What's on?

AUGUST 2024

Carnival of Creativity

Family Event

Carnival of Creativity at the World of Glass 10am - 5pm and St Helens Town Hall 7pm- 10.30pm

Please note, some events and timings may be subject to change, we will do our best to keep information updated here.

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable day of excitement and creativity at the Carnival of Creativity in St Helens town centre!

Love music and dance?
Passionate about stories and poetry?
Adore unique, handcrafted items?
Eager to learn a new creative skill?

Bring your family and friends to celebrate the vibrant creative culture of St Helens! Explore a world of fun, creativity, and inspiration during our daytime carnival events at The World of Glass and St Mary's Market.

If a creativity-crammed day isn't enough, then we'll be continuing into the evening with a special double-bill gig at St Helens Town Hall.

Don't miss out on this amazing day filled with music, art, performances, and more.

BOOK TICKETS HERE

FIND OUT MORE

The library stage will showcase a range of events that happen regularly as part of the Arts in Libraries programme, from meet the author events, family friendly performances, music performances, open mic events and seasonal cabarets. If this is your first time experiencing one of these events, we hope that you'll visit an Arts in Libraries event again soon.

Events include:

10am-11am Paul Cookson, poet, performer, ukeleles - suitable for children and their families.
11:30-12:30 On the Mic event - A 1-hour showcase of St Helens Libraries and Arts Open Mic events at the Carnival of Creativity.
13:00-14:00 Family Cabaret - a variety of cabaret-style performances by artists from the North West, - suitable for people of all ages.
14:30-15:30 dream setting by Marco Woolf. Music and dance performance created with 12-19year olds
16:00 - 17:00 Desert Island Books with special guest Johnny Vegas - Johnny will select and talk through 6 books, available from St Helens Library that are important to him and his life.

Lucem House Community Cinema takeover the World of Glass Auditorium bringing a range of film programming from their independent cinema on Corporation Street into the heart of the Carnival of Creativity. There will be a programme of films suitable for all ages; films that celebrate the heritage and achievements of people from St Helens, films for sports fans and films that tell stories.

Once you've been to their Takeover at the Carnival of Creativity, we hope you'll pay them a visit at their cinema for their Autumn programme.

10:00am - 4:45pm
Free - No tickets required.

The planned film programme is:

10:15am The Quiet Little Englishman and The Soundman by Buzz Hub, two films connected to the life and work of George Groves, the Oscar winning sound engineer, born in St Helens, who worked for Warner Brothers on films including My Fair Lady.
11am Zog short, animated film (as seen on TV) based on the Julia Donaldson stories (visit the Garden Tent before and afterwards for carnival crafts and reading activities inspired by the films)
Between 12-1:45pm Granny (15mins) a film about Lizzy Ashcroft a footballer from Parr who played in the 1920s and 30s with an introduction by Author Chris Rowe and Farewell Knowsley Road (30 mins) that looks back at the previous home of Saints Rugby League Club.
2pm The Snail and the Whale, short, animated film (as seen on TV) based on the Julia Donaldson stories (visit the Garden Tent before and afterwards for carnival crafts and reading activities inspired by the films)
3pm Born a Rebel (15mins) Stories of rebellion. Stories of bravery. Stories of women who aren't waiting for permission to take what they want.  The title was inspired by the words of Mrs Elizabeth Dean, who, still a proud suffragette at 100 years old, told the camera, "Between you and I, I think I must have been born a rebel!" 
3:30pm Sisters with Transistors (86 mins), the remarkable untold story of electronic music's female pioneers, composers who embraced machines and their liberating technologies to utterly transform how we produce and listen to music today.

A space for play and imagination for all the family

10:00am - 3:30pm
Location: Ground floor, The World of Glass

Family friendly activities and performances centred around our tent, led by our Library staff
The World of Glass outdoor play area
Make Fairy doors with artist Tracey Peacock
Craft and reading activities inspired by Zog and The Snail and the Whale films that are screening at Lucem House Community Cinema Takeover.
Free Facepainting

An opportunity to see the resident glass blowers in action as part of the Carnival of Creativity and take part in a sound and projection making activity with artist David Bixter.

