A talk with a renowned photographer Thomas Joshua Cooper that took place last Thursday, 8th of November, marks another successful event organized by Metal as part of the Liverpool Biennial 2012.

Thomas Joshua Cooper gave an insight into the remarkable world of his photography to a delighted audience that gathered at Metal that evening. Not only a great photographer, but also a great storyteller, his singular images and the stories of his lengthy journeys left us all amazed.

The winner of the photography competition organised in association with Liverpool Daily Post, Mark McGowan, got to witness Thomas Joshua Cooper's unusual technique first hand, accompanying the artist as he took photographs of the Mersey. Mark's own formidable photography can be found at http://www.formidablephotography.com/ and some photos from his trip out with Thomas can be seen here: http://markmcgowan.co.uk/thomas-joshua-cooper-new-brighton-runcorn/

With the Liverpool Biennial nearing its close, Metal's Cafe Valise still has two events in store.

Thursday 22 November 8pm: ConFusion
Jonathan Aasgaard, Manuella Blackburn, Tom Challenger

Jonathan Aasgaard, RLPO’s Principal Cellist and current artist-in-residence at Metal, will present an evening of contemporary music with special guests, Manuella Blackburn and Tom Challenger.

from Tuesday 20th to Thursday 22nd November, daily from 1pm: The Psychic Power of Plants
Ailie Rutherford

Artist Ailie Rutherford will explore the bizarre body of evidence that suggests plants have an ability to preconceive events, anticipate the future and transmit knowledge.

All events at Café Valise are FREE. Booking is advised as places are limited. For more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call [0151] 7072277

Images 3 & 5 credited to Francesco Gabbiani

Metal are proud to announce a new partnership with Leigh Town Council to bring our travelling cafe – Cafe Valise – to the heart of the revitalised Leigh Community Centre.

Following a successful summer of Cafe Valise at Peterborough Arts Festival and the prestigious Liverpool Biennial, the pop-up cafe – hand made by Leigh-on-Sea artisan, Jonathan Wells – is to take up residence in the community run space. It will be launched with a range of creative activities on Tuesday 27 November.

The cafe space - at the centre of the building - has been given an impressive Metal ‘make-over’ complete with children’s arts and craft area. This brightly coloured space with fun astro-turf, desks, books and games has been designed in response to the feedback from parents and children using the touring Cafe Valise.

Metal have also designed in a gallery wall that will be curated by Leigh-based arts organisation, White Wall Space. The first exhibition, Collected Doodles 1983-2010, features cartoons by the well-known and loved comedian Phill Jupitus, that have never been exhibited before.

He comments: 'As a child I always loved comics and cartoons. Sadly I wasn't blessed with an artistic eye. But blind enthusiasm will often take you as far as actual talent will.'

Cafe Valise opening hours will be Monday – Saturday 11am until 4pm with a delicious menu of sandwiches, soup, tea, coffee and a range of home-made cakes. We will also offer an affordable kids menu.

The community centre has recently been taken on by Leigh Town Council who have been making a number of exciting improvements to the facilities on offer. Together with a number of community organisations and volunteers – one of which is Metal – they are aiming to create a vibrant, creative and lively community resource for all ages.

Councillor Richard Herbert, who has led the Community Centre Working Party, commented: 'The Town Council has received a tremendous amount of support from residents and volunteers and especially Metal. It is great to see the Community Centre gradually coming back to life. Our aim is to make the Centre the heart of the community where everyone can find something of interest be it a class or club, artwork or concerts, dances or film shows.'

The building offers some fantastic rooms to hire for all sorts of activity. Metal’s plans include a evening of jazz on Friday 14 December, hosted by Jam Jar Jazz; cabaret to come in the new year; music events; artist’s talks and our popular Pecha Kucha evenings.

Launch Night Details:

Tuesday 27 November

4.30pm – 7pm:
Drop in to check out the cafe and other facilities that the building has to offer.
View the Affordable Art Wall run by artist, Madelaine Murphy – find out how to display your work.
Stick around to try out our fantastic range of coffee, tea and home made cakes.

7pm – 9.30pm: Private View of Collected Doodles 1983-2010 by Phill Jupitus
Full bar – and teas and coffees available.

Cafe Valise, Leigh Community Centre, 67 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 1SP For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01702 470700.

This  week's Arts Award session was held at the Royal Opera House Production Park in Thurrock.

We enjoyed a fascinating look back-stage at scenery creation for the many different shows that the Royal Opera House produce. Students were presented with all aspects of the hands-on making and logistics of scenery production from concept to actual performance. Another inspirational trip!

Read more about Metal's Arts Award sessions.

Last week's FUTURE PARK at Chalkwell Hall included an introduction to Final Cut Pro by Simon Poulter, a guest speaker, artist Ruth Catlow, and 3-minutes wonders presentations by Colette Bailey, Niki Cornish, Agnes Lukacs, Laura Keeble, Charlotte Windley, Daniel Pincham-Phipps and Amy Mckenny.

If you'd like to present at the next Future Park - on Thursday 13 December, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Another great Arts Award session last Monday introducing Simon Monk who shared his visual arts practice with the students. He also explored body illustration concentrating on action poses valid in a comics / animation / illustration context, and got people drawing!

Read more about Arts Award at Chalkwell Hall here.

Performance Artist Oreet Ashery, screened the first three parts of her new work 'Party for Freedom' at Metal Liverpool on Thurs 11th October. After the screening, which included live music and nudity the audience joined Oreet in discussion about her work.

'Party for Freedom' is an album of ten audio visual tracks and the final piece will be shown at Artangel in Spring 2013.

More information here

Last Thursday, 4 October, the Mayor of Southend officially switched on the 6 permanent, neon, flower light sculptures in Chalkwell Park.

Commissioned by Metal and made by artist Rob Haselden in partnership with pupils from Darlinghurst Primary School the lights have just won an award in this year’s Southend in Bloom competition! Read more.

Photos by: Bradley Keeble