BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Williamson Art Gallery - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Williamson Art Gallery
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Williamson Art Gallery
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:UTC
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20250101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260209T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260509T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T170707
CREATED:20260210T141342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T153638Z
UID:10000343-1770631200-1778346000@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Guest Artist: Kate Stewart
DESCRIPTION:Factory Floor Jewels is a growing UK jewellery brand by independent design-maker Kate Stewart. \n  \nEach piece is meticulously handmade in her Liverpool studio and tells the story of her fascination with the engineering and marine history of the city which stems from her relationship with her engineer father. \n  \nInspired by the enduring strength and beauty of industrial materials and processes\, each Factory Floor Jewels collection features an eclectic mix of materials\, including silver\, steel\, brass\, and copper\, creating jewellery that is both captivating and versatile. \nMost of her designs begin with scrap or waste materials gathered from local engineering workshops.  Her final collections sometimes feature these repurposed materials and all silver used is recycled. \n  \nKate creates pieces that have a timeless look\, with clean lines and classic silhouettes that never go out of style.  Factory Floor Jewels pieces tell a story and are always conversation starters designed to make you stand out from the crowd.  They also make perfect gifts for those who appreciate unique design and a touch of industrial flair. \n  \nMORE \n 
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/guest-artist-kate-stewart/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://williamsonartgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/Kate-Stewart.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260214T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260509T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T170707
CREATED:20260115T155132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T224509Z
UID:10000337-1771063200-1778346000@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:The Portrait Paradox
DESCRIPTION:The Portrait Paradox brings together portraits from the Williamson’s collection and Liverpool-based artist Adrian Jeans’ portrait-based sculpture\, drawing\, photography and video. \nJeans says: “Influenced by the Williamson’s fascinating art collection\, I have been inspired by an under-acknowledged progressiveness in portraiture.  \nAt its best it challenges the norms of the time and The Portrait Paradox will show how I and others have taken portraiture beyond a simplistic paradigm and used it to explore our wider humanity” \n  \nEVENTS: Click here to BOOK \n  \nFollow Adrian \n  \nMore
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/the-portrait-paradox/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions,Slide 4
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://williamsonartgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/Jeans-Adrian-Male-65-69-Superstitious-X114R222D-painted-plaster-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260309T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T170707
CREATED:20260223T112124Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T124552Z
UID:10000347-1773050400-1783184400@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Frances Carlile: Passage
DESCRIPTION:Passage is an installation of beautiful and delicate vessel and house structures by environmental artist Frances Carlile. Together they evoke the many types of journeys taken by individuals during their lifetime\, and symbolise the transient passage between life and death. \nEach one has been handcrafted using organic material collected during the artist’s own journeys through the landscape\, including along the coastline of North Wales and Wirral. \n  \nEvents: \nSaturday 11th April\, 12-3pm – Drop-in ‘paper bag boat’ workshop. Free\, no booking required \nInformation
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/frances-carlile-passage/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://williamsonartgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/Sea-House-square-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260530T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260725T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T170707
CREATED:20260402T110834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T124658Z
UID:10000352-1780135200-1784998800@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:The Garden as Muse
DESCRIPTION:For centuries\, gardens in their myriad forms\, from the surreal\, to the mystical\, contemplative or mythical\, have had profound impacts upon artists of all kinds. They act as sources of inspiration and as mirrors reflecting the cultural\, social and emotional landscapes in which they were created. \n  \nThis exhibition traces how artists across time have interpreted gardens not merely as physical spaces\, but as symbols of creativity and solace. From delicate\, nostalgic studies to immersive and grand paintings\, these pieces reveal how gardens can function both as sanctuaries and laboratories of artistic experimentation. \n  \nDrawing exclusively from the Williamson’s rich and varied collection\, The Garden as Muse invites visitors to wander through these imagined and observed worlds\, celebrating the enduring allure of the garden as a site where art and nature meet\, influence one another\, and continue to grow in unexpected ways.