Kaleidoscopic creativity
Location: The Hot Glass Studio , ground floor, The World of Glass
Various times during the day.

This event will give you a glimpse of the regular Glass Blowing Demonstrations that happen at The World of Glass. We hope that you'll come back again to be entertained by their wonderful artisan glass makers.

Quiet zone: We will aim to keep the noise levels low in this space to provide a quiet zone for anyone who needs a break from the carnival hustle and bustle.

The Sankey Suite - A space for writing and whispering.
10am - 3:30pm
Location: 1st floor, The World of Glass

Activities will include:

The storybook project: an opportunity to work with a writer and illustrator on an idea for a children's picture book, with the opportunity to express your interest in developing that idea as one of 5 stories with our team during autumn 2024.
Creative writing activities - Join members of creative writing groups from across St Helens for creative writing activities and short poetry readings. Find out what they do in their creative writing groups across the borough of St Helens and maybe join them at one of their sessions in future.
Artists Together - a collection of publications by artists, photographers, comic illustrators, and writers who work in St Helens and its neighbouring areas.

Telling stories with Photographs with Hassona.

10am-2pm,
The PC suite, 1st floor, The World of Glass and around the Carnival.

An opportunity for members of the public to be guided by photographer and filmmaker Hassona in a workshop and photography walk to take photographs that tell the story of The Carnival of Creativity.

10:15-11:00 Introductory workshop in the PC suite
11:30-12:30 Guided Photography walk with Hassona
13:00-14:00 Check in and share photographs with Hassona and participants.

Booking preferred. Book Here

The Makers Market

St Mary's Market
10:00-4:00pm

Visit The Carnival of Creativity makers market where we will showcase the broad range of makers in our area. It will be packed with a whole range of creative items to treat yourself, or as a gift for a loved one.

Some stalls may have card machines, but others may prefer cash, so come prepared to support your local creatives.

We hope that you'll meet the people who make unique items in and around St Helens and support your independent creators by buying from them again in future.

There will be free creative activities led by artists and community groups alongside our makers market. Drop in and create, colour and make throughout the day.

Creative Making zone
St Mary's Market
10:00-4:00pm

Activities will include:

A colouring-in zone with designs by St Helens artists
Figure Drawing with Helon Conning
Design your own sports kit with St Helens Town AFC
Embroidery activity with Rebecca Rauer
Zine making with Creative Underground and ReDock
and more to come!

Community Performance Zone

St Mary's Market

Community choirs, bands and dance groups from across St Helens have been invited to share their creative skills to you in our community performance zone throughout the day.

Walkabout performers

Throughout the day you'll be entertained by our walkabout performers as they move through the carnival at The World of Glass and St Mary's Market.

Evening Music Gig

St Helens Town Hall
7pm-10.30pm

St Helens Arts in Libraries are proud to present our headline event for The Carnival of Creativity. Join us at St Helens Town Hall for a specially curated, one-off musical spectacular from Stealing Sheep & TVAM... 

HOT TICKETS!

Stealing Sheep & TVAM - Carnival of Creativity

Music Gig

Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: Doors open at 7pm
Venue: St Helens Town Hall
Tickets: £5 - £8 - Book tickets here
Age range: 14+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an Adult)

STEALING SHEEP

Pushing the boundaries between music, art, and performance, Liverpool's queens of electronic pop Stealing Sheep present EUROGLOW - an avant-pop spectacle! Expect incredible live music & a mind-blowing mix of eye-popping visuals, dance & glamour!

Fresh from opening Liverpool's Pier Head Stage at Eurovision to thousands of international music fans with their supergroup show Welcome to Eurotopia, Stealing Sheep's EUROGLOW show has been lovingly created especially for St Helens audiences - & might even feature a few local surprise special guests.

