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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Williamson Art Gallery
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260116T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270227T203000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20250402T144704Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T120717Z
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SUMMARY:Open Studios with Steve des Landes
DESCRIPTION:From 2025\, Steve des Landes has been Artist in Residence at the Williamson. With a studio in our Art Room\, his intention starting the residency was to work on larger-scale paintings. \nHe will be hosting Open Studio sessions every Friday evening\, 6 – 8:30pm. Between these hours you can drop into his studio\, see what he’s working on and ask any questions. No booking required\, just pop into the gallery on Friday evenings. \nYou can also follow Steve’s progress on our social media channels \nRead more about Steve des Landes’s residency
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/open-studios-with-steve-des-landes/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260123T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261107T170000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260115T144404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T151849Z
UID:10000336-1769162400-1794070800@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Beyond the Brotherhood: The Legacies of the Pre-Raphaelites
DESCRIPTION:Formed in 1848\, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood\, shook the foundations of the British art world with their bold colour palettes\, truth to nature\, and symbolism. \nThe Williamson collection holds some of the finest examples of works showing this artistic legacy. \nThe exhibition will also showcase the various ways in which Merseyside has been influenced by\, and instrumental in forging new directions for these legacies. \nThis will include Birkenhead’s Della Robbia Pottery Company\, and the ‘Liverpool School’ of landscape painters.
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/beyond-the-brotherhood-the-legacies-of-the-pre-raphaelites/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260204T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270206T170000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260115T161303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T130042Z
UID:10000338-1770199200-1801933200@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Echoes of the Floating World
DESCRIPTION:The Williamson possesses a small but notable collection of woodblock prints in the Japanese Ukiyo-e style. \nThese were made by some of the most important names in the period\, from Hiroshige to Hokusai. \nTheir motifs of flat perspectives\, high vantage points\, and bold colour distinctions\, were a radical influence across European art\, including by artists from Wirral. \nAs such\, this exhibition will show local artworks alongside Ukiyo-e prints\, communicating how Wirral artists have been influenced by\, and in dialogue with\, artists from across the world.
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/echoes-of-the-floating-world-japanese-prints/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260309T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260223T112124Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T151102Z
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,Slide 4
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260530T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260725T170000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
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
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260605T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260725T170000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260521T110237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260521T110237Z
UID:10000362-1780653600-1784998800@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Small Wonders: Reimagining British Art
DESCRIPTION:In 1951\, the Festival of Britain acted as a beacon of post-war hope\, launching a landmark touring exhibition that brought world-class art to local museums and art centres across the UK. Seventy-five years later\, Hayward Gallery Touring honours this legacy with Small Wonders: Reimagining British Art\, a contemporary reimagining of that original vision. \nThe exhibition brings together 50 acclaimed artists who have participated in the British Art Show – the UK’s definitive five-year curated survey of contemporary art – since its inception in 1979. Taking inspiration from Marcel Duchamp’s Boîte-en-valise – a “portable museum” contained within a suitcase – each artist has created a new\, small-scale work that responds to their original British Art Show presentation. The result is a condensed yet expansive overview of a half-century of British art history. \n 
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/small-wonders-reimagining-british-art/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260626T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260626T203000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260521T150253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T085959Z
UID:10000364-1782498600-1782505800@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Live Music from Acoustica 2
DESCRIPTION:Martin and Willy Simmons: Harp and Concertina – a unique paring in English folk music\nMartin and Willy have been playing together for over 20 years in a ceilidh band\, folk trio and various pub sessions. Recently they have got together to play English Traditional Music in a traditional way. The set includes many tunes that were incredibly popular dance tunes in the 17th\, 18th and 19th centuries and are now being rediscovered by new generations. \n  \nBoth musicians have come to their current instruments later in life after long careers playing brass and woodwind. Willy is a former professional saxophone player and also a flute and whistle maker and player before taking up the English concertina. Martin played the trombone in various bands for many years before turning to the Anglo concertina and more recently the folk harp. \n  \nMORE FROM ACOUSTICA 2 \n  \nFREE ENTRY
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/live-music-from-acoustica-2/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Events
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260630T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260630T153000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260521T102751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260521T102954Z
UID:10000361-1782824400-1782833400@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Workshop: Encouraging Younger Volunteers in Heritage and Culture groups
DESCRIPTION:We’re inviting local groups and organisations to join us on 30th June for a practical and engaging session focused on Encouraging younger volunteers\, delivered in partnership with Curious Minds and facilitated by Wirral CVS. \nYounger people bring energy\, fresh perspectives and new skills into the heritage and culture groups\, but many organisations tell us they’re unsure how to attract\, support and retain them effectively. This session is designed to help you bridge that gap. \nDuring the session\, you’ll: \n\nExplore what motivates young people to volunteer\nUnderstand common barriers and how to overcome them\nGain practical ideas to make your opportunities more accessible and appealing\nShare experiences and learn from others across the sector\nWhether you’re just starting to think about involving younger volunteers or looking to strengthen what you already offer\, this session will provide useful insight and actionable approaches.\n\nIf you’d like to attend\, please get in touch or secure your place via our website – \nEncouraging Younger Volunteers – Wirral CVS \nWe hope you can join us for what promises to be a valuable and thought-provoking session.
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/6825/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Events
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260814T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261031T170000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260409T100911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260420T094125Z
UID:10000353-1786701600-1793466000@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:Coming soon- Leonard McComb: Nature & Humanity
DESCRIPTION:The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum will present the largest ever exhibition of work by one of the most important British artists of the 20th century\, Leonard McComb. \nLeonard McComb: Nature and Humanity will include the best works from the artist’s estate\, as well as choice loans from major public and private collections\, over 60 of the artist’s best pieces\, including painting\, watercolour\, drawings\, and sculpture\, will be brought together. These will include ‘Rock and Sea Anglesey’\, from Oriel Môn\, which\, measuring over 10 metres long\, is the largest drawing on paper held by any UK public collection. There will also be a selection of choice loans from Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Academy. \nThe loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund\, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections. The exhibition is a collaboration with Art Space Gallery| Michael Richardson Contemporary Art and the Estate of Leonard McComb RA. \nLeonard McComb RA (1930-2018) received acclaim and accolades throughout his career for his work in different mediums including painting\, drawing and sculpture. This exhibition at the Williamson will have a particular focus on McComb’s ecological outlook\, which can be found throughout his work. Whether portrait\, still life\, landscape\, or sculpture\, McComb’s work demonstrates his beliefs on the beauty\, energy\, and interconnectedness of all life. \nCurator Josh Mackarell says that “we are delighted to be able to bring this major exhibition of an important and celebrated artist to Merseyside. McComb’s work is not just relevant to our modern times for its beauty and technical brilliance\, but also because its environmental outlook speaks to the fundamental debates of our time.” \nThe exhibition will open on Friday 14th August 2026 and run until Saturday 31st October.
URL:https://williamsonartgallery.org/event/coming-soon-leonard-mccomb-nature-humanity/
LOCATION:Williamson Art Gallery\, Slatey Rd\, Oxton\, Birkenhead\, Merseyside\, CH43 4UE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions,Slide 3
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ORGANIZER;CN="Williamson Art Gallery":MAILTO:arts@williamsonartgallery.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261204T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261204T170000
DTSTAMP:20260524T220206
CREATED:20260326T110011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T133043Z
UID:10000351-1796378400-1796403600@williamsonartgallery.org
SUMMARY:You Gotta Get a Gimmick: The Paul O’Grady Story
DESCRIPTION:“This free exhibition will be Paul’s gift to his hometown” \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. You Gotta Get A Gimmick – 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 2
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