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MEMBER BULLETIN
Dear Jackie
Welcome to your October bulletin! Inside you’ll find: 🎉 New members joining the Network 🛡️ Round Tables on safety and international working 🌟 An Uncover Liverpool competition to showcase your organisation 📚 Updates from your Working Groups, training, and funding opportunities 🤝 Networking dates to connect with your peers
Short on time? Read our condensed roundup here.
👋 Welcome New Members
We’re delighted to welcome two new organisations into the Network: Please do say hello at our upcoming events! |
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✊ STATEMENT OF UNITY & CALL FOR CASE STUDIES
The Culture Network LCR, on behalf of our membership, has released a Statement of Solidarity and Unity - rejecting racism and scapegoating, while affirming dignity, compassion, and equality. It calls for accountability and celebrates the vital role of culture in fostering justice, inclusion, and resilience across our communities.
👉 Please read the statement here and share it with your communities, mailing lists, MPs, councillors, and across social media. We have also created a media pack for you to spread the message!📖 To support this, and as part of our One Advocating Voice, we invite members to submit short case studies. These should highlight how your past or present work demonstrates the arts’ power to counter divisive narratives and build strong, connected, and inclusive communities. 📝 Please complete this short form with no more than 70 words plus an image by latest, Sunday 26th October. We’ll showcase these on the Culture Network’s website to display our movement of hope and solidarity.
🗓️ UPCOMING ROUND TABLES
#12 – Friday 3 October, 3:00–4:30pm
Let’s Talk About Safety: Keeping Public and Staff Safe
Hosts: Claire Will & Siobhan Noble (Shakespeare North Playhouse) 👉 Book in person here
#13 – Friday 7 November, 3:00–4:30pm
Culture Without Borders: How do we engage internationally and use our cultural Soft Power for our members' benefit?
Host: Sarah Fisher (Open Eye Gallery & Culture Network LCR Strategy Working Group Member) 👉 Book in person here
📍 Round Tables are members-only themed sessions held on the first Friday of the month at World Museum Liverpool. Join in person or online via Teams.
💡 Need help with travel costs? Please don't hesitate to ask - support is available. |
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| 🔔 YOUR WORKING GROUPS UPDATES
We have five action-focused Working Groups driving the Network forward. Here’s what they’re up to this month:
EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Access)
Planning Connect #3 (11 Dec), themed on Our Allyship & Solidarity Attended a trans inclusionary meeting with Angela Eagle MP (see meeting doc here) Finalising key policy documents Strengthening links with the Race Equality Action Group (REAG) Exploring ways to support urgent community needs through targeted decompressor events
Strategy Strengthening links with tourism through LVEP (Liverpool Visitor Economy Partnership) Boosting cultural visibility at the Labour Party Conference Exploring integration of Race Equality initiatives Developing ideas for transport-linked cultural promotion Driving collaboration and advocacy for members
Joint Promotion Expanding the reach of UncoverLiverpool.com Supporting members to set up automated listings (have you signed up yet, if not email Clare or Ria ) Developing the Uncover competition to drive more public sign-ups this autumn
Shift: Sustainability Network (led by Metal) Participation & Skills
The group kicked off on 19 Sept with big ambitions: to diversify the talent pipeline, support grassroots organisations, and strengthen skills pathways across LCR. Current actions include joined-up promotion of opportunities, a new Festival of Opportunity, and a work experience pilot linking young people to multiple organisations.
The group meets bi-monthly (every 3rd Friday). Want to get involved? Contact Leanne or Charlotte.
🎓 CREATIVE CAREERS MONTH
A spotlight on creative education, with calls from Creative UK and the V&A Director to reinvest in schools and pathways. We expect this will resonate strongly with many of you as we await results of the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review.
🏡 ✨ PRIDE IN PLACE STRATEGY
The Government has just published its new Plan for Communities Strategy Pride in Place. You can read the full document here. While we are still digesting the details, this strategy has potential links to our Statement of Unity, especially around themes of community cohesion, resilience, and tackling division. We’ll be monitoring closely to understand its implications for the cultural sector, and how it connects with our members’ work. We encourage members to take a look and consider how your organisation’s activities might align with (or challenge) the themes raised. If you have reflections or would like to share your perspective, please let us know as we’d love to amplify your voice. |
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🗓️ CATALYST #3 ONLINE
📝 Written roundup available here.
