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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Metal Culture
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260621
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260622
DTSTAMP:20260604T183215Z
CREATED:20260512T140118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260604T183215Z
UID:24940-1782000000-1782086399@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:EWH: Walk and Talk around Canvey Wick with Man About Country
DESCRIPTION:Join James Lawrence\, AKA Man About Country\, for a special guided walk around Canvey Wick\, one of Essex’s (and England’s) most fascinating nature reserves. In this brownfield rainforest you’ll discover wildlife\, hear stories from over 2\,000 years of Canvey Island history\, and explore how these incredible places can supercharge your creative practice in unexpected ways. \nJames is working on a book following his 400km adventure on the Essex Way.  \nBook your tickets here. Tickets are £10 and include lunch. \nSee the full Essex Writers Programme here.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/ewh-walk-and-talk-around-canvey-wick-with-man-about-country/
LOCATION:Canvey Wick
CATEGORIES:Southend
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copy-of-National-Centre-for-Writings-Esculator-writers-Emily-Abdeni-Holman-and-Boakye-D.-Alpha-In-conversation-with-award-winning-author-Camilla-Balshaw.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260624T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260624T173000
DTSTAMP:20260512T140248Z
CREATED:20260512T133855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T140248Z
UID:24924-1782295200-1782322200@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:EWH: Open Advice Sessions with Camilla Balshaw
DESCRIPTION:Come along to one of our artist advice sessions for artists\, with the Metal Southend team and special guest writer Camilla Balshaw. \nWe are offering free 1:1 sessions for writers\, creatives and artists who live and/or work within our local areas. They will be led by you and what you would like to discuss. Sessions may include: \n– Discussing your creative practice or writing\n– Talking through a project idea\n– Advice or sign posting to different funding routes or opportunities\n– Building relationships with different organisations\, voluntary groups\, partners or venues\n– Budget development or reading draft applications \nWe’re offering these sessions in person at Chalkwell Hall\, as well as the option to discuss your work with us online. There is one session available per artist and the slots are 1 hour long. If you would like for your session to be online\, please contact us directly via phone or email to confirm and we will arrange a video link. \nBook a free slot here. \nSee the full Essex Writers Programme here. \nWho is the offer for?\nOur Open Advice Sessions are open to writers artists and creatives working in any artform\, at any stage of their career. Individuals\, collaborations or collectives can book a slot.\nAny artist that has previously booked a slot with us won’t be eligible this time.\nYou must live or work in\, or have a strong connection to South Essex (Basildon\, Brentwood\, Castle Point\, Rochford\, Southend-on-Sea\, Thurrock) \nAbout the Southend team\nIn Southend\, we have a wide range of expertise and practices from art history\, museums and heritage\, to fashion and video art. We have strong skills around project management\, event production and between us\, a thorough understanding of the creative ecosystem in South Essex. We are interested in supporting projects and ideas which have a strong social and/or social justice purpose and are interested in broadening diversity in the sector. We have skills around participatory practice and co-design and are keen to support practitioners in building connections with the wider community. We are able to offer a range of support from funding applications and business planning to connecting and marketing. Learn more about our Southend site and our access in the space here. \nAbout Camilla Balshaw\nCamilla Balshaw is an award-winning author. She has been published in numerous journals\, and her essays have featured in the Guardian\, Therapy Today and the Observer. Camilla’s debut memoir\, Named: A Story Of Names And Reclaiming Who We Are (2025)\, has been described by Diana Evans as a ‘valuable meditation on the origins of what we call ourselves\, packed full of rich storytelling’ and by Bonnie Burke-Patel as an ‘utterly fascinating\, insightful and meaningful memoir.’ In 2025\, Namedwon the best Memoir & Biography category in the East Anglian Book Awards.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/ewh-open-advice-sessions-with-camilla-balshaw/
LOCATION:Metal Southend\, Chalkwell Hall\, Chalkwell Avenue\, Southend on Sea\, Essex\, SS08NB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Southend
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Camilla-Balshaw.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260624T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260624T210000
DTSTAMP:20260804T153140Z
CREATED:20260512T141212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T153140Z
UID:24956-1782327600-1782334800@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:EWH: Writing and the Power of Language: In conversation with Camilla Balshaw\, E. Abdeni-Holman and Boakye D. Alpha
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an evening with the National Centre for Writing’s Escalator Writers E. Abdeni-Holman and Boakye D. Alpha\, in conversation with award-winning author Camilla Balshaw about writing and the power of language\, with discussion rooted in cultural histories\, oppression and identity. \nFree. Book your tickets here. \nSee the full Essex Writers Programme here. \nThe panel: \nCamilla Balshaw is an award-winning author. She has been published in numerous journals\, and her essays have featured in the Guardian\, Therapy Today and the Observer. Camilla’s debut memoir\, Named: A Story of Names and Reclaiming Who We Are (2025)\, has been described by Diana Evans as a ‘valuable meditation on the origins of what we call ourselves\, packed full of rich storytelling’ and by Bonnie Burke-Patel as an ‘utterly fascinating\, insightful and meaningful memoir.’ In 2025\, Named won the best Memoir & Biography category in the East Anglian Book Awards. \nNamed is a fascinating exploration of names\, global naming conventions and identity politics woven into a moving\, personal narrative about the finding of family and self. At the intersection of memoir and social and cultural history it is a truly fascinating book about the seemingly ordinary and every day. \nE. Abdeni-Holman was raised in England and Lebanon\, and is particularly interested in crossing-points\, of identities\, languages\, and places. She enjoys experimenting with different kinds of style and form and is currently working on a couple of projects: a collection of short stories\, mostly converging around Lebanon; and a more hybrid work about Arab-European identity\, pre- and post-October 2023. \nHer first book\, Body Tectonic\, on Lebanon’s socioeconomic crisis\, is an experiment in approaching structural disaster through poetry (Broken Sleep Books\, 2024). In 2025\, she was one of five writers shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award. \nBoakye D. Alpha is a Ghanaian interdisciplinary creative whose works include poetry\, prose\, screenplays\, creative nonfiction\, and filmmaking. His writing has appeared in Lolwe\, The Shallow Tales Review\, and elsewhere. In 2025\, his short story was longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Although a versatile writer\, his heart lies in literary fiction\, and continues to explore experimental\, layered narratives that provoke reflection on society and the experiences of underrepresented voices. \nHis work in progress explores the reality for some women in Ghana who endure violence and systemic oppression rooted in superstition. Through intergenerational narratives\, the novel exposes the haunting effects of gendered violence.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/ewh-writing-and-the-power-of-language-in-conversation-with-camilla-balshaw-emily-addeni-holman-and-boakye-d-alpha/
LOCATION:Metal Southend\, Chalkwell Hall\, Chalkwell Avenue\, Southend on Sea\, Essex\, SS08NB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Southend
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/National-Centre-for-Writings-Esculator-writers-Emily-Abdeni-Holman-and-Boakye-D.-Alpha-In-conversation-with-award-winning-author-Camilla-Balshaw-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260627T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260627T170000
DTSTAMP:20260617T154029Z
CREATED:20260617T154029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T154029Z
UID:25131-1782554400-1782579600@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:A Poet in Every Port – Day 2
DESCRIPTION:We’re shining a spotlight on Southend’s coastal stories as part of A Poet in Every Port – a national initiative celebrating the UK’s diverse dialects and languages\, marking Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary. We’re partnering with Southbank Centre as one of 11 coastal hosts welcoming the mobile National Poetry Library! On 27–28 June\, Chalkwell Hall will come alive with poetry and creativity. \nThe mobile poetry library will be parked in Chalkwell Park\, outside of Chalkwell Hall where Essex Writers House will also be taking place\, on Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 June. Across the weekend\, as well as exploring the poetry bus\, you can get involved in free workshops and poetry readings. See the timings and details below. \nSunday 28 June \n– 10am – 12pm: Workshops with specially selected community groups\n– 12pm – 1pm: Workshops for all (open to the general public)\n– 1pm – 2pm: Lunchtime performance slot (local writers and members of the public invited to read their poem)\n– 2pm – 4pm: Workshops for all (open to the general public)\n– 4pm – 5pm: Final performance slot (local writers and members of the public invited to read their poems) \nCheck out what’s happening on Saturday 27 June here.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/a-poet-in-every-port-day-2/
LOCATION:Metal Southend\, Chalkwell Hall\, Chalkwell Avenue\, Southend on Sea\, Essex\, SS08NB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Southend
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1080-x-1080-3.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260627T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260627T210000
DTSTAMP:20260617T154056Z
CREATED:20260617T152553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T154056Z
UID:25127-1782554400-1782594000@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:A Poet in Every Port - Day 1
