Culture Diary w/c 14-05-2018
Our pick of this week’s arts, design, film and music events from around the North of England and the rest of the UK – and loads of it’s free!
Monday – Exhibition Opening: Frankenstein 2018 9am-8pm @ Liverpool Central Library – FREE
It’s been 200 years since Mary Shelley published Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus – one of the first ever novels of Gothic literature. Join Liverpool Book Art and international artists today (until 9 August) at Liverpool Central Library for a showcase of imaginative responses on paper, from hand-made books to book sculptures.
Tuesday – Invisible Borders: Paul Scraton & Marcel Krueger With Andy Davies 6-8pm @ Blackburne House, Liverpool – £8/£4
Do geographic and historical borders prevent us from our full potential? Writing on The Wall Festival continues tonight with the editors of Elsewhere Journal, travel writers Paul Scraton and Marcel Krueger, plus Dr. Andy Davies, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Liverpool. Expect a timely discussion about the effect of borders on our everyday lives. Festival continues until 31 May.
Wednesday – Exhibition Opening: Clubbed: A Visual History Of UK Clubbing 6.30-9.30pm @ The Refuge, Manchester – FREE
If you’ve ever been to Cream, Bugged Out! or the Haçienda, then this is for you. Featuring an archive of logos, tickets, posters, photography and cover art from Peter Saville (above), The Designers Republic, Jon Jeffrey (Bibliothèque), and many more, this is the official book launch and exhibition of Clubbed, a design lover’s guide to 35 years of glorious, sweaty dancing and late night music.
Thursday – Not Quite Light Weekend @ Venues Across Salford – Ticket Prices Vary
Acclaimed critical writer Maria Fusco reads new work about the place between light and dark; Xavier Velastin shows new sound work inspired by the River Irwell; cocktail maker Emma Roberts leads a night-time foraging expedition… Winner of the 2016 Best Exhibition in the CityLife Awards, expect loads of events during artist Simon Buckley’s Not Quite Light festival (above): rejoicing in the urban landscape, before dawn breaks. Until Sunday.
Of Women: Shami Chakrabarti 4-7pm @ Toxteth Library, Liverpool – £3/£5
Is gender injustice the greatest human rights abuse on the planet? Another ace Writing on the Wall discussion tonight with Shami Chakrabarti (above), Britain’s leading human rights campaigner. Learn how women’s rights issues affect health, wealth, opportunity and education on a shocking scale, and what we might do to change things. Festival continues until 31 May.
Exhibition Opening: Beautiful Monsters 6-8pm @ The Portico Library, Manchester – Pay What You Can
A creative response to Conrad Gessner’s wonderful and weird 16th century book Historiae Animalium (above), expect six international artists contemporary interpretation of the creatures through drawings, textiles and even robotics. As part of Manchester After Hours 2018, you can also enjoy a live performance tonight by Manchester drag artist Lill.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Friday – LightNight 2018 @ Venues Across Liverpool – FREE
For one-night only, the city is coming together under the theme of Transformation – reflecting on Liverpool’s growth since the European Capital of Culture Award 2008. Amongst hundreds of exhibitions, performances, debates and walks, our LightNight highlights include AV artist Jayson Haebich’s version of the northern lights at RIBA North, plus composer and lyricist Patrick Dineen’s (emotional) operatic ode to the Polar Bear at LJMU John Lennon Building.
Saturday – James 7pm @ King Georges Hall, Blackburn – £49.50/£38.50
She’s a STAARRRR!!! ‘90s favourites James (above) bring their Better Than That tour back home to the North-West and a bunch of small venues not played for years, amongst a slew of festivals this summer, including Southampton’s Common People and Bilbao BBK Live. Expect tracks from the Better Than That EP, as well as a few hits (Sit Down!).
Sunday – Vent D’est & British Sounds (1970) Double Bill 3.20pm @ HOME Manchester – From £5.50
As part of their Uprising: Spirit Of ’68 season, HOME remembers and explores the impact of the 1968 clashes in Paris, which brought the French government – and Cannes Film Festival – to its knees. Expect radical film today from leading directors Jean-Luc Godard and Jean-Henri Roger. Season continues until 22 May.
India Booth and Laura Robertson
