productions. He specialises in the design of mirror wall pieces, constantly seeking to improve the designs in terms of their aesthetics and construction. He chooses to construct in multiples but no consecutive pieces are ever exactly the same.

Kazuhito Takadoi is intrigued by the colours in nature, marvelling at the constant changes throughout the year. He is interested in slow decay when everything eventually returns to the earth. Viewing his work from different angles and in different lights provides a new perspective.

At Cornerstone Gallery until May 5th 2006

News from South Bohemia land....

Boho Dolls Ltd - Printing service from The South Bohemia Art Gallery.

Providing you with a wide variety of printed materials from: High quality digital prints to posters, labels, postcards, leaflet/flyers, greetings cards, transparencies and much, much more...
Also offering a laminating service.
Whether you are an artist, business or a photographer, we will provide you with a fast efficient, friendly and professional service.
For further details, please contact us either by email, telephone or in person at:

The South Bohemia Art Gallery
196 Smithdown Road
Wavertree
Liverpool
L15 3JT
Telephone: 0151 7335120
Email: peterworthington1@yahoo.co.uk

Two excellent but short exhibitions at the John Moores Art building at 2a Myrtle Street over the past two weeks.
First was Hamish McLain with an exhibition of work produced during the past year for The Norman Moores Fellowship in Drawing and Painting.

Hamish graduated from JMU last year and his submission won the fellowship award. The result is a good body of work which filled the small gallery space here and spilled out into the entrance area.

They are very abstract, some layered and textured others more free-flowing. He obviously puts a lot of thought into the work and is exploring the art of painting and drawing with enthusiasm.

Then, last week there was Barry Gunderson, professor of three-dimensional design and sculpture at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, who joined Liverpool John Moores University as its artist in residence last August.

Barry normally produces sculpture with 'whimsy' and these are no exception though its the first time he has produced such architectural pieces.
Liverpool's terraced housing inspired the exhibition entitled 'A Door of One's Own'

"It's fascinating how despite living so close together different owners will stamp their own identity on a property - you'll even have situations where the handrails will be painted differently split straight down the middle," said Prof Gunderson who has created 12 wooden sculptures of what Americans call town houses and each of which he claimed told a different story.

They are beautifully made from wood, the bases are secured to the wall so that the viewer can see all sides and the roof of the buildings but you need to be careful not to walk into them.

I think Paul Critchley's work which I first saw in the Liverpool Biennial 2004, is fantastic so I'm pleased to include him in the artists directory.

This is not real furniture, Paul paints realistic images onto shaped canvases, some even go round corners.
You can see a lot more on his own website www.paulcritchley.com , he also has a new book for sale.

Latest artist to join the directory is Meredith Watts.
She has just returned to this area from the Lake District and says...

"As a stage designer I was used to my work being seen by hundreds of people every night. To work at the scale of a painter of pictures is sometimes quite unnerving. There is no script at the beginning and no applause at the end. Only when a painting sells to an anonymous buyer can you be sure that you have communicated with at least one person.

I am especially fascinated by boats and their reflections, dogs and ducks, faces, bad weather, as long as I’m not in it, and weeds growing by the roadside."

Via Liverpool Biennial website...

MADE IN LIVERPOOL 06: BENEATH THE SKIN OF THE CITY

Made in Liverpool 04 was a screening of locally made films that took place as part of Liverpool Biennial 2004. Following on from the success of Made in Liverpool 04, Liverpool Biennial, the Liverpool Culture Company and the Scarman Trust will work together on the development of Made in Liverpool 06. The theme for Made in Liverpool 06 will be ‘Beneath the skin of the city.’

Get under the skin of the city through the medium of moving image for Made in Liverpool 06!

We are looking for films that respond to our changing city and that expose the energy of a city in transition.

The project will create an opportunity for local film makers to respond to this experience and provide a platform for these voices to be heard during Liverpool Biennial 2006.

Selected films will be shown in the seven Liverpool neighbourhood areas and on the BBC big screen during the opening weekend of Liverpool Biennial. Celebrations will include a special screening event and awards ceremony.

If you have a film that fits the above criteria we would love to hear from you!

