November 2008

Sep 27 2007

7th November

The Shipping Lines Festival

University of Liverpool

Featuring Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, Jorie Graham, Doris Lessing, Monica Ali, Roger McGough, Philip Pullman and Paul Farley and many others…In Liverpool’s shipping heyday, Liverpool’s shipping lines connected the UK to the rest of the world. These days, knowledge, creativity and ideas are the key economic drivers.

As part of the University of Liverpool’s celebrations for 2008, the School of English and The Reader will present SHIPPING LINES Literature Festival bringing the world of ideas to our city through lines of the greatest contemporary writers. This international festival of books, authors and reading will welcome 20+ internationally-lauded writers to read, speak and inspire audiences at over 40 interactive and community-based events during November 2008. With live readings for adults and children, poetry for both aficionados and absolute beginners, writing competitions for the competitive, and late night talk for those who like to stay up late, SHIPPING LINES will introduce some of the world’s greatest writers to readers aged 10-100 (and to the under 10’s too…)

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18th & 19th November

Le Nouvelle Ensemble Modern

The Cornerstone Festival, Hope University

Commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008. Founded in 1989 by pianist and conductor Lorraine Vaillancourt, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM) is a chamber orchestra of 15 musicians. The ensemble offers convincing interpretations of today’s music by granting it the time and attention it deserves.

Their repertoire, nurtured on the classics of the 20th century, reflects the diversity of present day aesthetics; it incorporates music from all continents and is committed to giving premieres of new works. Its concerts, public rehearsals and dialogues with composers are all exceptional moments of exchange and reflection.

Ensemble-in-residence at the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal, the NEM has performed in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe, Japan, Australia and Singapore. During their performance at the Cornerstone Festival Le NEM will also perform a work by the winner of a competition to discover new UK composers organised by Liverpool Culture Company, Cornerstone Festival, Ensemble 10.10 and with assistance from the Society for the Promotion of New Music.

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25th - 27th November

Le Corbusier Symposium

The Crypt, Metropolitan Cathedral (exhibition)

The 12th RIBA Stirling Prize is being held in Liverpool to mark the city's year as the European City of Culture. Recognized as the most prestigious award for contemporary British architecture, the prize will be announced at the dinner for 800 distinguished guests and broadcast live in a Channel 4 programme presented by Kevin McCloud.

Also presented on the evening will be a number of special prizes recognizing the diversity of British architecture, including awards for sustainability, the best school and the most outstanding new house. (Part of the 'cultural conversations' strand).

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November - December

Eighth Blackbird

The Cornerstone Festival, Hope University

A UK premiere, co-commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company as part of European Capital of Culture 2008. “The Only Moving Thing” features new commissions by Steve Reich—whom The Guardian identifies as one among “just a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history”—and composers and Bang on a Can founders David Lang, Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe. In Reich’s Double Sextet eighth blackbird performs simultaneously live and pre-recorded; while Lang/Wolfe/Gordon’s singing in the dead of night is a 45-minute suite conceived in collaboration with seminal New York choreographer Susan Marshall who will direct the movement. Debuting the program in the spring of 2008 in the USA, The Only

Moving Thing will be premiered in Richmond, VA and will travel to New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Ann Arbor and Cincinnati before making its UK debut in Liverpool and continue to tour internationally in the 2008-2009 season.

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November

Made in Liverpool

FACT, BBC Big Screen, Various community centres

Building on the success of Shoot the Artist and Made in Liverpool, Liverpool Biennial will host an open submission film competition for local amateurs and emerging talents across Merseyside. Though the theme has yet to be announced it will take its lead from Liverpool Biennial’s International Exhibition, and provide an exciting opportunity for local filmmakers to show their work during the prestigious festival period.

Selection will be by panels comprised of local community and youth groups, culminating in a programme of screenings at FACT, on the BBC Big Screen and at participating community venues. Entrants who have their films selected will be offered an opportunity to attend a master class by an established filmmaker, to build on their skills and gain experience. Liverpool Biennial will put out a call for submissions in Spring 2008, with selection of the short listed films and the master class in Summer and screenings taking place in Autumn to coincide with the Biennial festival.

Start of winter lights 08-09 programme November - February Various Liverpool neighbourhoods Following on from the winter lights programme launched in November 2007 - see earlier entry. (Part of public art programme, commissioned from Liverpool Biennial by the Liverpool Culture Company for European Capital of Culture 2008).