Horsing around at Liverpool Central Library

AS part of the Arts Council England funded project:- "Hack to Hack: Cargo to Coding,' a series of events and workshops for all the family will be taking place in the lead up to this year's Liverpool Makefest.

Liverpool Central Library will have an extraordinary, never before seen 'digital horse parade' that celebrates how libraries connect people to learning and information and the unique role of the horse in the industrial heritage of the City. Activities will begin, on Sunday, 17 June 2018, with a free craft workshop; places are limited. Participants will craft and digitise laser cut hobby horses, to represent the industrial past and present. The horses will be stored at the library until the parade takes place, on 23 June 2018.

After the parade the hobby horses will be displayed in Central Library and the public will be given an opportunity to vote for their favourite and prizes awarded at Liverpool Makefest, on 30 June 2018, at Liverpool Central Library and the horses will be reunited with their owners.

On 23 June our digital horse parade will take place at 4pm from Central Library and proceed around the St Georges Quarter. On their return to Liverpool Central Library, the hobby horse will be 'stabled' in the atrium and available to view up to and during Liverpool Makefest.

Later that evening Liverpool Central Library will host an indoor concert featuring:- Steampunk performers, Rapscallion and Professor Elemental. The gig is open to all as it's a dry, non alcohol environment, Tickets ₤10.

Sunday, 24 June 2018 and after School, on Tuesday, 26 June 2018, Liverpool Central Library June will offer free music workshops to create a musical theme for Liverpool MakeFest which will be performed on the day. Open to ages 8 upward, but tickets are again, limited.

IT'S THE BIG ONE!  On Saturday, 30 June 2018, Central library plays host to the 4th Annual Liverpool Makefest

We're proud to announce this year's Liverpool MakeFest will take place at Liverpool Central Library​on Saturday June 30th 2018, our fourth celebration of maker culture, analogue and digital arts. Spanning the entirety of the library, its open the whole day and completely free to attend. Come along and see dozens of displays, workshops and free activities for all ages, abilities and needs.

Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Events, Cllr Wendy Simon said:- "We're so excited to welcome Liverpool MakeFest for the fourth consecutive year, to encourage digital and creative skills is something that were very passionate about. These events and workshops are free for all the family and the digital horse parade is 1 you're not going to want to miss."

Tickets for all events and workshops can be booked here:-

FREE Activities...

One Latin Culture Music, workshops 2pm to 4pm, 24 June and 4.30pm to 6pm, Tuesday, 26  June 2018. (Must be available for both sessions to rehearse and to perform at Liverpool Makefest, on 30 June)  get more information go online now.

Liverpool Makefest, 30 June 2018, Liverpool Central Library 9am to 5pm...  To get more information go  and to book go online now.

Professor Elemental, 23 June 2018, Liverpool Central Library Doors... open 8pm. Tickets ₤10, each available from the central library reception counter (no booking fees) or online.

Slavery historian awarded Citizen of Honour

A Liverpool tour guide who has spent decades educating people about the City's role in the slave trade is being made a Citizen of Honour. The award formally recognises individuals who have made a significant, exceptional or unique contribution to enriching the image of the City and/or its citizens.

Eric Lynch; an honorary Ghanaian Chief who is a true descendant of African slaves through his father and mother's father being born in Barbados; has run a slavery history tour since the 1990s. His tours includes monuments and reminders of the slave trade, which much of Liverpool's wealth was built on, but many people do not know about.

The 86 year old left School at the age of 14 unable to read and write and eventually became a shop steward at the City Council; where he started race awareness courses for local authority staff and Merseyside Police, and also supported a campaign for a slavery museum.

Lord Mayor, Cllr Christine Banks, said:- "The Slave Trade is an uncomfortable truth about Liverpool's past, but it is for that reason that it is vital that we never, ever forget it and continue to educate people about it. Eric Lynch has been an inspirational champion for black history, opening people's eyes to the harsh reality of our past so that we can understand it and learn lessons. Sadly, although the slave ships of the past have long gone, slavery is still a global issue and something we must continue to raise awareness of."

Mayor Joe Anderson, who proposed Eric Lynch for the Citizen of Honour award, said:- "Eric's dedication to raising awareness of black history over many years is something I am delighted we are honouring. It is much deserved, particularly as he was raising awareness of this issue long before the City apologised for its role in the Slave Trade, as well as campaigning for a museum dedicated to slavery."

Eric Lynch said:- "No 1 was more surprised than me when I found out that the Town Hall wanted to make me a Citizen of Honour. Doing the tours has changed my life, whether it's through meeting people from around the world, doing interviews for international TV crews or travelling to Richmond in Virginia to speak about my work. It's important that we don't forget the slave trade. The Jewish people will, rightly, never forget what happened to them during World War 2, and black people should not forget the African holocaust."

Eric Lynch will have the honour conferred on him by Lord Mayor, Cllr Christine Banks, on Monday, 18 June 2018, at Liverpool Town Hall.