For a submission form to apply for inclusion in Made in Liverpool 06 please contact Renae Belton on 0151 709 7444 or email renae@biennial.com

Closing date: 23 June 2006.

Via BBC website...

A forgotten masterpiece by Salford painter LS Lowry is being auctioned with a price tag of up to £500,000.
The painting of The Liver Building in Liverpool was bought by Vernon's Pools founder Vernon Sangster in 1963.

It has remained in the family and has been seen in public only once - when it was exhibited at Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery in 1973.

Now the Sangster family is to sell the painting and two others by Lowry at Christie's in London on 9 June.

Full story.

From Liverpool performance artist Tony Knox (Mothman) who recently took a trip to Egypt...

Moth man at the pyramids

Through the history of human civilisation there has always been the hero born of Gods. Half human and half deity to imbue the ultimate in possible human existence. From the writings of Homer, Zeus and his many offspring, at times a show of gold in front of a mere mortal female only to find out she is impregnated. Similar, even in other religions and indeed Christianity, Mary, the mother of Jesus the Saviour, but the virgin.

In the 21st Century, we have the liberties of erudition which provides the fundamentals of insight to make a discerning judgement, so these analogies of gods and semi-gods (half god and half human), may seem strange and naive, bordering on the ridiculous in terms of satirical rationale. However, we have to remember these where written in a different historical context and to convey something more. Through anecdotes, narratives and fables, these inscribed and orated to convey exemplar.

Tony Knox new live intervention at the pyramids, the inset fusion with human form to be omnipotent of inset and traditional between man to the character inspired by the insect the moth this homage to the ancients gods of Egypt, where Knox disrobed his casual ware to display the costume the location on the base of the pyramids the transformation to moth man was observed by bemused locals and tourists that where in a state of surprise to observe another wonder of the world.

Moth man places in context the human creature from ancient history to post modern society …. Where in reality the innate proclivities of the human creature have not changed, rather the parameters and their ability of intervention.
www.podgy.org.uk

I see the blogs on the a-n (a-n magazine) website are now up and running.
There are 4 blogs by graduating students keeping an online diary during the weeks leading up to their final year exhibition. Should be interesting reading.
Link.

I'm happy to host a couple of blogs here if any final year art students at Merseyside colleges fancy publishing their diary. email me at info@artinliverpool.com if you're interested.

Damn! I missed the opening yesterday. Had a look today (have to peek through the gates) and its rather good, as one now expects from Cathy Miles who also currently has work on show in the Cornerstone gallery.

In a world of noise and chaos there is beauty……

The Bluecoat Display Centre Liverpool is delighted to announce the completion of an exciting new public art installation entitled ‘Bird Watching’ by the Liverpool based metalworker Cathy Miles with assistance from the 2nd. year design students at Hope University.

Commissioned by the Bluecoat Display Centre to enhance the hoardings visible from our windows out onto the former Bluecoat Garden, Cathy Miles has taken trips on the Liverpool Duck and the Beatles Tour armed with her sketchbook and camera, events which happen throughout the day trip influence a series of writings, a dialogue begins, the seagulls start to humanize.

Cathy trained at London Guildhall and London Metropolitan Universities in silversmithing and this year she completes a two year artist placement at Liverpool Hope University’s Art & Design Department.

From Peter Worthington. He's a busy bloke isn't he. Don't know where he gets the energy from, he's even older than me!

BOHEMIA EXHIBITIONS

THE SOUTH BOHEMIA ART GALLERY
196 SMITHDOWN ROAD LIVERPOOL, 0151 733 5120/0779 114 5190

IS CURATING A SERIES OF EXHIBITIONS OF FINE ART CREATED BY LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS.

EPSTEINS, ANFIELD ROAD.
18TH TO 28TH APRIL
THE INGENIOUS FIGURATIVE WORK OF EDWARD LYONS

THE EGG GALLERY, LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE.
25TH APRIL TO 14TH MAY
GROUP SHOW THEMED ON PERFORMANCE. IMAGES OF ROCK, POP AND MOVIE LEGENDS.

St, GEORGES HALL.
3RD TO 7TH MAY
GRAND EXHIBITION OF VISUAL AND PERFORMANCE ART
SHOWCASING THE TALENTS OF ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE.

