'SCA Christmas Collection' the Southport Contemporary Arts Members' Christmas Exhibition

A seasonal sack full of artwork will soon be gracing the walls of the ArtHouse, in Eastbank Street, as part of Southport Contemporary Arts Members' Christmas Exhibition. This eagerly anticipated show has established itself as a key event in the Region's arts calendar and provides an opportunity for savvy shoppers to snap up unique gifts from an eclectic mix of local creatives keen to reveal their latest artworks.

Norrie Beswick Calvert, 1 of the Southport Contemporary Arts Directors, enthusiastically points out that:- "The 'SCA Christmas Collection' represents over 30 different artists and makers and is always an exciting mix of hand produced pieces that our members have been busy creating. Imbued with the love and passion they have for making unique items, each piece has real integrity. Christmas is a lovely time to buy something that bit different, beautiful and useful and visitors are sure to find something just right for that special person. By shopping locally for locally made things, you are not only gifting someone something they can't find elsewhere, but also, supporting our community economically, ethically and sustainably."

Originally from Hull, local artist, Henrietta Ackah Joyce, will be showing a range of festive items from her current portfolio including:- some more examples of her:- 'fluid art' that proved such a success with visitors at her solo show at the ArtHouse earlier this year. She explains:- "This technique involves the use of a pouring medium mixed with acrylic paint or mica pigments or inks. The acrylic paints react with each other when combined to make interesting and visually organic motifs."

Henrietta will be featuring examples of her decorative:- 'fluid' art on glassware and the face of a wall clock.

Also on show will be the tactile work of Southport based artist, Serah Stringer Grech, who's love of rhythm and pattern will be well to the fore in the artwork for sale:- "I enjoy exploring the intersection of the natural with the manufactured. My work tends to vary immensely in the ways they are experienced and through which senses they are enjoyed. For this show I have used varied materials, from pressed flowers, gold leaf and shells to ceramics."

With his own personal take on ceramic art, self taught Southport potter, Mervyn Thomas, will also be presenting more of his own unique creations:- "The dishes are pressed out of porcelain clay using old Indian wood blocks previously used for block printing textiles. I utilise the texture and a variety of glazes to produce the abstract decoration. The small bowls, decorated with stamped and extruded motifs, were made to encourage me to have smaller portions at breakfast!"

Also, on show will be watercolours from Angela Birchall, who spent her formative years in Central Africa where she admits to playing more with big cats than she did domesticated felines and a personal selection of framed prints taken from professional Ainsdale artist, Neil Prior's original oil paintings.

Guaranteed to provide more than a sprinkle of Christmas magic, this latest showing by members of SCA is certainly not 1 to be missed.

This year's Members' Christmas Exhibition will be on display at the:- ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport until:- 24 December 2024. The Gallery is open:- Tuesday and Friday, from:- 10 am to 3 pm, and on:- Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm.

From medicine to education, industry and science:- digital humans to introduce inspiring vision of future at international AI Summit

HARNESSING artificial intelligence to drive medicine, education, industry and scientific discovery will take centre stage at the Liverpool City Region's 1st international AI Summit.

The landmark event will showcase the City Region's world class Artificial Intelligence expertise, while addressing ethical issues and setting out an inspiring vision for the future of:- 'AI for Good' in the UK.

Hosted by multilingual interactive digital humans, next week's conference will bring together the brightest minds in AI, including:- global industry leaders, cutting-edge researchers, and innovative local businesses. And the pioneering summit will also highlight how AI is being used to solve real-world challenges; from transforming healthcare to revolutionising education; and how it can drive a fairer, more inclusive society.

The keynote speech will be delivered by IBM UK and Ireland CEO Dr Nicola Hodson, originally from the Liverpool City Region, who is Deputy President of techUK and was recently appointed to the Department of Science, Industry and Technology board.

Other speakers include:- Alois Krtil, CEO and founder of Artificial Intelligence Centre Hamburg (ARIC) and Professor Mark Thompson, co-founder of high profile California-based Psi-Quantum, 1 of the world's leading quantum computing companies with its only European base in the Liverpool City Region.

The event will include:- a video message from Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram will address the summit before signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Combined Authority, the University of Liverpool and the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council.

The agreement is over the development of Meta Liverpool:- a digital representation of the City Region, created from sources such as high-resolution drone footage and transport models, and which allows the impact of policies to be tested before being deployed.

