
In the years after WWII, the number of worshippers declined,
many leaving the city centre for pastures new, and in February 1967 the grand
organ fell silent. A year later it was bought by the Peter Moores Foundation
and became home to the UK’s first community arts programme, run by Bill and
Wendy Harpe. Since then they and the team have provided a feast of
community projects, mainly for the local population of this part of the inner
city. The dream, though, was always to create a huge multi-purpose cultural and
arts centre. Today, the Black-E, formerly known as the Blackie, a name derived
because, like many buildings in Liverpool, it was discoloured by a century of
soot propelled from tens of thousands of domestic coal fires, and the smoke
from the fires created by two world wars, has relaunched itself to build on its
tradition as a multi-purpose community arts facility. Now boasting a vast
performance space, the city centre has an amazing new venue, a proper arts
centre; a space capable of staging anything from boxing to fashion shows to
exhibitions and demonstrations, and appropriately a church group holding Sunday
services in the building.
You can find out more about the Black –E by visiting their
website on the link below.
Link
Robert F Edwards Pin It