52 ROSCOE STREET, LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE.
1ST SEPTEMBER FOR SIX WEEKS, THEN ON TOUR AROUND THE REGION
SALON EXHIBITION THAT REGENERATES ITSELF THROUGH WORKSHOPS. CONTINUALLY CREATING NEW PIECES OF ART.

THE GALLERY HAS OTHER EXHIBITIONS RUNNING THROUGH THE YEAR, INCLUDING ART FAIRS, STREET STALLS AND ACTION ART EVENTS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT EXHIBITING, EVENTS MANAGEMENT OR FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT DEBBIE OR JULIE AT THE GALLERY.

This week saw the last of the gallery practise shows by the John Moores Fine Art 2nd year students in the Hope St building. I think I missed the first couple of shows but I have really enjoyed the rest, they have all been well organised and presented though the food and drink doesn't always last long (note to self - make sure you get there early next time).
As before, there were 7 artists using various media...
Keiron Finnetty (large white mount board covered in small ink marks which draws the viewer in); John Murphy (2 charcoal sketches and oil painting of Derby Park which is his local source of inspiration); Claudia Lastra (a small wooden room which you can enter and 'realise the potential for art/atmosphere'); Finoon Saleh (Large 2 part installation made from red and blue tissue paper and black sugar paper and lots of pva glue. Suspended from the ceiling and across the floor - 'Rooh Al-Insaan' = Soul of a Person); Laura Shimmin (2 part oil on canvas investigating colour and shape); Helen Thompson (Installation of several objects, pictures, documents etc. relating to recent hospital experience and family bereavement); Sydnie Whitely (a piece in various shades of white made from canvas, wood, plaster and emulsion).

Also on the Tate website. You can nominate an artist for the 2006 Turner Prize.
Any suggestions?
Deadline is April 21st.
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize/

Have some interactive art fun on the Tate's Net Art pages
http://www.tate.org.uk/netart/

Shame the prizes are only for kids up to 14 yrs.

National Museums Liverpool - Join the Bunny Run!
Throughout the Easter holidays children can take part in the Bunny Run. All you have to do is answer some simple questions at our venues to win some great prizes. For more information pick up a leaflet from World Museum Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Customs and Excise Museum or the Lady Lever Art Gallery. Bunny Run is supported by Dubble chocolate

Lots more activities listed on the webpage

Congratulations to me! The previous posting was the 1,000th entry on the Art In Liverpool blog.
The very first one was on December 3rd 2004 so that's an average of 2 per day. The recent rate has been much higher so I'll soon be celebrating the 10,000th.
Thanks to the other contributors and all the people who send me stuff.

Watch this Space 3

engage is delighted to announce year 3 of the Watch this Space programme - a training and placement programme for teachers and gallery educators.

Applications are invited from galleries and gallery educators in England (Deadline 15 May 2006). There are two parallel programmes as follows:
1. Gallery Educator Secondment Programme (England only)
A funded opportunity for gallery-based and freelance gallery educators to take part in a school-based secondment, with additional training from engage, to develop skills and knowledge in working with schools with an aim of developing new partnerships with ‘non-visiting’ schools in the future.

2. Gallery Placement Programme for Teachers (England only) - Applications must come from Galleries – not schools or teachers
A funded opportunity to offer teachers from ‘non-visiting’ schools placements in your gallery, with the aim of creating new links between your gallery and their school, developing teachers’ skills and knowledge, and increasing galleries’ experience of creating effective partnerships with schools.

Further information about both programmes is in the attached documents. If you have questions about the programme or your application, please contact Penny Jones on 01273 477978 / 07748 302397 or Holly Garrett at engage on 020 7244 0110.
See Website: http://www.engage.org/projects/watchthisspace.aspx

I didn't actually attend the Diffraction event at FACT this week but I noticed there was something going on in the public area. Naturally, I can't just walk past a couple of PCs without checking it out so ended up having a go at the Landlines project.
This is 'a multi-user web-based drawing tool for GPS enabled mobile phones' created by Jon Wetherall of Onteca, Liverpool, Jen Hamilton and Jen Southern.
So we went outside FACT armed with a bluetooth GPS (Global Positioning System) and a mobile phone, we went for a walk and returned to see our route drawn on the screen.
Its not just about drawing maps because as you go round you are aware the anyone watching the screen can follow your movements which may in turn affect where you decide to go.