Mixing electronic pop, infectious melodic dance grooves & sci-fi ambiance with ethereal vocal lines & obscure three-part harmonies, tealing Sheep have gained a cult following of loyal fans worldwide (with viral sensation Shut Eye blowing up on TikTok - we invite you to put on your dancing shoes & join the herd!)

Stealing Sheep appear at The Carnival of Creativity courtesy of Bella Union Management.

Follow them @stealingsheep

TVAM

With a special connection to St Helens Library Service, we are proud to present TVAM (Joe Oxley) as joint headliner for the Carnival of Creativity. Expect epic shoegaze, riff heavy dream-pop, icy synth-wave & otherworldly projected visuals.

Joining us direct from SOLFEST 2024, TVAM's sound has been described as a 'post-internet' mix of the abrasive punk & drifting electronic ambience that transports you into a nostalgic dreamworld. Their viral hit Porsche Majeure recently featured in the HBO's smash-hit Succession; their debut album Psychic Data was featured as BBC Radio 6's Album of the Day.

Since the release of their second album High Art Lite, TVAM have toured nationally to critical acclaim. Expect the unexpected!

TVAM appear at The Carnival of Creativity courtesy of INVADA Records and Progressive Artists.

Follow them @_tvam

This is the closing event as part of St Helens Arts in Libraries Carnival of Creativity, an unforgettable day of excitement and creativity in St Helens town centre

Accessibility

The Assembly Room is accessed either by 20 steps through the main entrance, or via a level access route directly off Victoria Square and using the passenger lift to the first floor.

This is a standing gig.

We will provide a viewing area for wheelchair users - please advise us that you require this at booking so that we can reserve a space.

We will provide some limited seating at the rear of the venue and in the foyer that will be available if you find it difficult to stand for long periods.

Toilets, including an accessible toilet will be available to ticket holders during the event.

If you require BSL interpretation, please get in touch.

Please contact us to advise us of any specific access requirements that you may have at artsservice@sthelens.gov.uk

PAUL COOKSON - Carnival of Creativity

Author Talk

Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: 10am - 11am
Venue: Library Stage, St Helens Library
Tickets: Free (Places must be booked) - Book tickets here
Age range: Great for children and their families

The Carnival of Creativity brings poetry, laughter and audience participation to St Helens Library... may also contain ukuleles!

Just a normal day with Paul Cookson.

Paul lives in Retford with his wife, two children, a dog and several ukuleles. He has worked as a poet since 1989 and since then has performed to hundreds of thousands of children and adults. His performances are always memorable, lively, and extremely funny. Audience participation is non-negotiable! WARNING: may contain ukuleles.

Paul will also be performing in the garden performance tent later in the day as part of the carnival of creativity and there will be lots of other free, family-friendly activities taking place throughout The World of Glass and St Mary's Market as part of our unforgettable day at the Carnival of Creativity.

Access information

St Helens Library is situated on the ground floor of The World of Glass. There is level access, automatic doors and lift access to the first floor.

Accessible toilets, baby change and customer toilets are available within the venue.

Please let us know at booking if you would like to reserve a wheelchair space by emailing artsservice@sthelens.gov.uk 14 days before the event.

Dream Setting - Carnival of Creativity

Music . Dance . Youth Community

Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Venue: St Helens Library
Tickets: Free (Places must be booked). Book tickets here
Age range: Great for families, especially teenagers 12-19

Dream setting is a playful, interactive performance of music, dance and storytelling.

Rising star Malawian-born musician and storyteller Marco Woolf is creating the performance for and with St Helens library and its youth community. What is your dream? The performance celebrates the power of dreams and explores how we can harness them to shape the world around us.

Marco shares stories about the various people (and sometimes creatures) he and local people have encountered in dreams about St Helens.

Audiences are then invited to imagine and create alternate futures for these characters, forming a unique story that is shaped by the audience and woven in-between improvised and original music. Joined by his talented band, featuring jazz pianist Tom Harris and electric guitarist Carmel Smickersgill, alongside contemporary dancer Sara Marques, Marco takes audiences on a dreamlike audio-visual journey, bringing fascinating stories to life and exploring future themes.

Marco Woolf: voice, guitar
Sara Marques: dancer
Carmel Smickersgill: electric guitar
Tom Harris: piano

Produced by Sound UK. Funded by Arts Council England and PRS Foundation. Presented as part of the Carnival of Creativity by St Helens Libraries and Arts

Access information

St Helens Library is situated on the ground floor of The World of Glass. There is level access, automatic doors and lift access to the first floor.

Accessible toilets, baby change and customer toilets are available within the venue.

Please let us know at booking if you would like to reserve a wheelchair space by emailing artsservice@sthelens.gov.uk 14 days before the event.

Telling Stories with Photographs with Hassona

Workshop. Art. Photography

Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: 10am - 2pm
Venue: The PC Suite, 1st Floor, The World of Glass, Chalon Way East, St Helens, WA10 1BX
Tickets: Free (Places must be booked). Book tickets here

An opportunity for members of the public to be guided by photographer and filmmaker Hassona in a workshop and photography walk to take photographs that tell the story of The Carnival of Creativity.

This event will include:

10:15-11:00 Introductory workshop in the PC suite
11:30-12:30 Guided Photography walk with Hassona
13:00-14:00 Check in and share photographs with Hassona and participants.

Access information

There is level access, automatic doors and lift access to the first floor.

Accessible toilets, baby change and customer toilets are available within the venue.

Please let us know at booking if you would like to reserve a wheelchair space.

Contact artsservice@sthelens.gov.uk for further information.

Family Cabaret

Family Friendly Performance

Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: 1pm - 2pm
Venue: Library Stage, St Helens Library, The World of Glass, Chalon Way East, St Helens, WA10 1BX.
Tickets: Free (Places must be booked). Book tickets here

Experience the vibrant energy and fun of Nana Funk and friends at the Library stage during the Carnival of Creativity! Join Nana Funk who will regale you with songs, and host performers including hula-hoop aficionado Natasha Moonshine (The Majorettes, as featured on CBBC), Liquorice Black (The Family Gorgeous, Channel 4's Drag SOS), self-proclaimed 'Asian Sensation' of the cabaret scene Dan Chan for fabulous, family friendly fun.

The Storybook Project

Family Friendly Performance

Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: 11.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm - 2.30pm
Venue: The Sankey Suite, 1st Floor, The World of Glass
Tickets: Free (Places must be booked). Book tickets here for 11.30am session & here for 1.30pm session

The Storybook Project: These 1-hour workshops will be an opportunity to work with St Helens Arts in Libraries writer-in-residence Kevin Dyer and our 5 illustrators on ideas for a children's picture book. You will have the opportunity to express your interest in developing that idea as one of 5 stories with our team during autumn 2024.

Our illustrators are:

Meta Mezan - https://www.instagram.com/meta_mezan/?hl=en

Jen Channell - https://www.instagram.com/jen.chennell?igsh=MXV0NGdxcnNoaDRnNw==

Catherine Jackman - https://www.instagram.com/catherinejackmanart?igsh=am5lOGZzb2p0cGdy

Stef Woof - https://www.instagram.com/stef_woof_illustrates?igsh=angzb3JjYnNkbmtq

Toni-Louise Carter - https://www.instagram.com/tlcillustration?igsh=c21jejdreGNzN2s0

Desert Island Books with Johnny Vegas

Family Friendly Performance/Talk

Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
Time: 4pm-5pm
Venue: Library Stage, St Helens Library, The World of Glass, Chalon Way East, St Helens, WA10 1BX.
Tickets: SOLD OUT

In the first of what we hope will become a regular event in St Helens Libraries, we ask one of St Helens most famous sons, Johnny Vegas, to discuss his favourite reads in front of a live audience.

