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Events and Campaigns

The Trust, as part of its role, exists to help promote participation in the arts and performing arts, helping ensure those budding artists across the Liverpool City Region and its communities are given opportunities to express and develop their talents – and realise their ambitions.

As part of this focus, the Trust has in recent years run two major community arts projects, both in partnership with the Liverpool ECHO.

£20,000 in cash grants was given away by the Trust to help celebrate the 150th anniversary year of the world famous Liverpool landmark building in Lime Street.

The money was put up under the 2017 Active Arts project, run in conjunction with the Liverpool ECHO and designed to give a big boost to lots of smaller arts, dance and theatre groups doing important work across the community on Merseyside.

In all 140 applications were received but after a painstaking judging process, those deemed most eligible for help were eventually chosen. The winners were brought together at the theatre to receive their grants at a special presentation ceremony.

Elaine Cooper of the 75-year-old Ellesmere Port Theatre company, which has 60 members and puts on performances at venues including the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton, said: “We are a big family really – and we welcome newcomers.

“And we, like everyone, are so appreciative and grateful to the Empire Theatre Trust for this grant.

“It is so kind of them to share this with us all.”

For more information, reports and pictures on the Active Arts Project, click here.

My Liverpool was run by the Trust in 2018/19, again in conjunction with the Liverpool ECHO, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Liverpool’s role as European Capital of Culture, 2008.

It was designed to allow people to express their love of the city, its culture and traditions, through a work of art – be it a poem, a sculpture, a painting or a photograph. In all it attracted more than 200 entries.

After a tough round of judging, eighteen finalists gathered at the Empire for the announcements, a celebration of their work and the award of 15 certificates of merit – as well as two runners up prizes of £500.

The overall ‘My Liverpool’ winner was declared as school teacher Simon Worth, whose fascinating digital artwork entitled ‘More than a Bird’ won much acclaim and saw Simon Awarded the £1,000 first prize plus a silver salver trophy.

All of the entries received have since been captured in a free to view online art gallery (see link below).

For more information, reports and pictures on the My Liverpool Project, click here.