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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Williamson Art Gallery
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260116T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270523T203000
DTSTAMP:20260419T121954
CREATED:20250402T144704Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T163619Z
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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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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260123T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261107T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T121954
CREATED:20260115T144404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T151849Z
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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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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260204T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270206T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T121954
CREATED:20260115T161303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T130042Z
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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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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261204T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261204T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T121954
CREATED:20260326T110011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T150804Z
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SUMMARY:Coming soon- 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 2
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