A new regional partnership is bringing together cultural organisations, artists, schools and community groups across all six boroughs of the Liverpool City Region, exploring what happens when people, ideas and resources are connected across places.
Supported through the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region’s Percent for Culture initiative and coordinated by ourselves, Sound Stories brings together cultural partners Arts in Libraries, Future Yard, Liverpool Philharmonic, Norton Priory, Rule of Threes and Shakespeare North Playhouse, alongside artists, community organisations and local authority teams.
Sound Stories will use music, creativity and storytelling to strengthen community connections, celebrate local identity and create opportunities for residents to connect across the region.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:
“That’s what I like about Sound Stories. It’s putting communities front and centre, giving people the chance to tell their stories in their own way, while bringing people together from right across our region.”
“From Halton to Sefton, Kirkby to West Kirby and everywhere in between, there’s a wealth of talent and creativity on our doorstep. I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing what people come up with.”
Patrick Fox, CEO, Heart of Glass said:
“The opportunity for this network to come together feels particularly timely. We work across the Liverpool City Region, in different ways and across different artforms, but share a belief that arts and culture belong everywhere and are for everyone. At a time when division can feel like the loudest voice, arts and culture can create space for people to come together, share stories and hear one another. We’re really excited to see what becomes possible when we connect more closely across the region.”
Stories rooted in place
Sound Stories starts locally. Communities are exploring what makes their places distinctive, using music and storytelling to connect people across generations. The project will highlight the stories, culture and creativity found in every postcode across the region.Heart of Glass will work across St Helens and Knowsley on a songwriting and performance project with community groups and young people, exploring heritage and social issues through music and bringing generations together. In St Helens, Heart of Glass will also work with Come Together Hub and local communities to write and perform songs rooted in lived experience, with support from St Helens Arts in Libraries.
In Halton, Norton Priory is bringing local heritage and folklore to life through live music and storytelling, working with Halton libraries to connect generations, schools and communities. In Knowsley, Shakespeare North Playhouse is working with community groups in Kirkby, alongside Quarantine, to create opportunities to share stories about Kirkby and the people who live there.
In Liverpool, Liverpool Philharmonic will co-design relaxed, interactive concerts at Toxteth Library. Workshops will bring residents, partners and artists together to share stories, themes and content that reflect community experiences.
In Sefton, Rule of Threes is working with artist and performer Jennifer Reid on Folklore for a New Town, bringing young and older people together to explore local, working-class stories and histories through song.
On the Wirral, Future Yard will work with writer, performer and director Ashleigh Nugent on a music project connecting young people in Birkenhead. Young people will lead the creative process, shaping the stories, music and performance and reflecting their experiences and vision for the future of the place they call home.
Connecting schools through music
Sound Stories is also exploring what a regional approach could offer schools.
Future Yard has spent the past year working with primary schools to strengthen access to music-making, supporting musical development, live performance, careers in the music industry and teacher confidence.
As part of Sound Stories, new free resources will be made available to pupils across the Liverpool City Region. Young people will also create new music to be performed in their communities.
Thought