If you missed it, catch up on 12 inspiring 3-minute presentations from across the network - festivals, museums, grassroots collectives and more. A quick way to spark ideas and stay connected with what’s happening across our LCR cultural scene.
🗓️ CONNECT #3 (IRL)
📅 Connect #3 – Thursday 11 Dec, 2:30–5pm (in-person)
Theme: Our Allyship and Solidarity.
Connects are our big twice-a-year whole-network gatherings - curated events designed to bring members together, build collaborations, and share vision. They happen in June and December. This winter we’ll be meeting around the theme of allyship: what it means, and how we can embed it in our practice.
👉 Please mark your diaries now for Thursday afternoon, 11 December 2025.
🗓️ FIRST FRIDAY SOCIAL (FFS)
🗓️ First Friday of every month, 5–7pm
📍 Circle Bar, Liverpool’s Royal Court
FFS is our most relaxed meet-up. Open to all members and all LCR creatives, it’s a chance to unwind, chat, and make new connections. Expect:
👥 MEMBERS CONTACT LIST
The updated October contact list is now available. Please check it over and email us if staff need adding or removing. Note: The file has 2 tabs - one with full details and one simplified for easy copy-and-paste use.
💬 JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY
A safe, members-only space for: Quick updates & announcements 🔔 Peer support & advice 🤗 Project or interest-based groups (set up as needed) 🌱
Absolutely no spam - just a streamlined way to stay in touch between bulletins.
👉 Click here to join (please say who you are when you enter!).
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🎉 UNCOVER LIVERPOOL COMPETITION - EXTENDED DEADLINE Thank you to everyone who has already donated prizes including tickets from The Atkinson, Liverpool's Royal Court, ACC Liverpool, The Tung Auditorium, Unity Theatre and Africa Oyé plus unique prizes from Open Eye Gallery, Milap, dot-art and DoES Liverpool. We’ve extended the deadline to allow more time to collect even more prizes.
Prizes redeemable from 1 December 2025 onwards.
Email cl...@culturenetwork.co.uk with details of your prize or any questions.
Extended deadline: Sunday 19 October.
📣 AUTOMATED LISTINGS ON UNCOVER!
The specially built Uncover Liverpool automated listings system is live! Several members are already saving time by having their events uploaded automatically. Want your events to appear without the manual upload hassle?
👉 Email SJ or Clare to get your automated feed set up.
📩 THE WEEKLY UNCOVER BULLETIN
Every Tuesday morning, your curated Uncover Arts Bulletin lands in inboxes across the city region. It’s packed with upcoming events, jobs, news, call-outs, and more — and it’s one of the most effective ways to keep audiences engaged with your work.
✅ Not sure of your full member benefits? Click here to explore everything Uncover offers.
👥 GROW YOUR AUDIENCES
Encourage your audiences to subscribe to the Uncover Arts Bulletin. Share and follow Uncover on Facebook & Instagram. Use our Uncover posters and digital assets in your venues (print, display, or add to digital screens). This collective visibility = more audiences for everyone. 👉 Download assets here or email Clare for printed posters.
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| 💡SECTOR INSIGHTS: WHAT’S NEXT? WEBINAR
Ria Bagley, the network's new Membership & Systems Coordinator attended the What’s Next? webinar, which explored alternatives to economic growth as the main measure of societal progress, and how the cultural sector can help reimagine prosperity. Key points shared included:
Why growth falls short: It ignores wellbeing, care, and environmental limits while often fuelling harmful activity. Wellbeing over wealth: A “care economy” that values health, connection, and meaning offers a better path. Culture’s role: Arts help communities imagine futures, build resilience, and create meaning though the sector is still pressured to “prove” growth in economic terms. New approaches: The Cultural Heritage Capital framework is being trialled to capture culture’s non-market benefits, though challenges remain. Barriers: Funding risk-aversion, regional inequalities, and a lack of shared approaches on value measurement.
So What’s Next? We’re proud that our collective work is already putting much of this into action, for instance through your Working Groups: Our Strategy Working Group is already tackling these themes by shaping conversations on Soft Power, AI ethics, and funding advocacy, showing culture’s value beyond economic growth. The EDIA Working Group work on allyship guidance, and the Skills & Participation Group are central to building the care economy, equity, and inclusion that What’s Next? highlighted. Through Connect events like our upcoming December’s focus on Our Allyship & Solidarity, we bring these bigger ideas into practical member conversations and networking. Joint Promotion and Shift (our Sustainability Network) help articulate value by amplifying your cultural impact and embedding environmental care.