Unfortunately the system didn't approve of our diversion into the 3345 club for a quick drink. The red line should have continued down to Wolstenholme Sq then back up Fleet St. but it looks like we ended up in Open Eye. Only had one drink, honest.
Link to the map.

From Andrew Macaulay...

Local Liverpool artist Garry Christian, who first name a name for himself and the successful group The Christians at Larks in the Park in 1984 is performing again in Sefton Park, this time you are guaranteed not to get wet!

Having just returned from a successful tour with the group Garry is ready to develop his already successful solo career with the assistance of two of the group’s members. Neil and Stewart were in the tour line up that played to a packed house at the Philharmonic Hall last month and will join Garry at this very intimate gig at The Alicia Hotel on the 20th of April.

To order tickets visit their new web site at www.thechristians.me.uk

An evening with Garry Christian

The first of a series of events starts in Liverpool! just 100 tickets available
With from The Christians Stewart Boyle and Neil Griffiths lead guitar and acoustic guitar/vocals
Date: 20th April 2006
Venue: The Alicia Hotel Sefton Park please ask for the conc. rates available for double rooms for all those attending the evening: treat yourself and your partner and take Friday off!
Event details
7.30 till 8.00: Welcome
8.30 till 9.30 The Alicia £15 (incl. in the ticket price) buffet is presented to all so take your seat
9.30 till 10.30 Garry and his friends perform.
10.30 If you are staying around then get your drinks, bar shuts @11.00, residents bar open to residents.
To order your tickets from www.thechristians.me.uk or please send a cheque for £25.00 made out to
Community Solutions C/o SMLLCA
The Old Police Station 80 Lark Lane
Aigburth
Liverpool
L17 8UU

ooooh, I'd love to go see this but do I have time?

Open from 1 April to 10 June 2006 at the Science Museum, London

"Ever wondered where Buzz Lightyear and Woody really came from, or how a whole family with superhero powers was imagined? Pixar has been making innovative movies such as Toy Story and The Incredibles for 20 years. Now you can be among the first in the UK to see hundreds of artworks, models and digital paintings from their studios, as well as two amazing audiovisual experiences unique to this exhibition. From rough sketches to finished films, Pixar: 20 Years of Animation takes you behind the scenes to discover the science and magic that created some of the most popular films ever made. "

Pre booking is advisable. Book online now or by calling 0870 870 4868.
Prices: £9 adults, £7 children. Discounted family, group and combination tickets available.

The largest number of entries for 43 years have been submitted to the John Moores 24 exhibition of contemporary painting which runs from 16 September to 26 November 2006.

The total is a stunning 2,300 entries which is the largest number since 2,403 works were submitted to John Moores 4 staged in 1963.

Of course, the judges don't really stand around like that staring at tiny slides. They're projected onto a large screen and although all the judges told me they are really enjoying the task it can be very tiring so several breaks are required over the 3 or 4 days it takes to whittle the number down to about 500.
They will return in June to select the final 60 or so for the exhibition and the final prizewinners.

The judges are also unanimous in their love of Liverpool and Sir Peter Blake and Tracey Emin are both working on new projects to be shown in the city during 2008.

Pictured here are Ann Bukantas, the Walker's curator of fine art who has hardly had time for a break after opening the new Big Art for Little Artists gallery last Friday; Jason Brooks, a former John Moores prizewinner; Sir Peter Blake, a leading UK artist for many years; and Tracey Emin, a leading UK artist for fewer years.
The fifth judge, the British Council’s director of visual arts Andrea Rose was unable to attend.

In the Property pages of all places!!

My Home: Adam Nankervis, artist

The home of the artist Adam Nankervis is also a gallery - and every space is crammed with artworks and objects trouvés.
By Deborah Mulhearn - The Independent
Published: 05 April 2006

The Australian artist Adam Nankervis lives surrounded by art and ephemera collected from different people and places over the years. His flat doubles as MuseumMAN, a museum and art gallery with all its rooms open to the public - including the bathroom and toilet. He holds regular exhibitions for artists from around the world.

