casablanca

	DOCKERS MOVE TO THEIR NEW BUILDING For the last three months a team of dockers have been working on the restoration of their building in the heart of Liverpool's City centre. Having failed to access any grants for this work the dockers had no option but to begin this work themselves. The first phase of this refurbishment programme involves the complete renovation of the top two floors of this Grade Two listed Georgian building. The entire top floor rooms will be used for the administration and finance departments of the IF with the first floor being dedicated to the provision of computer education suites. Dockers and the community will be encouraged to develop their own initiatives in the area of digital technology, film and the creative arts. The philosophy of the IF is to create work in a diverse area of subjects.

The Initiative Factory (IF) has been successful in obtaining a building in the City centre of Liverpool, 29 Hope Street, the former Casablanca Club. This is a Georgian Building situated in the heart of John Moores University campus, adjacent to the Philharmonic Hall, Everyman Theatre and Hardman Street leisure area. The building has ground floor and basement open areas suitable for venue, stage, recording and film studio, and restaurant/bar facilities. The second and third floor rooms will provide adequate office/learning facilities but require considerable refurbishment. Hope Street itself will soon be a paved area adjoining the two cathedrals, providing further opportunities for street festivals and theatre.

THE HOLD
The Performing Arts Venue, The Initiative Factory, 29 Hope Street, Liverpool 1.

In order to provide a substantial new venue in Liverpool City Centre for the performing arts, the Initiative Factory are planning to establish THE HOLD, which will be open six nights a week. Access will be available during the day whenever necessary for the purposes of performance arts, teaching, or other community or school based initiatives.

Events and performance arts activities will reflect and celebrate both local and global diversity. Local youth bands will be encouraged to play THE HOLD, gaining experience and encouragement in the use of equipment etc., through sponsored competitions, organised within a friendly co-operative atmosphere, which would involve other schools, venues and cities. Music Workshops would also be developed to provide assistance and support in management, ICT, rehearsals, and marketing skills, provided in-house, through the Initiative Factory.

The IF will endeavour to contribute to Liverpool, developing a name in the performance and creative arts sector through organising a broad range of citywide events such as concerts in Sefton Park and sponsoring a stage at the Cavern Walks Festival for example. We will continue to work with local funding agencies to develop specific projects such as its current ESF/ELS/ROPEWALKS/CITY COUNCIL funded ARTS FUSION, delivering wage subsidies to ten young beneficiaries, music industry NVQ training, covering personal skills and ICT access.

THE HOLD, as part of the Initiative Factory, will be a not-for-profit organisation investing in all the activities taking place from 29 Hope Street.

For more info E-Mail the Initiative Factory at: dockers@gn.apc.org