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/the-garden-as-muse/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://williamsonartgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Gardens.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261204T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261204T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T170707
CREATED:20260326T110011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T153142Z
UID:10000351-1796378400-1796403600@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:The Paul O'Grady Story
DESCRIPTION:“This free exhibition will be Paul’s gift to his hometown” \nThe Paul O’Grady Story Major Retrospective Exhibition from 4th December to late 2027 \n \nA major exhibition delving into the private archive of Paul O’Grady\, revealing his life in front of and behind the cameras will open in his hometown of Birkenhead at the end of this year. The Paul O’Grady Story will be a free exhibition at Williamson Art Gallery and will open on 4 December 2026.  \n  \nThe exhibition\, featuring a wider community and participation programme\, will give a first glimpse into the extensive archive of Paul\, contextualising him as an LGBTQIA+ icon\, an award-winning broadcaster\, passionate activist and someone who gave a voice to the voiceless\, particularly those with four paws. From Tranmere to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern\, the “blonde bombsite of Birkenhead” to Battersea Dog’s Home\, the exhibition will present Paul O’Grady is one of Britain’s most cherished\, and significant cultural figures. \n\nSupported by a grant of £241\,484 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund\, Wirral Council has collaborated with Andre Portasio as Creative Consultant in association with Joan Marshrons\, alongside arts organisations Switchflicker and DuoVision. \n  \nBirkenhead is at the heart of Paul O’Grady’s story\, whether it is the acid tongue of Lily Savage\, the humour and activism of Paul as a presenter and entertainer\, the determination to stand up for a cause and the working-class identity at his core. Premiering the exhibition in the town has been the central ambition of the curatorial team\, and The Paul O’Grady Estate with a commitment to keeping access free.  \n  \nQuotes \nAndre Portasio:  “I will forever be in debt to Wirral Council\, The National Lottery Heritage Fund\, Switchflicker and all the supporters who have made it possible for me to bring the boy from Birkenhead back to his hometown. This exhibition showcases a variety of objects and costumes that mark his incredible career\, life\, and legacy. I am delighted the exhibition will be free for everyone in the UK and beyond to enjoy and celebrate his journey. It is my heartfelt wish that those who visit will feel the warmth of his spirit and remember the joy he brought to so many.” \nPaula Basnett\, Wirral Council: \n“It is incredibly special to be welcoming Paul O’Grady home to Birkenhead in this way. Paul never forgot where he came from\, and neither have we. To host this exhibition is a proud moment for our borough and a tribute to a man whose humour\, courage and compassion touched millions. We are deeply grateful to Andre Portasio and our creative partners for helping us share Paul’s story with warmth\, honesty and pride and to ensure it remains free and open to everyone.” \nHelen Featherstone\, Director\, England\, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund: “We’re thrilled to be supporting the exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Paul O’Grady in his hometown of Birkenhead\, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. The exhibition and wider project from Switchflicker will shine a light on LGBTQ+ heritage and Paul O’Gradys’ remarkable role in bringing that to the fore during his varied career.” \nJayne Compton\, Executive Producer at Switchflicker:  \n“Switchflicker is privileged to produce this project\, Paul O’Grady didn’t just inhabit a character; he channelled the defiant spirit of a community. This exhibition unmasks the artistry and journey from radical drag performer to becoming a national treasure.”    \nJames Lawler\, Curator at DuoVision:  \n“We’re excited to be given this opportunity to focus on the life and work of trailblazing artist Paul O’Grady. I had the pleasure of working with Paul in the 1980s\, and it’s great to now have the chance to celebrate this unique character\, his amazing talent and achievements.”   \n  \nEarly Years \nPaul James O’Grady was born to Molly and Paddy on 14 June 1955 in Birkenhead and was brought up in a close-knit Irish Catholic household in Tranmere. The youngest of three children\, he first attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Prenton and then St. Anselm’s College in Birkenhead\, which was founded by the Christian Brothers.  After leaving school Paul worked in a variety of jobs including being a clerk in the Magistrates Courts and a care worker in a Children’s Convalescent Home in West Kirby. \n  \nCrossover into mainstream\nSet against the turbulent social and political landscape of 1980s Britain\, the exhibition charts the rise of Lily Savage within the context of Section 28 and widespread homophobia. Lily Savage emerged as a defiant response to the era’s unrest\, channelling working-class resilience into high-glamour\, razor-sharp satire. \nAs we mark the 60th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act\, the exhibition places Paul O’Grady at the vanguard of LGBTQIA+ visibility. It maps the moment queer culture crossed over from the pub and club underground into the collective heart of the British public\, forever altering the national cultural fabric.  \nLily’s television career included hosting “The Lily Savage Show” (BBC); “Lily Live” (ITV); and “Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank”. After resting Lily\, Paul O’Grady’s career flourished in many directions from the BAFTA award-winning “The Paul O’Grady Show”\, “Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs” and “Paul O’Grady’s Little Heroes” to name but a few. He also had a definitive decade-long residency on BBC Radio 2\, making him one of the most significant cultural figures of his generation. \nHe has written four volumes of his autobiography and in 2017 “Paul O’Grady’s Country Life” was published.  Paul’s children’s books about Eddie Albert focus on a boy who lives with his dad after his mum has died and who finds he has the ability to talk to animals.  They are his friends and they have adventures together which include rescuing a baby orangutan from a cruel owner.  Paul wanted his books to encourage children to be kind to animals as well as wanting to support children who are bullied in school or who feel they don’t fit in. \nDespite all his success which undoubtedly changed his life he remained passionate about speaking out when he considered people were being treated unjustly and in his TV series about the Working Class and “The Sally Army and Me” he wanted to highlight the day to day struggles of ordinary people and show the hard work that goes on often unnoticed by the powers that be. \nThe Archive: Craft\, Costume\, and Character \nFor the first time\, the public is invited to engage with the meticulous craft behind the persona. The exhibition brings together a unique selection of items from Paul O’Grady’s archive: \n\nIconic Wardrobe: Original Lily Savage and pantomime costumes that defined an era of British drag.\nMedia: Rare footage\, scripts\, photography\, and oral histories documenting LGBTQIA+ activism and working-class life and entertainment.\nPrivate World: An intimate look at Paul’s personal eclectic collection of objects\, figurines\, and puppets\, revealing the influences that shaped his creative psyche.\n\nA Living Heritage \nThanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund\, this exhibition will spread from behind the gallery walls to document Paul’s legacy and the lived experience of his peers and community. Through a series of oral history sessions\, the exhibition documents the lived experiences of the local LGBTQIA+ community\, ensuring Paul O’Grady’s legacy is intertwined with the heritage of the Northwest and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. The exhibition will be accompanied by a year-long public programme of Talking Heads\, music\, performance and cabaret to inspire and platform the next generation of queer talent alongside reading clubs of Paul O’Grady children’s books in libraries across the Wirral. Further details are set to be announced soon.
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/paul-ogrady/
LOCATION:Merseyside
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions,slide 1
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://williamsonartgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/Website-announcement-square_1.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR