WIRRAL BOROUGH OF CULTURE –
THE STORY SO FAR…
As Wirral’s year as Borough of Culture for the Liverpool City Region
reaches its halfway point, we’re taking a look back at the last few
months of this extraordinary programme which has brought us some
unforgettable cultural and sporting moments and casting an eye over
more highlights to come. The first weekend in June welcomed the return of the ever-popular River
Festival in New Brighton. The waterfront came alive with seaside fun for
all ages, including giant sand sculptures, a real-life mermaid, a massive
inflatable whale and pavement chalk art which stretched all along the
front.
The year began with the spectacular Animated Square. Featuring a
dazzling projection onto Birkenhead Town Hall, the stunning show
captured the story of the town and Wirral as a place. Circus performers
and local choirs wowed the crowds, creating a festival feel in Hamilton
Square. Now a season of Art Outdoors has begun. Throughout the summer,
art will be appearing in unexpected locations across the borough with
pop-up displays and exhibitions. The first is Yan Preston’s Forest – a
collection of stunning images by the Sony World Photography award-
winner, presented on illuminated boxes in Birkenhead Priory. The
exhibition is part of the LOOK Photo Biennial and is a collaboration
with Open Eye Gallery.
Radio Local brought a radio show with a difference to Liscard over
the Easter weekend. Performers Hunt & Darton led a 12-hour radio
programme in the town, with members of the local community sharing
stories and playing games on-air, as the show took over Radio Wirral for
the day, with guest slots on BBC Radio Merseyside.
Wirral’s shipbuilding heritage is firmly in the spotlight during the
Borough of Culture year, as the borough takes its place on the world
stage as the birthplace of the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Last month
saw the launch of Made of Iron - a strand of cultural activities and
projects celebrating our maritime connections, including exhibition
Six Vessels at the Williamson Art Gallery which runs until Sunday 22
September and delves into the stories behind six Wirral-built ships.
The Witching Hour spellbound 7,000 visitors in Birkenhead Park in
May. Created by renowned theatre company Periplum and developed
in partnership with Hull’s Absolutely Cultured, the show brought three
nights of spectacular theatre and wonder to the park. Weaving together
stories from Birkenhead and Hull, The Witching Hour explored local
myths and legends and highlighted connections between the two places.
Featuring jaw-dropping effects and pyrotechnics alongside beautiful
storytelling, it was unlike anything seen in Wirral before.
Hamilton Square was transformed into a racetrack for Wirral’s first ever
visit from the OVO Energy Tour Series. 10,000 spectators turned out
in the glorious sunshine to see some of Britain’s best male and female
cycling talent including Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey and
five-time world champion Ed Clancy compete at high speeds around the
historic square.
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The summer season will also include three pavilions in partnership by
FINSA, Wirral Met College, Liverpool John Moores University and
Wirral Chamber of Commerce as part of the Borough of Culture year.
The first of which, The Cube, is currently on show at Wirral Chamber of
Commerce’s Pacific Road Business Hub.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, an incredible September
awaits, with massive events coming to Birkenhead Park including the
all-new Wirral Food & Drink Festival on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8
September, with a rare outdoor performance by the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra in the park on the Saturday evening. September
will also see Britain’s biggest cycle race, the OVO Energy Tour of Britain,
coming to Wirral for the first time. On Wednesday 11 September, some
of the biggest names in cycling will start and end their day in Birkenhead
Park, taking in towns and villages including Port Sunlight, Hoylake,
Heswall and New Brighton along the way, as well as venturing out of the
borough towards Chester and Broughton.
Keep an eye out for more announcements coming soon about
Constellations – a series of creative and cultural events around the moon
and stars across the peninsula. The year will go out with a bang with the
return of fireworks extravaganza River of Light in New Brighton.
For more information about all Wirral Borough of Culture events,
go to imaginewirral.com.