DESCRIPTION:We’re shining a spotlight on Southend’s coastal stories as part of A Poet in Every Port – a national initiative celebrating the UK’s diverse dialects and languages\, marking Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary. We’re partnering with Southbank Centre as one of 11 coastal hosts welcoming the mobile National Poetry Library! On 27–28 June\, Chalkwell Hall will come alive with poetry and creativity. \nThe mobile poetry library will be parked in Chalkwell Park\, outside of Chalkwell Hall where Essex Writers House will also be taking place\, on Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 June. Across the weekend\, as well as exploring the poetry bus\, you can get involved in free workshops and poetry readings. See the timings and details below. \nSaturday 27 June \n– 10am – 12pm: Workshops with specially selected community groups\n– 12pm – 1pm: Workshops for all (open to the general public)\n– 1pm – 2pm: Lunchtime performance slot (local writers and members of the public invited to read their poem)\n– 2pm – 5pm: Workshops for all (open to the general public)\n– 7pm – 9pm: Poet Social: Evening event inside Chalkwell Hall\, curated by Maddi Crease \nBook your free ticket for the Poet Social HERE \nCheck out what’s happening on Sunday 28 June here.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/a-poet-in-every-port-day-1/
LOCATION:Metal Southend\, Chalkwell Hall\, Chalkwell Avenue\, Southend on Sea\, Essex\, SS08NB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Southend
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1080-x-1080-3.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260629T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260629T200000
DTSTAMP:20260527T163109Z
CREATED:20260527T162804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T163109Z
UID:25038-1782756000-1782763200@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:Peterborough Festival Network: Marketing with Nazma Noor
DESCRIPTION:Join arts marketing professional Nazma Noor for a relaxed\, informal Festival Network session with discussions that will help you think like your target audiences and generate ideas for how to use marketing to reach them. \nTogether\, we’ll explore questions such as:\n– What types of things do your audience care about?\n– What does good marketing look like?\n– What kind of budget should you be spending? \nCome along on Monday 29 June from 6-8pm at Peterborough Museum. Book your free place here. \nAbout Nazma Noor\nNazma Noor is a marketing specialist working in the Arts and Culture sector. She was the Digital Communications Manager at HOME Manchester and more recently has specialised in helping arts organisations use their marketing data to make decisions and inform strategies. \nOutside of her marketing roles\, she was one of the community co-curators for Manchester Museum’s award-winning South Asia Gallery and volunteers with Manchester International Festival and Manchester Literature Festival. \nShe is Co-Chair of the Board at Z-arts\, an arts centre dedicated to children and families\, and is a Trustee at Future Arts Centres\, a national network of more than 180 arts centres\, working together to champion the unique role these creative spaces play at the heart of their communities. \nShe is passionate about widening participation in the arts\, audience development and championing lesser known stories and narratives.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/25038/
LOCATION:Peterborough Museum and Gallery
CATEGORIES:Peterborough
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Peterborough-festival-Network-June-26.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260704T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260704T220000
DTSTAMP:20260701T093909Z
CREATED:20260701T093909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T093909Z
UID:25154-1783193400-1783202400@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:Hosted at Metal Liverpool: AMQH: Guilherme Peluci and the Liverpool Gathering Orchestra
DESCRIPTION:Guilherme Peluci is a Brazilian musician who is practising and researching Conducted Improvisation. He has conducted approximately 800 artists across different disciplines\, including visual arts\, theatre\, dance\, music and poetry. For this performance\, he’ll be working with a large group of mainly Liverpool-based musicians\, exploring Soundpainting\, Ritmo con Señas and his own Ad Hoc Orquestra system. \nDoors – 7:30pm\nMusic – 8pm \nTickets (pay on the door)\n£8 Waged\n£5 Unwaged \nThis event is part of our Hosted At programme.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/hosted-at-metal-liverpool-amqh-guilherme-peluci-and-the-liverpool-gathering-orchestra/
LOCATION:Metal Liverpool\, Platform 1\, Edge Hill Station\, Tunnel Road\, Liverpool\, L7 6ND\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Liverpool
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AMQH-Peluci-Gig.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260729T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260729T170000
DTSTAMP:20260715T084619Z
CREATED:20260610T142659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260715T084619Z
UID:25085-1785319200-1785344400@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:Metal Liverpool: Open Advice Sessions
DESCRIPTION:Our Metal Open Advice Sessions for creatives of all levels and art forms are back again on Wednesday 29 July. \nWant to discuss your creative practice\, explore a project idea or build relationships with local organisations? You can! We’re offering free 1:1 advice sessions for artists who live and/or work in our local area. \nSessions will be led by you and whatever you’d like to discuss\, which might include: \n– Talking through your creative practice\n– Developing or sense-checking a project idea\n– Advice or signposting to funding routes and opportunities\n– Building relationships with organisations\, voluntary groups\, partners or venues\n– Budget development or reading draft applications \nSessions are available in person from Metal’s base at Edge Hill Station or online. You can book one session and sessions last 1 hour. Places are offered on a first come\, first served basis (for those who live and/or work in our local area). \nBook your free slot here. \nWe look forward to seeing you!
