Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre

BOARC runs regular events including open days and events hosted by members of the team.

We also hold annual, seasonal events for collective resourcing and exchange. Our Annual General Exchange (AGE) usually takes place around Samhain and Bonfire Night, and we also host an annual event for the Summer Solstice. These events include planned time to input into the direction of BOARC for the following year.

BOARC users/affiliates, also host events at the Observatory.

***UPCOMING EVENTS***

Heritage Tours (March 21-22)

-- BOARC event, building tour + heritage talk, 12pm + 2pm

Somatics and Performance Making Intensive (March 26-29)

-- Mary Pearson + Amy Volaris event, dance, clowning, physical theatre, drag and cabaret

Creation Week (March 30-April 5)

-- Jamie Wood event, clowning + performance

Art Market + Open Day (April 6)

-- BOARC event, stalls, talks, 12-6pm

Wet Waves (April 17-18)

-- Wet Waves event, informal radio and sound group

Trans Sonic Express (April 23-26)

-- SSTRAPP event, sonic theory + practise, the Political Economy of Transness

Ancestral and Systemic Healing workshop (May 1-3)

-- Positive Plasticity event, healing workshops

DIY Experimental Performance and Synth Workshop Weekend (June 11-14)

-- Distribution of Power event, live performances, talks + workshops

Big Bucket Retreat (July 17-19)

-- Ugly Bucket event, clowning workshops, details + events page tbc

Summer Jam (July 20-26)

-- SSTRAPP event, sonic theory + practise, details + events page tbc

Wyrd Wyrale Festival (August 1st)

-- Wyrd Wyrale event, art, myth, music + ritual, 10am-11pm

The View (August 8-9)

-- Positive Plasticity event, healing festival and symposium

TBC:

BOARC - Summer Solstice (June 20-21st)

BOARC - Trans Time (autumn)

SSTRAPP - Noise Research Union (autumn)

BOARC - AGE (Annual General Exchange) (Nov 5-8)

BOARC - Christmas Dinners (Dec 11-13)

***PAST EVENTS***

Heritage Tours (Feb 21-22)

Penda's Fenn screening w/ Wyrd Wyrale (Jan 15)

Heritage Tours (Jan 10-11)

Christmas Dinner Pop Up (Dec 12-14)

Heritage Tours (Nov 22-23)

Heritage Tours (Oct 25-26)

Free Tours for Wirral Heritage Open Days (Sept 13-14)

SSTRAPP: Summer Jam (Aug 28-31)

Call The Cattle Home: Summer Social + Exhibition (Aug 23)

Heritage Tours (Aug 16-17)

People gathered around a dinner table, outside in the sun, someone with a reddish brown top and curly hands stands at the head of the table, speaking

3 people in bright coloured outfits, clowning around in the movement room, with big body language and expressive faces

black and white photo of people stood around a fire, some sat on logs, bidston observatory and trees in the background

main kitchen space, full of people. most sat in a circle around the edge, and some sat on the floor, dotted with colourful mats and cushions.

basement room full of people sat on chairs, looking towards a projection screen. the room is cast in pink light.

(1) Image of Mixed Menu courtesy of the artist, Hannaa Hamdache. Pictures by Elodie Sacher/ A.MAL - Ard Residency 2023

(2) Picture by Jack Ehlen, of the Big Bucket Retreat 2023, by Ugly Bucket

(3) Image by Bink Bulthaweenan of Trans Time 2025

(4) Penda's Fen screening in 2026, by Wyrd Wyrale

(5) Radical Routes gathering 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an artistic research centre?

In the arts, just like in the sciences, research is conducted in the process of making or experimenting. Practitioners take time, and focus attention on the way that they conduct their practice – however it fits into a discipline, or sits outside many. The process of doing research in the arts varies greatly, and there is no one methodology which applies to all. This artistic research centre is a space where people can come to explore different methods of working, have time for reflection, and get feedback from other practitioners.

What do you mean by self-organising?

The stewards are here to support the building and its resources. The building and its resources are here to support you and your work. While the project is all about trying to make things possible, stewards are already fully occupied with administration and practicalities and can not be expected to support the needs of your personal practice too.

Why is it only possible to stay for a minimum of two nights?

It’s not possible for people to stay for one night only, as this tends to take away from the community’s resources rather than add to it - not to mention the extra laundry costs!

Why is it only possible to stay for a maximum of one month?

In order for this resource to be shared by multiple different groups and individuals, stay is capped at one month. This keeps the space flowing and stops areas becoming territorialised unintentionally. As this is a study site, it is not possible to just live here, though we understand study takes many different forms and doesn’t always appear “productive”.

Why is there a sliding scale?

Many of the decisions we make here at BOARC focus on keeping this resource available for practitioners. The sliding scale helps us to offer a subsidised rate to people who would benefit.

Why is it important to read the values?

through the values carefully and make a decision for themselves about whether they feel aligned. It is not important to share all of these values exactly as they are written, but you should be aware that this is an actively anti-racist, anti-ableist, intersectional feminist site, and there are accountability guidelines in place here for users, stayers, stewards and organisers alike.[Link to values here]