🎵 SOUND CHECK TRAINING
We’re pleased to say that places on the Sound Check Training programme are ring-fenced especially for Culture Network members. This is a brilliant opportunity to upskill in live event safety, production, and backstage skills. Please contact Chris at Future Yard for details on how to book your place or secure spots for your team.
🛡️ MARTYN’S LAW (TERRORISM PROTECTION OF PREMISES ACT) On 25 September 2025, Culture Network attended a Home Office briefing on Martyn’s Law, which will soon come into effect. The Act will require venues and cultural organisations to put measures in place to protect the public from potential terrorist threats. We’ll continue to share sector-specific guidance, but for now you can read a distilled overview here. We encourage members, especially venue operators, to start familiarising themselves with the requirements.
😀 20 STORIES HIGH - ACCESS MANIFESTO
Following our recent Round Table, 'Access are we going backwards?’, the attendees requested we regularly highlight the Access Manifesto from 20 Stories High. This practical tool helps organisations improve accessibility and embed inclusion into everyday practice. Members are encouraged to review it and consider how its principles could be applied in your own work. Regular sharing of this resource was strongly recommended by members.
💰 NEW FUNDING ROUTES - CROWDFUNDER X CREATIVE UK
Good news on the funding front: Crowdfunder and Creative UK have launched a new partnership offering creative sector projects a fundraising route with 0% fees. This could be a valuable tool for members looking to pilot new ideas, build community support, or top up project budgets. Explore the details and consider if your next project might benefit from this model.
And don’t forget - Grants Online alerts you to the latest UK grants, from government, Lottery, trusts and more - updated daily, and can be tailored to your needs.
🌈 TRANSACTIONAL - RESOURCES ON TRANS INCLUSION
TransActual is a national organisation led by and for trans people, providing resources, research, and advocacy to improve trans inclusion. Their site offers practical tools, lived-experience perspectives, and policy guidance useful for organisations aiming to strengthen equity and allyship. Explore resources here.
📘 RACE EQUALITY TRAINING
The Combined Authority is offering race equality training designed to support organisations across the region in building more inclusive workplaces and practices. This training provides practical guidance and reflective exercises to help embed race equality in everyday work. Register your interest here.
🗒️ LCR ANTI-RACISM STRATEGIES
LCR Combined Authority is developing an Anti-Racism Strategy. Emy Onoura presented to the Arts & Culture Race Equality Action Group at the July Manifesto Pledge session, see Emy's presentation here, in case you missed last month's update. More info to follow as and when we receive.
🤝 MABADILIKO CIC TRAINING
Delivered in partnership with Mabadiliko CIC, this training programme focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion across the third sector. It offers organisations the chance to deepen understanding, access tailored resources, and work collectively to drive change across the region. Find out more and sign up here. |
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| REMINDERS - BIG HINT!
Membership Renewal Form
Please complete this short form, it will ensure your organisation's information is up to date for your Member Directory entry. Plus, there's 4 super simple research questions on Access, Race Equality, Sustainability and Fair Pay. We've kept the form brief as we appreciate you are all busy people!
2024 Achievements & Impacts Document
In case you missed our 2024 Achievements & Impacts Document which included your at glance 25/26 exclusive Member Event Dates on p12. Please give it a read, lots for you all to shout about, including in funding bids. Together we really are stronger! |
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| | | | | Dive in, bring your voice, and make the most of your membership. Got ideas? We’re listening! |
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| | If there is anything we’re missing in your Bulletins, then please do let us know.
THANKS FOR READING! |
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| Best wishes, Charlotte and Ria
The Culture Network LCR Board of Directors: Emma Smith - Liverpool Irish Festival Gillian Miller - Royal Court Theatre Jay Farley - First Take Laura Pye - National Museums Liverpool Lucy Byrne - dot-art Madeline Heneghan - Writing on the Wall Nicola Triscott - FACT Patrick Fox - Heart of Glass Rob Sanderson-Thomas - Norton Priory Museum & Trust |
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