River of Light is back for 2022!

ONE of Liverpool's most popular events is back next month to light up the City Centre. River of Light is set to illuminate the waterfront across 17 nights from:- Friday, 21 October to Sunday, 6 November 2022, and will showcase 10 artworks from a host of local, national and international artists along a 2km route.

The installations will include a mix of brand new, never before seen commissions as well as existing artworks which haven't been on display in the City before.

The theme of this year's FREE event is Unexpected Twist in a nod to the World Gymnastics Championships 2022 which is taking place in the City ​during the same period.

Full details of all 10 pieces, the artists and their locations will be unveiled next month, but to whet people's appetite the team behind the trail has announced the 1st 2 pieces:-

BEAM; A brand new commission by the acclaimed Lucid Creates (artists Helen Swan and Chris Carr) will see a beam of light transport visitors to a hot, summer's day, accompanied by the sounds of the British countryside. But after several minutes the feeling of peace and warmth will change to unease and suspense… Located at Canning Graving Dock, opposite Museum of Liverpool, the artists behind the work are no strangers to River of Light and have previously showcased large scale artworks including 2021's incredibly popular Dance Together; a huge tribute to the legendary nightclub Chibuku.

Evanescent; A series of giant bubbles will take over Exchange Flags courtesy of Australian artists Atelier Sisu. The immersive sound and light structure will react to visitors as they explore the artwork, depicting the transient nature of human existence. It has already been showcased in locations including Taiwan, the USA, Greece and Australia.

November 2021's River of Light event was hailed as the most successful to date, with around 150,000 visitors enjoying the festival. City Centre restaurants and shops saw an increase in demand and at the time, Liverpool BID Company recorded its highest footfall rates since the start of the Pandemic, with 1.5 million people visiting the retail area during the October half term 2021. Liverpool 1 also benefited, with 15% more diners at its restaurants, compared to the same period in 2019. And there was also a retail boost with a 44% increase in sales; particularly in shops that sold toys, games and athletics / leisure wear.

River of Light will be delivered by Liverpool City Council's Culture Liverpool team and is supported by Arts Council England.

To get the latest information visit:- VisitLiverpool.Com or follow:- Twitter, or Facebook.

For more information and to book tickets for the World Gymnastics Championships 2022 (​29 October to 6 November 2022) visit:- 2022WorldGymnastics.Com.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:- "River of Light is officially an autumn staple and we're delighted to announce the trail is back this year in all its illuminated glory. This is our fifth year of staging this popular outdoor art gallery, but each year it has evolved; locations have been tweaked, different installations have been introduced and each time we work with new artists from all over the world who are aware of the event's high calibre reputation and want to be part of it which is a huge coup. And this year's trail comes at an incredibly busy and exciting time for the City; the World Gymnastics Championships 2022 will be taking over the M&S Arena and will act as the inspiration for this year's River of Light instalment. And the eyes of the art world will already be on the City as Tate Liverpool plays host to The Turner Prize. Clearly Liverpool is the place to be this autumn."

Artist Helen Swan, from Lucid Creates said:- "The experiences we design are always formed through collaboration between the place and its people, the soundscape and its composers, and the structure and its visuals. Every time we bring 1 of our projects to River of Light, Liverpool and its people unite with us in creating spectacular experiences that are entirely unique in energy and style. BEAM is our latest experience, commissioned by Culture Liverpool especially for River of Light 2022 and its theme is Balance. All of Earth's energy is fuelled from the sun, our relationship with, and dependency on the sun hangs in a delicate balance. BEAM invites us to consider this balance by taking audiences on a journey of flux through joy, tension and release."

Liz Stewart, Head of Museum of Liverpool (interim) said:- "River of Light brings the City together, in a really special way. The installations are spectacular, and the backdrop of our beautiful City makes for an unforgettable experience. We're really excited to have an installation by Lucid Creates on our doorstep, and look forward to seeing how they animate the Canning Graving Dock once again."

Calling time on cyclists who ride dangerously

THE Former Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, recently proposed a Whitehall review of how cyclists who break the law should be tracked and prosecuted. Initial ideas put forward to facilitate this include insurance cover for riders and registration plates for bikes, and it appears from the latest research by Venson Automotive Solutions, that the UK public are in favour. 62% of those surveyed by Venson agreed that riders of bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters should have insurance cover and 49% believe these modes of transport should carry registration plates.

Cyclists who jump red lights; which is an illegal act for all road users; are creating dangerous situations on the road for themselves and other road users, but unlike motorists, the odds of escaping prosecution are high. However, if caught jumping lights, cyclists will be issued with a standard Fixed Penalty Notice of £30 opposed to a potential maximum fine of £1000 for motorists and points on their licence. Currently, under the Highway Code and Road Traffic Act speeding limits only apply to motor vehicles and their drivers, exempting cyclists and scooter riders of this vital safeguard.