I always have an opening night party. There are usually about 60 people here though there have been up to 200. It's all a bit of a squeeze but I love it and I've never had a problem. I love the diversity of people who come here. I don't know how they know about it, but I have a completely open-door policy, and I've never had a problem. People come to appreciate the art, but they also respect it as a home.
....

Liverpool's a great city. People are sharp as tacks and there is so much talent and creativity. Liverpool has given me so much and I want to put something back. Some people call MuseumMAN a vanity project. Well, I guess it is, in the sense that I get to live here! I now have to start looking for somewhere bigger as I am inviting a lot of artists to Liverpool for this year's Biennial in autumn and they will need space to exhibit.

Read the full article...

Want to know what preoccupies today's young artists?
Shoes.
Adrian Searle reports from this year's Beck's Futures show at the ICA in today's Guardian.

'Living Market'
at 52 Roscoe Street, L1.
Sunday April 9th 2006

12-16.00 Arts Market

17.30-19.00 Silent films with soundtrack from Zukanican

19.00 > Live music from Broken Door and special guests.

Free before 16.00 , £3 after 17.30.

From Mike Noon at Arts Council NW....

Arts Council England Funding for Biennial Independents

Dear colleagues

Please find below the information that was given regarding Arts Council funding for projects which will take place during the Biennial Independents.

There is only one way to access funds from Arts Council for Independents Projects and this is the usual route i.e. - through an application to the Grants for the Arts scheme. The usual application process will apply. Packs can be requested from the national call centre on 0845 300 6200 or downloaded from the internet at www.artscouncil.org.uk

No money can be ring-fenced from lottery funds, so there is no separate Biennial Independents fund. Projects will be assessed purely on their indvidual merits.

Usual turnaround times will be applied - six weeks for a grant request under £5,000; twelve weeks for a grant request over £5,000.

To help artists who have not applied for Grants for the Arts before, or those who need an update on funding, four Visual Arts-specific advice sessions have been set up in Liverpool. These will take place at Blackburne House, Blackburne Place, off Hope Street, Liverpool on the following days.

Session One, 11am, Friday 21st of April
Session Two, 2pm, Friday 21st of April
Session Three, 11am, Friday 19th of May.
Session Four, 2pm, Friday 19th of May.

These sessions are designed for first time applicants and will consist of a general grants for the arts application overview from Nick Thompson, Planning and Assessment Assistant Officer and specific advice for visual artists from Mike Noon, Visual Arts Assistant Officer. First time applicants will be prioritised for attendance at these events.

Each of the four sessions will be the same, so artists only need to attend one. Each session will be limited to fifteen attendees.

To book a place on one of these sessions, please send an e-mail to mike.noon@artscouncil.org.uk stating your preferred session date/times in order of preference and whether you are a first time applicant or not. You will receive confirmation as to which session you have been booked on to within three days. Non-first time applicants may be added to a waiting list, depending upon demand.

ASSISTANT CAFÉ BAR MANAGER
£13-17K (Depending on experience)

FACT Trading Ltd has a vacancy for an Assistant Café Bar Manager. Applicants should have suitable experience working in a similar catering establishment.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter telling us what you could bring to the job to:

Alan Smith, Operations Director, FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool. L1 4DQ

Should you require any further information please contact Becs Ward or Sheindal Cohen on 0151 707 4444, email recruitment@fact.co.uk

Application deadline: 5 pm Thursday 13 April 2006
Interviews in Liverpool: w/b 17 April 2006

Previous applicants need not apply.

We welcome applications from any individual regardless of ethnic origin, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. All applications are considered on merit.

From Dorrie Halliday...

You are invited to a new performance 'Sweet Dreams' by artist Dorrie Halliday @ the Green Room Manchester on the 20th of April.

As part of 'Method Lab' the Green Room celebrates its of new crop of boundary pushers, experimentalists and future heroes.