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/metal-liverpool-open-advice-sessions-3/
LOCATION:Metal Liverpool\, Platform 1\, Edge Hill Station\, Tunnel Road\, Liverpool\, L7 6ND\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Liverpool
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Open-Advice-Liverpool-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Metal Liverpool":MAILTO:edgehill@metalculture.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260808T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260808T140000
DTSTAMP:20260803T092833Z
CREATED:20260728T151809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T092833Z
UID:25181-1786186800-1786197600@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:Words in Public Spaces: Writing Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Join a creative writing workshop and contribute words to be displayed across Peterborough. \nThis workshop is an opportunity to explore the power of words and the hidden stories that keep Peterborough going. Led by former Peterborough Poet Laureates Charley Genever (2016) and Keely Mills (2009)\, we will use words found and overheard across the city to create poems\, statements and collective texts. Writing in different languages is encouraged. \nAfter a delicious lunch\, we will explore how these words can enter public space through signs\, spoken word and performance. The workshop will help shape the public launch of ‘Words in Public Spaces’\, in September a project led by visual artist José García Oliva and commissioned by the Peterborough Cultural Alliance. \nBook free tickets here.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/words-in-public-spaces-writing-workshop/
LOCATION:Peterborough Quaker Meeting House\, 21 Thorpe Road\, Peterborough\, PE3 6AB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Peterborough
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Words-in-Public-Spaces-Saturday-8th-AugustPeterborough-Quaker-Meeting-House-2026-11am-–-2.30pm21-Thorpe-Rd-Peterborough-PE3-6AB.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260909T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260909T200000
DTSTAMP:20260728T100148Z
CREATED:20260728T100148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T100148Z
UID:25173-1788976800-1788984000@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:Mercury Creatives Southend Masterclass: Being a Musical Theatre Performer with Craig Mather
DESCRIPTION:Mercury Creatives have teamed up with Metal Southend and are using our space at Chalkwell Hall as their Southend hub! Check out one of their upcoming events below. \nMercury Creatives Southend Masterclass: Being a Musical Theatre Performer with Craig Mather – Book here! \nThis session will be a mixture of ensemble singing and an acting-through-song masterclass. \nYou’ll work together as a group on storytelling through music before inviting anyone who would like to take part in a one-to-one coaching session to perform a song of their choice. \nBringing a song is completely optional\, but it’s a great opportunity to receive personalised feedback in a supportive and encouraging environment. \nAge guidance: 18+ \nThis event is currently on priority sale to Mercury Creatives’ members. Become a member today to secure your place! General sale opens at 10am on Friday 31 July. \nMeet the Facilitator\nCraig Mather is a West End actor\, singer\, musician and creative producer. His theatre credits include Les Misérables (West End)\, The Wind in the Willows (London Palladium)\, Sweeney Todd\, Tonight’s the Night\, Spring Awakening and Pieces of String. Screen work includes Matilda the Musical (Netflix)\, Disney’s Cinderella and Alice Through the Looking Glass. Alongside performing\, Craig teaches at leading performing arts colleges and produces concerts and theatre projects\, helping the next generation of performers develop the skills and confidence needed for the industry. \nBursary Offer\nA limited number of free bursary places are available for this event.\nTo request one of these places\, please email mercury.creatives@mercurytheatre.co.uk \nDon’t miss our Connect session\nJoin us from 8pm at our Mercury Creatives Connect in Southend event for an exciting networking opportunity.
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/mercury-creatives-southend-masterclass-being-a-musical-theatre-performer-with-craig-mather/
LOCATION:Metal Southend\, Chalkwell Hall\, Chalkwell Avenue\, Southend on Sea\, Essex\, SS08NB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Southend
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mercury-Creatives-Southend-Events-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260909T200000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260909T210000
DTSTAMP:20260728T103004Z
CREATED:20260728T103004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T103004Z
UID:25179-1788984000-1788987600@metalculture.com
SUMMARY:Mercury Creatives Connect in Southend
DESCRIPTION:Mercury Creatives have teamed up with Metal Southend and are using our space at Chalkwell Hall as their Southend hub! Check out one of their upcoming events below. \nJoin us for this free Mercury Creatives networking event for a chance to connect with other local creatives. \nThis event is scheduled alongside a Mercury Creatives Masterclass at Metal Southend and designed as an opportunity for those attending the masterclass to network afterwards\, but it is also open to any local creatives who would like to come along and connect with others in the creative industry. \nThe bar will be open to purchase drinks\, and we would love to see you there (no ticket necessary). \nAge guidance: 18+ \nDon’t miss our Masterclass!\nJoin us for Mercury Creatives Southend Masterclass: Being a Musical Theatre Performer with Craig Mather ahead of this Connect session!
URL:https://metalculture.com/whats-on/mercury-creatives-connect-in-southend/
LOCATION:Metal Southend\, Chalkwell Hall\, Chalkwell Avenue\, Southend on Sea\, Essex\, SS08NB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Southend
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://metalculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mercury-Creatives-Southend-Events.png
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