LIVERPOOL Business Improvement District’s Arts & Culture Fund unveils 5 new projects who have been awarded a share of £30k for events and arts activity taking place in Liverpool City centre. 

Now in its 4th year, The Arts & Culture Fund was established to support smaller arts projects that will help drive footfall, activity and animation within Liverpool city centre. The fund opens twice a year and submissions are selected by a panel from levy paying businesses who work within Liverpool’s BID areas. These events will take place between August 2026 and March 2027. 

The 5 projects are:-

Girls with Dreams

Scouse Girl in the City is a vibrant, City-wide event taking place on:- Thursday 27 August 2026, designed to empower girls aged 10–18 across Liverpool. Hosted by Girls With Dreams Club CIC, the day features a rich programme of activities including live performances, a confidence catwalk, self-defence demonstrations, TikTok dance stations, inspirational talks from local women, and a careers hub connecting young people with city employers. Participants will also embark on a heritage trail through Liverpool’s cultural landmarks, with safe spaces and check-in points throughout. The event aims to build confidence, foster community, and help girls feel safe, inspired, and proud of their City.

Sarah Worsley, founder of  Girls with Dreams Club CIC says:- “We are absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful to Liverpool BID Company and the Arts & Culture Board for believing in our vision. At Girls With Dreams Club, we exist to help girls grow up feeling confident, connected and proud of who they are. We believe every girl deserves to feel safe, seen and valued in the City she calls home, and Scouse Girl in the City brings that vision to life. This investment allows us to transform Liverpool City centre into a space where girls can explore, learn, build confidence, discover opportunities and create positive memories with their friends and families. We want girls to see themselves reflected in the City around them, to know they belong here and that their future can be shaped here too.”


Summer Sessions at Exchange Flags

The Summer Sessions is a 2-day outdoor event held at Liverpool's Exchange Flags during the August Bank Holiday weekend, bringing live music and performance to the historic square. From the afternoon into the evening, visitors can enjoy DJ sets at the Exchange Bar with outdoor seating to make the most of the weather. The event is free and open to everyone, creating a space for everyone to access live performance and music. 


Holocaust Memorial Performances of Kittel

Heirs of Banquo Productions CIC will deliver 2 public performances of the play "KITTEL" at Liverpool's Unity Theatre in January 2027 as part of Holocaust Memorial events. "KITTEL" is a powerful, historically-based stage drama written by Liverpool playwright Catherine Harrison, exploring the true story of theologian Gerhard Kittel and his complicity with the Nazi regime. The production features a diverse cast and crew from Liverpool City Region and incorporates local outreach, including creative contributions from school children. These performances aim to engage audiences with timely themes of moral responsibility, history, and social justice, while showcasing Liverpool's vibrant creative talent and fostering community reflection.


Bluecoat exhibition, Isabel Nolan, some fundamental forces

Bluecoat will present some fundamental forces, a major solo exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist Isabel Nolan, from January to May 2027. This landmark event will showcase Nolan’s innovative sculptural practice and be accompanied by a vibrant public programme, including live performances, accessible tours, creative workshops for adults and children, a family weekend, and a self-led sculpture trail across Liverpool City centre. The activities are designed to engage a wide audience, encourage exploration of contemporary sculpture, and foster participation from diverse and underrepresented communities, making art accessible and meaningful for all visitors.


Raised Voices

Liverpool Time-Slips is a community-led digital audio trail bringing Liverpool’s rich history and local stories to life. Inspired by the City’s famous Bold Street time slip legend, the project invites the public to explore 8 key locations across the Culture & Commerce BID area using an illustrated online map or by scanning QR codes at partner venues. Participants unlock audio stories featuring real people’s memories, voices, and hopes for Liverpool’s future, making the experience interactive and reflective. The trail is co-created with the community through open story-collection workshops, ensuring it reflects the diverse voices of Liverpool. 

Joanna Rowlands, Director of Marketing and Communications at LEX Campus and Liverpool BID’s Culture + Commerce Board, said:- "These projects are each very different and interested the panel for their ways in which they engage with the City centre and encourage people to experience something new in the City. From theatre to interactive trails and events, this is a way of animating the City centre and public spaces. It’s a vital way of helping people to connect with the City in new ways, and to inspire people to explore different corners and avenues they might not have visited before”. 

Mary Cloake, Bluecoat's Chief Executive, said:- “We are absolutely delighted to have Liverpool BID support our upcoming exhibition by Irish artist Isabel Nolan. This major exhibition comes at a significant moment in Nolan’s career as she represents Ireland at the 61st Venice Biennale in Italy. It's also the most comprehensive display of work by the artist in the UK to date. Through Liverpool BIDs Art and Culture Fund, we're able to engage more communities in Liverpool with this impactful exhibition, ultimately showcasing Liverpool as a go-to place to see cutting-edge, internationally respected contemporary art.“