Mayor Rotheram said:- "The Liverpool City Region has always been a place of pioneers, and we're leading the charge in 1 of the most exciting areas of modern technology; Artificial Intelligence. This summit isn't just about showcasing the amazing talent and innovations happening right here; it's about making sure that AI works for everyone. From healthcare to education, AI has the potential to transform lives, and we're committed to using it as a force for good. But it's vital that we steer this technology in the right direction; ensuring it's ethical, fair, and benefits people across the UK, not just in Silicon Valley or big tech hubs. This summit is a chance to put the Liverpool City Region on the map as a global leader in AI for Good, while driving the national conversation on how we can use this transformative technology to build a better future for all of us."

Delivered in partnership with techUK at:- Liverpool BOXPARK on:- 21 November 2024, the summit will explore how AI can be harnessed to enrich lives and tackle some of the most pressing issues facing society today.

Introduced by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Chief Executive Katherine Fairclough, the summit will feature sessions examining AI in education and skills, and how Artificial Intelligence is already making the world a better place through medical breakthroughs and scientific discovery.

Surgeon and Clinical Director of innovation at Alder Hey Children's Health Park Iain Hennessey will provide 1st hand insights along with Tom Thacker, COO of Century Tech whose AI technology is being used to tailor lessons and mark homework at Liverpool City Region Schools.

The summit will also look at investment in Artificial Intelligence, address critical topics including:- AI ethics and trust and provide a showcase for some of the Region's most innovative AI companies.

The Liverpool City Region is already home to the UK's most powerful supercomputer dedicated to industrial research and is at the forefront of AI innovation that serves people and communities. It recently launched a significant new pilot of AI-powered technology in local primary Schools in partnership with CENTURY Tech.

From tackling childhood cancer to tracking space debris, developing new electric vehicle batteries and saving the sight of people with diabetes in remote corners of the world, City Region scientists are using Artificial Intelligence as a force for good.

They used AI and Big Data to help the UK emerge from the Pandemic and are keeping us safe from the next viral threat.

Global tech giants like IBM and Microsoft and local partners including:- the University of Liverpool and ITS, will come together at this pivotal event to discuss the future of AI and its potential to transform the way we live, work, and learn.

The summit is expected to spark collaborations and drive new ideas about how AI can support the UK's wider ambitions to be at the cutting edge of ethical technology. With AI's role in shaping everything from smart Cities to the future of work, this forum is set to ignite conversations that will help to influence the direction of AI for years to come.

In addition to leading the charge in AI, the Liverpool City Region continues to invest in its digital future, with projects such as LCR Connect; a £30m gigabit speed network available to more than 28,000 businesses; solidifying its reputation as a Region of innovation and opportunity.

The Mayor has pledged to appoint a Chief Digital Officer to drive the City Region's AI transformation, which will include:- data and smart City initiatives. The Chief Digital Officer will chair an AI Task Force with a mission to turbocharge AI for Good by delivering the right infrastructure and a fertile ecosystem to nurture talent and foster collaboration.

The list of speakers also includes:- Professors Andy Cooper, Katie Atkinson and Iain Buchan from the University of Liverpool, Connected Places Catapult CEO Erika Lewis and senior representatives from:- Microsoft, Innovate UK, techUK and some of the City Region's most innovative AI companies.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Chief Executive Katherine Fairclough said:- "Artificial Intelligence is transforming our world and it is crucial this should happen in ways that benefit everyone; through medicine, education, by aiding scientific discovery and much more. With our long history of world-leading innovation, it's only right the Liverpool City Region is once again leading the way in the application of AI as a force for good. We're delighted to welcome global AI experts and businesses to our 1st international AI Summit to share knowledge and ideas and ignite conversations on the future of Artificial Intelligence. This Summit will reinforce our global leadership, while offering a vision of a future in which AI can improve all our lives and society as a whole."

Matt Robinson, Head of Nations and Regions at techUK, said:- "We are thrilled to support the Liverpool City Region's International AI Summit, an event that promises to highlight the UK's leadership in ethical and impactful AI innovation. As the technology trade association for the UK, techUK is committed to driving collaboration between global innovators, policymakers, and local talent to unlock AI's full potential. We look forward to working closely with the Liverpool City Region and partners across the country to ensure that AI continues to be a force for good, supporting the UK's ambitions as a world leading tech hub."