Make Time For Love is a project by arts organisation Metal, with artists YARA + DAVINA, commissioned by Culture Liverpool and Liverpool City Council. Make Time For Love is the finale of a 2-year residency called Picton Play with communities in L15, to celebrate the creativity that exists in the Wavertree and Picton neighbourhoods as part of Culture Liverpool’s Creative Neighbourhoods programme.
Everyone is invited to take part in this week of events from 20 – 28 September. The range of activities and events have been shaped by three commissioned short stories set in Wavertree and Picton. The book, Stories, Mystery, and Love, will be shared with all households in the L15 postcode over the course of the week. Copies will also be available in your local Liverpool library. Events also take inspiration from James Picton’s Clock Tower (1884), created in loving memory to his wife of 50 years, Sarah Pooley. Make Time for Love celebrates love for families, neighbours, community, and friends.
The programme on Wavertree High Street launches with a day of celebratory events on Saturday 20 September, and includes a drop-in floral tribute and postcard making workshop at the Rose Garden, readings by commissioned writers Hanan Issa, Sophie Herxheimer and Joelle Taylor at Wavertree Library, a live musical performance by Capeesh, and the unveiling of four very special clocks.
Activity continues with Liverpool’s Heritage Day on 21 September; part of a UK wide programme of Heritage Open Days throughout September.
What’s On
Celebration Day Events, 20 September
There will be a range of free activities and events for everyone:
- Drop-in floral tribute and postcard making workshops with artists YARA + DAVINA in the Rose Garden
- Live readings from the recently published book Stories, Mystery, and Love by our three commissioned writers, Hanan Issa, Sophie Herxheimer, and Joelle Taylor at Wavertree Library
- A live musical performance of original songs by Capeesh at Wavertree Library
- An unveiling of four clocks by YARA + DAVINA in collaboration with Asylum Link, Capeesh, Damien John Kelly House and Love Wavertree at Wavertree Town Hall
- A playlist of love songs playing in businesses along the High Street, curated by Asylum Link, Capeesh, Damien John Kelly House, and Love Wavertree
- A chance to collect a special edition pin from Love Wavertree
- A soundwalk available for download via the free ECHOES app, through which you can listen, in specific locations, to music, field recordings and spoken word gathered from around the neighbourhood
Make Time For Love: Party at Metal! – Saturday 20 September, 5pm-8pm
Please join us for the Make Time For Love celebration evening at Edge Hill Station. Marking the end of Metal’s Picton Play project with a party, there will be food, drink, music – and cake!
Sign up for a free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-time-for-love-party-at-metal-tickets-1715023855519
Visit our Eventbrite page to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/metal-liverpool-11181838770
Celebration Week Events, 20 – 28 September
Clock Installations
Wavertree Town Hall, 89 High Street, L15 8HF
20 – 28 September
Four bespoke clock faces will be on display this week in Wavertree Town Hall, making statements on love and the passing of time.
The ghosts of Sarah Pooley and James Picton still keep time – they slow it down at bus stops, run it backwards in junk shops, speed it up at home. Sophie Herxheimer, excerpt from WIN WIN from the newly published Stories, Mystery, and Love.
The clocks have been designed with Asylum Link, Capeesh, Damien John Kelly House, and Love Wavertree through workshops, which began in the summer of 2025.
Archival Display
Wavertree Library, Picton Road, L15 4LP
20 – 28 September
Opening hours:
Monday 10:00 – 18:00
Tuesday 10:00 – 18:00
Wednesday closed
Thursday 10:00 – 17:00
Friday closed
Saturday 10:00 – 16:00
Sunday closed
Please note: Wavertree Library is closed between 13:00 and 14:00
Architect Sir James Picton designed many iconic Liverpool buildings including Liverpool’s Corn Exchange, and was instrumental in the establishment of public libraries, including Wavertree Library. Over the course of his many travels, Picton often sent postcards to his wife, Sarah Pooley. Join us at Wavertree Library to see archival material written by the son of James Picton and Sarah Pooley sharing insight into their relationship and love for each other, alongside a curated selection of books on the theme of love.
Read-a-long and Book Discussion
Wavertree Library, Picton Road, L15 4LP
Monday 22 September, 14:00 – 15:00. Reading Picton Power, written by Hanan Issa
Tuesday 23 September, 14:00 – 15:00. Reading On the Edge Is a Metal Hill, Where Trees Wave Like Neighbours written by Sophie Herxheimer
Saturday 27 September, 10:00 – 11:00. Reading Sub Umbra Floresco written by Joelle Taylor
Please note: Wavertree Library is closed between 13:00 and 14:00
Join us for a chance to read together and share thoughts on the newly published book Stories, Mystery, and Love which have been shared with all households in the L15 postcode.
Lessons on Love
Fozia Choudhry, founder of Fozia’s Kashmiri Kitchen
Fozia’s Kashmiri Kitchen, 155 Picton Road, L15 4LG
Tuesday 23 September, 19:00 – 21:00
Sophie Colligan, a local non-denominational celebrant
Wavertree Library, Picton Road, L15 4LP
Thursday 25 September, 14:00 – 15:00
Paul Rivera, a retired Park Ranger, and resident of Wavertree since the age of 6.
Wavertree Library, Picton Road, L15 4LP
Saturday 27 September, 10:00 – 11:00
Join these sessions where local people share stories of how they have fostered love in their lives and for their communities.
Daily Love Mantra and Tour
Wavertree Town Hall, 89 High Street, L15 8HF
20 – 28 September
11:00 daily
An invitation to hear a love mantra of the day shared by a Make Time For Love facilitator, and then a guided tour of the High Street. This event will begin at 11:00 every day at Wavertree Town Hall.
Special Edition Pin
Love Wavertree Community Shop, 203 Picton Road, L15 4LG
20 – 28 September
Monday closed
Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 – 14:00
Love Wavertree relies on volunteers and cannot always guarantee that they will be open at these times
Artists YARA + DAVINA have designed 500 special edition Make Time For Love enamel pins to encourage people to chat about the love they have for their community and Wavertree High Street. Grab one in exchange for a donation, or any purchase from the shop.
Make Time For Love
Occasions Florist, 131 High Street Wavertree, Liverpool, Merseyside, L15 8JS
20 – 27 September
A chance to see the completed floral wreaths spelling out Make Time For Love, made during the Rose Garden workshops, displayed in Occasions Florists shop front window.
Curated Playlist on Love
20 – 28 September
Audiences will also have the chance to listen to the playlist of love songs in businesses along the High Street, curated by the community.
Soundwalk
Ongoing
Inspired by the stories we tell each other that tie us to where we live. The Soundwalk is available for download via the Echoes app, through which you can listen, in specific locations, to music, field recordings and spoken word gathered from around the neighbourhood.
Information for visitors:
Saturday 20 September 2025 – Saturday 28 September
Venues along Wavertree High St, Wavertree, Liverpool L15
Make Time For Love © by YARA + DAVINA, 2025. A project by Metal. Commissioned by Culture Liverpool and supported by Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, the University of Liverpool and Art Fund.
About Picton Play
Make Time For Love is the finale of a two-year artist in residence project called Picton Play, commissioned by Culture Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, as part of the Creative Neighbourhoods programme, bringing together artists, community organisers, young people and other curious residents to celebrate the creativity in Wavertree and Picton and to explore new ways of getting together through play.
