Save the Dates: Liverpool’s unmissable events and attractions

We look ahead to round up some of the city’s best festivals, events and celebrations worth booking into your diary.

Words by Lawrence Saunders 

 

WoWFEST 2018 to bring big names and timely topics

Liverpool literary organisation Writing on the Wall is lining up a melting pot of hot topics and big names for its 19th annual festival.

The recently announced WoWFEST 2018 will follow the theme ‘Crossing Borders’ when it takes place across the city throughout May, responding to recent national and international political, social and cultural developments around issues of Brexit, migration, race, diversity and nationalism.

Current themes including the #Justice4Grenfell and #MeToo campaigns and gender equality are among those to be discussed and debated across the packed programme, which will feature appearances by Lily Allen (pictured), ‘Peep Show’ star Robert Webb and Benjamin Zephaniah to name a few.

 

 

Liverpool Biennial attracts world renowned artists

The 10th Liverpool Biennial gets underway this summer and its newly announced programme promises some striking special commissions and projects from internationally renowned artists.

More than 40 artists from 22 countries will present work responding to the call ‘Beautiful world, where are you?’ across various city venues including Bluecoat, FACT, Open Eye Gallery and Tate Liverpool as well as public spaces.

Highlights include a collaboration between internationally acclaimed artist Ryan Gander and Knotty Ash Primary School, Oscar nominee Agnès Varda’s (pictured) first work in the UK and a large-scale public sculpture by Holly Hendry commissioned for Exchange Flags.

Meanwhile artist Ari Benjamin Meyers will explore Liverpool’s musical history with a new film at the Playhouse, and Mohamed Bourouissa will create a new ‘healing garden’ in the heart of Toxteth with the help of the community.

Liverpool Biennial 2018, which marks 20 years since the first event and a decade since Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture, will run from 14 July until 28 October 2018.

 

FACT celebrates 15 years in Liverpool 

When it opened on Wood Street in 2003, the FACT (Foundation of Art and Creative Technology) headquarters became Liverpool’s first new arts building since the Philharmonic Hall in 1939.

During its 15 years in the city, the venue has explored new media, played host to immersive and thought-provoking free exhibitions and held hands-on workshops.

A week-long programme of celebrations to mark its milestone birthday is now lined up for 11-15 April and sounds as interesting, entertaining and interactive as ever.

A mix of free and ticketed events are being held, continuing FACT’s work with exciting artists and filmmakers and exploring a range of mediums as well as audience interaction.

Highlights include a brain controlled film by Richard Ramchurn called ‘The Moment’, which will be screened for free in a caravan in Ropewalks Square and uses audience members’ live brain data to create a unique narrative with each viewing through brain computer interfaces.

 

 

River royalty returns 

Two much-loved monarchs of the waves are preparing to return to Liverpool this summer as part of the city’s busy schedule of cruise ships.

Always ones to make a spectacular entrance, Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria will sail into the Mersey on 22 May and will be followed by a visit from the Queen Elizabeth, which docks on 23 July.

The separate arrivals of the popular ships come three years on from the landmark ‘Three Queens’ event, which drew more than one million spectators to the banks of the River Mersey to watch the duo and fellow Cunard ship Queen Mary 2 ‘dance’.

 

TEDxLiverpool to serve up more inspiration 

The renowned TED brand has stirred up some excitement by filtering out the first details of its return to Exhibition Centre Liverpool in 2018.

Details of when tickets will be on sale, as well as this year’s speakers, still remain under wraps but we do know the event will be hitting the city on 17 June.

Bringing together innovators, experts and creative thinkers for a day of inspirational speeches, TEDxLiverpool last took place in 2016 with appearances from Liverpool-born Sir Ken Robinson and the ‘doctor of the future’ Rangan Chatterjee.

Dr Chatterjee’s presentation on how he thinks it’s possible to make diseases disappear has been viewed over one million times on YouTube.

All 850 tickets for the 2016 edition sold out fast so organisers are this year urging anyone interested in attending to keep their eye’s peeled for ticket release information.