The three day event kicks off with jelli, Dorrie Halliday, plus guest appearance from Niki Woods and Anna Wilson @ 6:00pm Thursday 20 April.
Tickets are £9/£6 concessions or £12 for three day pass (advance only) from the Green Room box office online or by phone on 0161 615 0500

Are you safe tucked up in your Bed?

‘Sweet Dreams’ takes you on a journey throught a surreal urban landscape and delves into the healing power of dreams. Physical triggers will be used to create a reactive environment in which the boundaries between life and dreams are blurred.

Osun Arts Volunteers in Liverpool

The Osun Art Foundation is an African arts organisation working with schools and community groups across the country to raise awareness of traditional African arts and culture. We aim to encourage an understanding of Britain as a vibrant multi-cultural society through a series of tailored workshops for schools covering African dance, drama, cookery, music myths and story telling. We also run an annual performance tour showing at theatres, venues, outdoor festivals and street events across Europe.

We now have vacancies for volunteers looking to expand their knowledge and experience and move forward in the creative industries.

Duties: Assisting with administration, publicity and marketing of our new tour. Assisting with A0stage management and implementation of educational outreach workshops.(Hours negotiable).

Skills and Qualifications :
Good organisational skills, pleasant telephone manner, enthusiasm and an interest in arts & culture. (Driving license highly desireable but not essential.)

Please contact Melanie Peck or Oladimeji Adisa for more information. 50-54 Mount Pleasant Liverpool L3 5SD
Tel: 0151-707 0459
Email: info@osunarts.co.uk
Web: http://www.osunarts.co.uk

I have already posted details of the 'folly' artist commission but there's other opportunities to get involved in this years futuresonic in Manchester.

From 10.futuresonic.com...

EVNT Showcase - The DIY Festival
The EVNT Showcase is a Manchester city-wide programme of affiliated events.
It was launched in 2005, with more than thirty events over one weekend
featuring artists from as far afield as New York, Moscow, Berlin and
Dallas as well as Manchester?s finest home-grown talent. We will be
accepting submissions from 5 April.
Deadline Midday, 22 May 2006

EVNT Competition
Awards of GBP 2,500 and GBP 1,000 are available, as well as three
smaller amounts of GBP 250 for runners up, via the EVNT Competition. We
will be accepting submissions from 5 April.
Deadline Midday, 1 May 2006

A Folly Artist Commission for Futuresonic 2006
Folly is offering a £3,000 artist commission to develop a piece of
online work as part of the 10th Futuresonic festival of electronic
music and media arts. For full artist commission brief and submission
details see www.folly.co.uk or contact Folly Creative Director:
Kathryn Hughes (E: enquiries@folly.co.uk or telephone on T:01524 388550.)
Deadline 10am, 18 April 2006 (to Folly)

SoundNetwork at Futuresonic 2006
SoundNetwork - the new network for artists using sound in the North
West - will be hosting a 3 day exhibition of sound art, experimental
music and research at Futuresonic 2006. We are offering the opportunity
for a number of artists and researchers to exhibit, present or perform
at this event. To submit your work for consideration,
please visit soundnetwork.omweb.org to find out more.
Deadline Midday, 22 May 2006 (to SoundNetwork)

I see that this exhibition of Eastern European art curated by Liverpool-based artist Nicole Bartos for the Liverpool Biennial in 2004 is now on show in Huddersfield. Also Nicole has a nice new website (see below)

Eastern Europe art show Apr 3 2006
By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

An exhibition opened in Marsden Mechanics Hall foyer today.

Local artist Rosie Lonnon, invited Romanian artist Nicole Bartos to select artworks which bring a taste of eastern European contemporary art to the Pennines.

Works range from the rustic landscapes of Transylvania by Melinda Farkas to intricate abstracts by Emil Moritz.

Other exhibitors include Andras Koncz- Munich, Andor Komives and Andrea Szocs.
The exhibition has already been seen at the Liverpool Biennial and the Hammersmith Festival in London.

Under the Blue Sky runs until April 27.

To find out more about the artists, visit the website www.gallery4allarts.com

This spectacular multimedia theatre show has its European premiere in Liverpool and has been co-commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company.