Find out what is important to the actor and comedian known for his surrealism, and support of St Helens Rugby League club through his selection of books for our Desert Island Library. What will his choice of books reveal about his creativity and inspiration as a ceramicist, writer, actor, director and comedian.

This event is part of a daytime programme throughout the World of Glass and St Mary's Market that includes performances, films, writing activities, music and more as part of our unforgettable day at the Carnival of Creativity.

Access information

St Helens Library is situated on the ground floor of The World of Glass. There is level access, automatic doors and lift access to the first floor.

Accessible toilets, baby change and customer toilets are available within the venue.

Please let us know at booking if you would like to reserve a wheelchair space.

Contact artsservice@sthelens.gov.uk for further information.

Arts in Libraries is thanks to funding from taxpayers and is delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service - a Library Service National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status as awarded by Arts Council England (ACE)'

Delivering creativity and culture to your doorstop. #letscreate #creativesthelens

We hope to see you at one of our fantastic events!

For further information contact the Art in Libraries team on artsservice@sthelens.gov.uk

Keep up to date with what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PAST EVENTS

JUNE 2024

Pride in the North-West : St Helens by Christine Beckett

Photography Exhibition

Date: 8 - 16 June & 24 - 30 June
Venue: St Helens Library

St Helens Library hosted a photography exhibition by artist Christine Beckett. The exhibition explored pride marches and protests in three cities and towns in the North-West: Liverpool, Manchester, and St Helens, from 2015 to 2022. Christine documented the marches she attended, capturing moments of people and friends from the region's LGBTQ+ community as they prepared for and participated in these Pride events.

Artists Together: Conversation About... Funding & Resource

ARTISTS NETWORKING & MENTORING

Artists Together - Conversations about… Funding and Resources

Date: Saturday 15 June 2024
Time: 1-4pm
Venue: Newton le Willows Library

Artists Together returned with a vibrant program to uplift and support the talented artists and creatives of St. Helens.

To kickstart, Claire Weetman will be organising a series of "Artist Together: Conversations About..." sessions.

These regular events throughout the year are themed around an idea that is important to artists who attend regularly and hopefully are useful to people who just wish to join us for one session.

We identify artists with relevant skills or experience on the subject and ask them to be peer-experts alongside someone from a regional organisation to create a rich space where artists can discuss, share and develop their practice.

If you have a suggestion for a theme for a future 'Conversations about...' event, please get in touch with us.

Future sessions:

Saturday 20th July 2024, 1-4pm, Venue: Eccleston Library.
Saturday 7 September 2024, 1-4pm, Venue TBC.
Saturday 12 October 2024, 1-4pm, Venue TBC.
Saturday 9 November 2024, 1-4pm, Venue TBC.
Saturday 1 February 2024, 1-4pm, Venue TBC.

Agenda for the events:

Welcome and sharing wall. We'll invite people to note down what they'd like to find out from the session and any experience of the topic that they might be able to contribute.
Case studies shared by peer experts and/or organisations
Refreshments (drinks and snacks)
Discussion time, knowledge shared within the group
Future actions
Time to consider themes for future sessions

Eman Al Naji - Home

ART EXHIBITION

Date: Wednesday 19 June 2024
Time: 12-1 pm
Venue: St Helens Library

Arts in Libraries supported aspiring artist Eman Al Naji. Eman has been working alongside well-known contemporary artist Sarah Gilman to develop her art skills and produce a selection of work around the theme of 'HOME' in honour of Refugee Week. It was a great opportunity to meet Eman and support a young budding artist who has stated, "Each one of us has different ways to express themselves and their feelings. For me, it was painting. Unfortunately, there was no way to improve my hobby and carry on with it since I arrived in the UK. I didn't know the way to step forward until the time when you provided me with this great and wonderful opportunity, which guided me to improve myself step by step in my art plan. Thank you for this precious opportunity that took me to that place where I painted those beautiful paintings."

