Harvesting Histories Sowing Seeds

Reinstating a forgotten doorway in the approach to Edge Hill Station and transforming the unused land behind it to make a Secret Garden for the local community.

…the story of a bricked up door, in a wall; once forgotten, now found.

The Gateway to the Blitz project represents a unique social and historical ‘portal’ within the landscape of Edge Hill Station, Liverpool.  Creating a permanent memorial to those who died during the tragedy of the Blitz 70 years ago and also providing access to a new green space for today’s community to use and make new connections in.

Background
The direct hit on a shelter in Durning Road, Edge Hill, was the worst single incident in the Liverpool Blitz as regards to loss of life.  Churchill called it 'the worst single (civilian) incident of the war'.  This occurred in the early hours of 29th November 1940, during the heaviest air raid to date.
'Approximately 300 people were tightly packed into the shelter in the basement of the Ernest Brown Junior Instructional Centre in Durning Road, Edge Hill... It would have been a safe enough place if bombs fell nearby, but it could not withstand a direct hit... In all, 166 men, women and children were killed and many more were seriously injured.'*

Due to proximity to Edge Hill Station, the area was a particular target during the war because of the munitions they stored in the railway sidings.

Project objectives:

- Create a permanent memorial to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Blitz in Edge Hill at the gateway to a community garden.  This will be both an access point and a descriptive & instructional art work.

- Integrate an educational strand with the pupils of St Francis of Assisi school, the educational project partners, in terms of the design of the gateway, the garden and the research into the effect of the Blitz on the local area.

- The space will offer the further possibility of developing a ‘Green Gym’ site, adjacent to the railway lines, by reclaiming the area leading from the gateway.

On Saturday 15th October 2011, the area to be used for Metal and St Francis Of Assisi's community garden was unveiled. Artist Robyn Woolston has since been working with the local community and school children to develop a design for a Blitz memorial gate for the entrance to the garden.If you would like to be involved with the community garden please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your details and we will add you to our mailing list.

*source: http://www.liverpoolblitz70.co.uk/2011/02/02/the-tragedy-of-durning-road

The Liverpool Art Prize is an annual competition for artists.  Now in its fifth year, the prize is exhibited, administered and managed by Metal at Edge Hill Station.

Dates: 27th April - 9th June 2012

Venue: Metal, Edge Hill Station, Tunnel Road, Liverpool, L7 6ND

Shortlisted artists: Alan Dunn, Tomo, Robyn Woolston and The Drawing Paper’s Jon Barraclough and Mike Carney.

PRIZES

The Art Prize: £2000 plus solo exhibition at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
The People’s Prize: £1000 selected by the audience during the exhibition of shortlisted artists
Metal Studio Residency Award: Supported studio space for period of 1 year at Edge Hill Station
Metal International Residency: To Shanghai in partnership with Shanghai Art School

Click here to apply for METAL STUDIO RESIDENCY AWARD.

FUTURE STATION - Metal Liverpool

A growing network of local artists, residents and creative thinkers who meet every month at the station to develop programme ideas and initiate collaborative projects.
Meetings are FREE and open to all with food provided.
Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call [0151] 7072277 if you plan to attend.

In August we held YOUR STATION: THE FUTURE STATION FESTIVAL, two weeks of activity centred around the groups own work and ideas. This year took the form of an open invitation; asking other local groups to come and participate and for ideas to be developed for the two week duration of music, art, performance and film at the station.

Event times will vary check our blog for up-to-date details.

FUTURE PARK - Metal Southend on Sea

A new programme of activity for artists  from across the South East Essex region

OPEN MIC:  3 MINUTE WONDERS / GUEST SPEAKER PRACTICAL SESSIONS / ONE TO ONE SURGERIES PRESENTING ARTISTS / Q&A SESSION / DRINKS / HOME COOKED FOOD BY FELLOW ARTISTS

FUTURE DATES:

Thurs 29 Sept 2011:  8pm – 10.30pm

Thurs 27 Oct 2011:   8pm – 10.30pm

Thurs 24 Nov 2011:   8pm – 10.30pm

Thurs 29 Mar 2012:   8pm – 10.30pm

Future Park is a new programme of activity at Metal for artists from across the South East Essex region.

In partnership with four Southend artists, we are hosting a regular monthly evening at Chalkwell Hall in Southend on Sea for discussion, sharing ideas and projects, catching up with news and meeting old and new friends.

The evenings are designed to be an informal and friendly way of staying informed and inspired, as well as to develop ideas and practice within a regional, national and international context supported by Metal’s experience and connections.

Artists, working in all disciplines who think they may benefit from engaging with a dynamic, ambitious, artist-led environment are welcome to drop by.

Each evening will consist of one, more or all of the following activities:

OPEN MIC - 3 MINUTE WONDERS
The first 10 artists to turn up with a prepared 3 min showcase of their work gets the floor.
N.B. These showcase moments can be in any format - a reading; acoustic music; spoken word; powerpoint presentation; etc.  

GUEST SPEAKERS
National and international artists, curators and thinkers invited.

PRACTICAL SESSIONS OR ONE-TO-ONE SURGERIES

CONVERSATION
A short Q&A session with presenting artists, followed by general conviviality.

FOOD
Home cooked by fellow artists.

DRINKS
Some provided but do feel free to bring your own as well.

Just ask if there’s a particular topic you’d like covered and we’ll try to help.

Photos from Future Park in June:

About Future Station and Future Park

Metal believes that good ideas, creativity and the commitment of individuals can transform places, and like all enthusiastic and successful enterprises, create more participation, optimism and determination in others.

In both Liverpool and Southend on Sea Metal has a wide network of volunteers and supporters, made up of creative individuals who help us shape ideas for both Edge Hill Station and Chalkwell Hall, as well as helping us successfully deliver activities and events.

These groups called FUTURE STATION (in Liverpool) and FUTURE PARK (in Southend) meet on a regular basis to brainstorm ideas, make plans and talk tactics.

If you would like to get involved and help us continue to develop our exciting places and activities, we would love to hear from you.

For FUTURE STATION contact Jodie Mellor on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0151 7072277

For FUTURE PARK contact Grace Acton on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01702 470700