Date(s): 4/5/2006 - 6/5/2006
Royal Court Theatre, 1 Roe Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1HL
[t]:0870 787 1866
[e]:contact@liverpool08.com
[w]:www.royalcourtliverpool.co.uk/royalcourt/may/Thu4.htm

Created by New York's The Builders Association and dbox directed by new media magician Marianne Weems, SUPER VISION is all about surveillance in contemporary society, where everyone has a database.

The Builders Association's productions feature a seamless blend of text, sound, architecture, video and stage performances that explore the impact of technology on human presence.

A team from The Builders Association and dbox will also conduct an extensive workshop 26 to 29 April at FACT. Multimedia and theatre workers from Merseyside will explore the increasing role of media in theatre and bring practical projects to work on.

Artistic Director Marianne Weems and co-creator James Gibbs will also give an illustrated lecture on the work of The Builders Association Friday 28 April at the Unity Theatre.

Tickets cost £12.50 and £7.50 for concessions. Call the booking information line on 0870 787 1866, book online at www.royalcourtliverpool.com or visit the box office.

For more information about SUPER VISION visit www.superv.org

Assistant Officer, Visual Arts & Literature - Ref EM014 - Nottingham

£19,265 per annum (35 hours a week) + benefits

We are looking for a highly motivated, flexible and committed team player to join us as an Assistant Officer in the Visual Arts and Literature team. Excellent communication, administration and IT skills are essential. In addition you will be required to demonstrate some knowledge of the visual arts or literature and a commitment to diversity.

Closing date is 5pm on Thursday 13 April 2006

For more info please visit website http://www.artscouncil.org.uk or contact on jobs.em@artscouncil.org.uk

We proudly promote cultural diversity and equal opportunities for all

Some talks coming up at Tate Liverpool...

Café SciArt: Turner's prize: Colour, Contour and Motion in Art and Science Tuesday 4 April 2006

Lunchtime Lecture: The Politics of Display Tuesday 4 April 2006

BSL Interpreted Talk: Bruce Nauman Sunday 7 May 2006

Café SciArt: Experimental Optics Tuesday 9 May 2006

'Commode', by Thomas Chippendale

Gallery Talk
Free gallery talks by Dr Paul O'Keeffe, Saturday 8, Wednesday 12 and Tuesday 25 April, 1pm

From the Lady Lever website....

About the artwork
Lot 128, auctioned at Christie’s on 10 June 1914, was described as follows:

'AN ADAM COMMODE, designed in the French taste, with drawer in the frieze and folding doors below enclosing drawers, inlaid with vases of flowers, rosettes and link ornament in marquetry on satin-wood ground, with tulip-wood borders, mounted with ormolu corners chased with rams’ heads holding laurel-wreaths, and bands of scale pattern - 4 ft. 10 in. wide.
Formerly the property of the Rev. Thomas Cooke, of Brighton, to whom it was presented by the Duke of Wellington.'

The Rev. Cooke was the Iron Duke’s campaign chaplain. It is thought that the commode - one of a pair from His Lordship’s London residence Apsley House - was given to the clergyman when he became Perpetual Curate of St. Peter’s Church, Brighton in 1828. Sold locally after Cooke’s death, the piece came into the possession of Leonard Clow of Hove, from whose collection it was sold by Christie’s to a Mr Partridge for £693. Within a month Partridge had sold it, at a healthy profit, to William Hesketh Lever, for £900.

Link to Lady Lever Gallery webpage

'Horse Frightened by a Lion', by George Stubbs

Gallery Talk
Free gallery talks Tuesday 11 and Thursday 20 April, 1pm.

From the Walker website...

About the artwork
An apocryphal story has it that George Stubbs stopped off on his voyage home from Italy in 1754, and stayed in a castle at Ceuta on the Moroccan mainland opposite Gibraltar. One evening, walking the walls, he looked out across the moonlit desert and saw a lion stalking, bringing down, and devouring a wild horse. The scene was said to have haunted the painter’s imagination for the rest of his life…

A more likely source for Stubbs’s obsession with the subject, however, is to be found in a life-size piece of antique sculpture - 'Lion Attacking a Horse' - that he would have seen in the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori in Rome. There is an eighteenth century ‘free copy’ of this dramatic group in Room 5 of the Walker.