Eman Al Naji 'Home' is in partnership with St Helens Arts In Libraries and the Refugee Resettlement Service.

Open Mic International Music Special

MUSIC

Date: Wednesday 19 June 2024
Time: 2pm till 4pm
Venue: St Helens Library

Open Mic returned with a special international edition! St. Helens Library celebrate the amazing skills and talents of our friends from Our Warm Welcome.

Telling Stories with Photographs; a workshop with Hassona.

WORKSHOP

Date: Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Time: 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Location: St Helens Library (The World of Glass)

Local photographer Hassona hosted a workshop aimed at Telling Stories with Photographs.

The workshop covered Hassona's work and what inspires his photography, followed by a practical and technical session on how to tell stories with your camera, including on your phone.

The session was informal and suitable for people of all skill levels and interests.

Artists Together Monthly 1-2-1

Artist Support Sessions

Dates : Friday 28th June 2024, am & Monday 22nd July 2024, am
Tickets: Free (sessions must be booked with Claire) Book Here

Claire Weetman, the lead artist for Artists Together is offering bookable 30-minute sessions for artists to sign up to. You can ask for advice about funding and resources for a project, get some feedback on a piece of work, discuss ways to develop your practice, or whatever is relevant for you and your work.

These may be online or in-person.

Artists of any discipline connected to St Helens are eligible to book a 1-2-1 meeting.

1-2-1 sessions can either be an online meeting or, if I can accommodate the request, in-person in St Helens town centre. Please advise during booking which you would prefer.

If the available dates don't meet your availability, then please get in touch, and I will see if we can find an alternative arrangement.

If, after booking, your plans change and you need to cancel, please let me know so I can open up the slot to another artist.

Future dates:
TBC in September, October, November, January, February, March

JULY 2024

Artists Together Collaborate - Publications

Artists Workshop

Session 1

Date: Saturday 6th July
Time:10-4pm,
Venue: Thatto Heath Library

Session 2

Date: Monday 8th July
Time: 1-6pm,
Venue: St Helens Library

Artists Together Collaborate events

These are events that run across 2 days which provide time, space and some resources for artists to create work together and to share work to the public as a result of that time together.

Artists Together Collaborate: Publications

Artists of all disciplines create publications. You might be a writer, or a comic artist whose work is right at home in a printed book. Or you might be a photographer who has a collection of work that could be made into a photobook. Maybe you've got a script that could be presented in collaboration with an illustrator, or you're a sculptor who wants to experiment with Artist-Books.

During these two sessions you can bring works in progress, emerging ideas or possibilities for collaboration with another artist. We ask that you come with ideas for what you can make and a willingness to share your own skills with others.

Over the two sessions we'll aim to support each other to produce new printed works and will arrange for them to be exhibited and available for the public to read in libraries around St Helens. There will be some resources made available and a small print budget to realise works made during the sessions.

Future eventsArtists Together Collaborate: (activity TBC)

Session 1: Saturday 18th January 2025 10-4pm Venue TBC
Session 2: Monday 20th January 2025 1-6pm Venue TBC

If you have suggestions for what our January event could include, please get in touch.

MAY 2024

Spring Cabaret Spectacular

Date: Friday 17 May 2024
Location: Eccleston Library
Time: Doors Open - 6.30pm, Show Starts - 7pm
Tickets: £8.00 General Admission, Library Card Holders £7.00, Concessions £5.00

On Friday 17th May, visit Eccleston Library for an evening of dazzlingly diverse variety cabaret - including the inimitable vocal prowess of Liverpool songstress - Lumenaate, Hula Hoop hero -The Vicar's Daughter (of tv's The Majorettes) & more glitter than you can shake a stick at with drag dance troupe Legs & Coq!

All hosted by cabaret favourite, Dross.