Cruising from the dock to the bay

AS we float into summer, Mersey Ferries has announced a further exciting line up of cruises, and there's something for everyone. From daytime cruises of Liverpool Bay involving stunning, iconic views to retro themed party cruises with DJs, the world famous attraction has a variety of experiences on offer on the Liverpool Waterfront.

On Saturday, 11 June, Sunday, 12 June 2022, as well as on Saturday, 25 June 2022, Liverpool Bay Cruises will be setting sail... Hop on board the incredible Liverpool Bay Cruises for 1 of a kind sightseeing experience is the perfect day trip for everyone to enjoy this summer. During the 3 hour cruise, departing at:- 10.15am and 2.15pm, from Woodside and also at:- 10.25am and 2.25pm, from Liverpool Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal. Passengers will be able to experience the breathtaking scenery and gain extraordinary insights into the history and geography of the River Mersey and Liverpool Bay. Guests onboard also get the chance to see Anthony Gormley's spectacular Another Place art installation, at Crosby Beach, from a different angle. As passengers enjoy the panoramic views of the river, they'll be entertained by live music from talented local group, The Shanty Kings. Tickets are priced at £20, and can be bought online via the Ferry's website.

On Friday, 24 June 2022, 90's Party Cruise... A night of pure 90s nostalgia, reminisce as you sail along the Mersey to the sound of the decade's most popular hits. From Britney to the Spice Girls, Take That to N*sync, an on board DJ plays all your classics while you throw shapes with friends on the dancefloor. Tickets are priced at £20, and can be bought online.

Help shape the future of St George's Hall

ST George's Hall Charitable Trust is on the hunt for new members to help shape its future. The trust is dedicated to conserving, restoring and developing the Grade I listed venue; with a focus on raising funds which can be invested in projects to sustain and improve the building.

The trust is looking for 3 individuals who can bring some of the following skills and knowledge:-

► Strategic organisation design and development.

► Knowledge of heritage.

► Fundraising skills.

► Entrepreneurial skills.

► Ambassadorial skills.

In particular, they would like to prioritise the following as of distinctive interest:-

► Influencing; able to bring strong networks and to influence key stakeholders to help shape and advance the delivery of their strategy

► Working with others; able to work as part of a strong non executive and executive team at board meetings and in between formal meetings.

► Exercising judgement and balancing risk; interrogating information provided in order to inform decisions in the best interests of St George's Hall in line with the aims and objectives of the Trust.

Designed by Harvey Elmes and Charles Cockerell, St George's Hall opened its doors to the public in 1854, and was also home to the city's Civil and Crown Courts until the 1980s. It has been described as:- 'the best example of Neo-Classical architecture in Europe.'

Recent initiatives include the opening of the History Whisperer visitor experience and plans for a statue of health pioneer Mary Seacole in the Great Hall, as a continuing and constant reminder of her place in our nation's history.

If you are interested in applying for 1 of the roles, further information about the Trust is available upon request from the Trust's Secretary Robin Thomaides; email:- Robin.Thomaides@Liverpool.Gov.UK.

If you wish to apply to become a trustee please email Robin Thomaides a letter of application setting out why you would like to become a trustee, together with your CV. Alternatively, please address your letter to:-

Robin Thomaides
Legal Services
Liverpool City Council
Cunard Building
Water Street
Liverpool
L3 1AH
UK

Applications should be submitted by Friday, 15 July 2022, with interviews for shortlisted candidates likely to take place towards the end of August. Trustees usually serve for 3 years.

To find out more about St George's Hall, visit:- StGeorgesHallLiverpool.Co.UK, follow them on:- Twitter or Instergram.

Did you know?