Whatever the inspiration, Stubbs’s twenty or so treatments of the theme in various media over thirty years amounted to a repeated narrative comprising four distinct stages or episodes:
A) The Lion stalks the Horse.
B) The Horse becomes aware of the Lion and backs away in terror.
C) The Lion springs onto the Horse’s back.
D) The Horse collapses and the Lion begins to tear at its flesh.

Link to Walker Art Gallery page

59 Rodney Street is the home of the late photographer Chambre Hardman and is now a National Trust property.
As with most NT places it was closed over the winter but re-opened a few days ago.
I still haven't been inside but I'm looking forward to going on the tour someday soon. The only problem is you have to book in advance and get a place on a fixed guided tour, that's always a pain. Also, it costs £4.70 for non-members.

Link: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-59rodneystreet.htm

Chris Vine's latest paintings have been produced for the Artworks Print Club 'Capital of Culture' collection being promoted by the artist Alex Corina.
They are currently on show at the Slaughterhouse73 gallery in Garston and the 3345 Club in Parr Street, Liverpool.
More details on Alex Corina's website: www.alexcorina.com/printclub.htm

150 artists attended the meeting at Unity Theatre yesterday to hear details of the Arts Council NW's plans to appoint a 'Creative Facilitator' and Board to support the Liverpool Biennial Independents Programme (LBIP).
There have been various meetings and discussions leading up to this and we were presented with the Job Description, Constitution, Guidelines and Nomination Forms.
Naturally, there was a lot of discussion, misunderstandings and clarifications.

In a nutshell...
A Creative Facilitator will be appointed as soon as possible (the post is yet to be advertised).
The role will focus on:
• Advising individual artists wishing to exhibit during the LBIP
• Research & deployment of available space for exhibition use during the LBIP
• Producing publicity, interpretation and marketing materials for the organisation’s activities
• Organising opening times of spaces & recruitment of volunteer invigilators
• Building a high quality experience for the Independent’s audience

A Board of no more than 8 members will be set up with the aims & Objectives...

a)
To support and advocate opportunities for artist-centred activity around the Liverpool Independents strand of the Liverpool Biennial.

b)
To appoint and support the Creative Facilitator in order that they can carry out the tasks outlined in their job description.

c)
Through the work of the Creative Facilitator and the Board:
• To evaluate the work and impact of the organisation with the aim of developing appropriate board structure models for the Liverpool Independent and to help determine the direction of the organisation in the run up to Capital of Culture 2008
• To develop an artists’ selection mechanism for the branded Independents
• To provide information on the branded Independents
• To provide prospective Independents artists with curatorial advice, generic exhibiting guidance, and a sign-posting service towards appropriate grants bodies, exhibition spaces and related partners.
• To coordinate the Independents show, including the central management of information, press and publicity
• To liaise with key partners (including the Biennial, Arts Council England, afoundation, Capital of Culture, Liverpool City Council etc) over planning and decision-making pertinent to the Independents
• To develop funding applications on behalf of the Independents to cover operating costs (including publicity, marketing, interpretation, personnel etc)
• To liaise regularly with the artistic community of Liverpool through meetings and electronic communication .

The word INDEPENDENT is very important in all this. The independents strand is artist-led, it is not run, curated or controlled by either the Biennial or the Arts Council but they and this new facilitator can help and selected independent shows can be included in the Biennial catalog, marketing etc. (the new board/ facilitator will have to set up a transparent selection process for this).
It is up to individual artists or groups of artists to apply for funding (if required) and find venues etc. as before.

Some useful dates:
Applications for grants from the Arts Council:
If less than £5000 allow 6 weeks so final date for submission is August 4th
If more than £5000 allow 12 weeks so final date is June 23rd

There are two workshop days at Blackburne house to assist people who are new to the process of applying for grants.
These are on April 21st and May 19th.

Further details on grants, workshops etc. from Mike Noon at the Arts Council NW. email mike.noon@artscouncil.org.uk

And forms etc. are on the website www.artscouncil.org.uk

And many thought that having an elected mayor would be pushing the changes a bit far!

Take a look at the historic 'exclusive' on the downtown site
http://www.downtownliverpool.org