The survey found that 94% of respondents support the introduction of penalty points and fines for riders of bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters breaking speed limits and greater penalties for those red light jumping. 1 in 4 also believe that before riders of a bicycle, e-bike and e-scooter take to the road, they should obtain a rider's licence which includes taking a theory and road test.

Alison Bell, Operations Director at Venson Automotive Solutions says:- "A lot of private motorists and businesses operating fleets are looking for greener transport options for themselves and their employees, including bicycles and e-bikes which can be offered under a salary sacrifice scheme by employers. With Government setting a target for half of all short trips to be walked or cycled by 2030 in England, this type of 'micro transport' could provide a viable transport alternative and support that ambition. However, the reality is just 9.1% of people cycled at least once a week for any purpose between November 2020 and November 2021. The latest figures from the Department for Transport also showed that this is down 11.6% compared to the same period the year before. Clearly, to meet the Government's transport green goals, more needs to be done to encourage people and businesses to change their transport habits, especially for shorter trips. Nevertheless, changes to legislation that impose stricter rules for cyclists and scooter riders could significantly deter people from making a switch. Striking a balance will be crucial to successfully growing this micro transport, whilst protecting all road users fairly."

City set to approve 3 Civic Honours

COUNCILLORS are set to approve honours for 3 more people who have made a lasting contribution to Liverpool. Ahead of tomorrow's Full Council meeting, elected members will consider nominations for the Freedom of the City for both Dame Lorna Muirhead and Elkan Abrahamson, and a nomination for Levi Tafari to be made a Citizen of Honour. If approved the 3 ceremonies will be held at a later date.

Dame Lorna served as Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, from:- 2006 to 2017. She moved to Liverpool in 1964, with her husband, and was a Nurse and midwife at the City's maternity Hospital, on Oxford Street, Liverpool, where she delivered around 3,000 babies within her 40 year career. In 2000, she was appointed Dame of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her services to nursing and midwifery and later became president of the Royal College of Midwives.

When she retired as Lord Lieutenant, the late Queen appointed Dame Lorna, as Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, an honour that is granted personally by the monarch.

The 2nd nominee for Freedom of the City, Liverpool's highest Civic Honour, is Liverpool born Solicitor, Elkan Abrahamson.

Elkan is director and head of major inquests and inquiries at Liverpool law firm Broudie Jackson Canter, which he joined in 2010. His work has been characterised by fighting for civil rights and challenging decisions made by authorities. He is currently working with families as part of the Statutory Public Inquiry into Covid and previously represented people wrongly arrested at the time of the Toxteth riots as well as families affected by both:- Birmingham Pub and Manchester Arena Bombings.

Notably, Elkan represented 20 families during the Hillsborough inquests and supports the campaign working towards implementing the:- "Hillsborough Law." He was Law Society Gazette Legal Personality of the Year, in 2013, was awarded outstanding achievement at the 2014 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards and also holds an honorary PhD from the University of Liverpool.

Levi Tafari was raised in Liverpool by his Jamaican parents and has become 1 of the UK's most popular poets and coined the term "duboetry." He studied classical French cuisine and graduated with distinction from catering College. However, whilst working in catering, he began attending the Liverpool 8 Writers Workshop and eventually left the world to food to become a performance poet.

As well as 4 poetry collections, Levi has also written plays, toured with the British Council, been Writer in Residence at Charles University in Prague, spent 2 seasons as poet in residence with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and has run countless workshops in Schools, Colleges and in Prisons.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Roy Gladden said:- "Once again, these nominations for Freedom of the City and Citizen of Honour give us a chance to acknowledge the dedication that people give to our City and the talents and skills that make our communities better places. Dame Lorna and Levi will be familiar faces to many of you and it is astonishing the number of lives that Elkan has improved and continues to improve through his enduring commitment to social justice. The Freedom of the City was 1st awarded in 1886 and allows us to recognise exceptional services to Liverpool. In 2008, we introduced Citizens of Honour so that we were also able to pay tribute to those who have enriched the City. It will be a joy as Lord Mayor, if these nominations are approved, to meet these latest nominees and thank them personally when they receive their scrolls at the Town Hall."

Dame Lorna Muirhead said:- "57 years ago, I came as a newly qualified midwife to work in Liverpool planning to stay for 2 years whilst my husband did post graduate studies at the University of Liverpool; and we are still here in the City we love and in which we chose to make our home. I worked at the Liverpool Maternity Hospital which was my amazing good fortune because it provided Rolls Royce care to women and babies, and world class Doctors and midwives were employed there. I realised very quickly that this was a place of great excellence, and I knew I wanted to be part of it. My professional passion was the care of labouring women, and I spent 40 years indulging that passion sharing many joys around birth with Liverpool families as well as working alongside gifted, committed colleagues who are the NHS and being inspired by their skill and dedication. To have recognition for this work by the City of Liverpool is very special indeed and I am deeply grateful for this honour."

Elkan Abrahamson said:- "I am Liverpool born and bred and am honoured and amazed by this nomination."