St George's Hall Charitable Trust is a registered charity (no. 1051396) which was established in 1995. It is a non-profit making company limited by guarantee. The Trust is independent of the City Council although it works closely with the City Council's members and officers because of their shared interests in progressing the Hall's development and restoration

The formal purposes of the Trust is "to secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement for the benefit of the inhabitants of Merseyside and of the nation at large, of features of the land and premises commonly known as:- St. George's Hall, Liverpool, which are of historic, architectural, cultural, technical, engineering, or public interest and the historic, architectural, cultural and technical heritage of St. George's Hall "

The Board of Trustees meets on a quarterly basis, at St. George's Hall. Outside of these meetings trustees are encouraged to promote the Hall, whenever appropriate, to friends and contacts with a view to seeking donations towards the Hall's fundraising targets.

Chair of St George's Hall Charitable Trust, Claire Dove OBE, said:- "We want to recruit new additions to the team who have a passion for the Hall and want to make a positive difference. We want them to bring their experience and forge links with the community, delivering a shared vision for the Hall which will ensure it remains a must-visit destination for tourists, and a place residents and local businesses use as often as possible. The new attraction we opened in the building last year opened it up to a whole new audience. This is something we are really keen to build on in the future."

Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Cllr Harry Doyle, said:- "There's a huge amount of civic pride in St George's Hall because of its architecture and history. Trustees have a key role to pay in maintaining its reputation as a leading visitor attraction and finding ways of securing funds to maintain and improve the building, in line with its long term strategy. It's a chance to make a real difference to a truly iconic venue."

Southport Contemporary Arts Trail

A recent trip across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man gave Southport artist, Norrie Beswick Calvert, the inspiration for her latest art pieces that will be on show at the ArtHouse later this month. No stranger to the local art scene, Norrie is the linchpin of the current Southport Arts Trail, runs until 25 June 2022, that is attracting wide attention across the Region.

Stepping into the limelight as Southport Contemporary Arts 'Artist of the Month' seems a fitting reward for Norrie's selfless support for encouraging inclusivity and continually widening access to the Arts within the Merseyside area.

Norrie explained:- "Having originally trained as a Fashion and Textiles designer, I spent many years enjoying a variety of design roles with major retailers before becoming self employed as a design strategy consultant to some of the UK's biggest manufacturers. After such a diverse and fulfilling career, and having gained my teaching qualifications, I now spend much of my time teaching and helping others to build their creative skills and see the huge potential in following their creative dreams."

Norrie confidently believes that her own work has benefited from the demands of her current workload:- "My time is now spent helping to run the Southport Contemporary Arts network as well as tutoring within the network and spending time on my own artistic activity. All of these things feed into each other and give me a great sense of satisfaction."

Often stimulated by her immediate surroundings, Norrie's artwork is a personally expressive reaction to her environment.

Norrie told us:- "I always enjoy trying to capture the beauty of the landscape and natural world around me. In my own practice I draw upon a wide variety of skills and media, incorporating painting, printing and textiles; often a mix of all 3 depending on my inspiration and mood. My latest work responds to my recent visit to the beautiful Isle of Man. I had the time just to sit on the beaches and watch the waves coming in and enjoy the tumble of shells, pebbles and seaweed as they reached the shore."

Driven by curiosity and fascination, Norrie explains the ebb and flow within her latest transformations:- "In this series of works I have attempted to capture that 'tumble' as well as the beauty and range of colours that pop through from the shells and seaweed. The pieces in this series are either painted in acrylics using a variety of mark making techniques or printed using Gelli plate print techniques."

Having trained as a commercial designer forced to work to strict briefs and deadlines for much of her working life, Norrie can now step back and enjoy the view.

Norrie added:- "It's really lovely to please myself on what and how I record and enjoy subjects and media."

This exclusive showing is certainly not 1 to be missed. Norrie's distinctive artwork will be on display at the ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, from 25 June through July 2022. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, from:- 10am to 3pm. Saturday 11am to 4pm.

News reports located on this page = 3.

Cruising from the dock to the bay

Help shape the future of St George's Hall

Southport Contemporary Arts Trail