Friday 10th September at The Nerve Centre.

It's Friday 10th September, and if you should be going anywhere, its The Nerve Centre! If you're still in any doubt, let me tell you what's going on...

From 12pm to 2pm, we have another movie showing, and today it's No Impact Man. Trailer below...



From 2pm until 3pm we present poetry and discussion from Eleanor Rees and Dave Ward. Eleanor Rees’s Andraste’s Hair presents Liverpool as a fantastical city while Dave Ward’s Where The World Begins focuses on the dockers’ Strike. 

Then, from 3pm, Carol Laidlaw leads a discussion on who makes laws, how they work, and how people can use them to to challenge injustice. 
(Update: Unbeknown to me, Carol was unwell so couldn't make it. So, no discussion occurred! Sorry for the inconvenience if you turned up and were disappointed.)

If this doesn't tempt you inside, then check out the events lined up for our - cue the violins - last day on Saturday 11th. It'll be a grand send off so make sure you're there!

The Nerve Centre.

Nerve Centre Interview: Steve Eye

Steve Eye, Film Guy. Yes, a bad bit of rhyming there from this writer, but that matters not when I have a nice little interview with our, you guessed it, Film Guy! Many of you out there will know Steve Eye from his previous movie nights at The Social Centre on Bold Street, and many of you will have enjoyed his choice of films at The Nerve Centre too. So sit back, make yourself comfortable and read my highly entertaining chat with the brilliantly named Steve Eye.

The Nerve Centre:There's been quite a lot going on at The Nerve Centre. Any highlights so far?
Steve Eye: I always welcome a rare opportunity to hear Paul Tarpey reciting his poetry. He’s totally unique and he doesn’t do it often enough! Inviting Peter Leeson to come to Liverpool and talk about the making of his film here in 1970 was pretty great too. And just enjoying showing some of my favorite documentaries and seeing people responding to them as strongly as I did has been very rewarding. Most of all I’ve enjoyed meeting some very cool new people and renewing acquaintances with some old friends.
 
TNC:What's your relationship to Nerve Magazine?
SE: I know most of the people involved and occasionally get asked to contribute an article or some humorous cuttings (see current issue!)
 
TNC: You seem to have a lot of movies in your collection. Do you have a particular specialty or are you open to all types of film?
SE: My collection is pretty vast! I’m showing only documentaries at the Nerve Centre but I love feature films too. I’ve got a pretty wide taste, ranging from dark bleak European drama to terrifying Asian ghost films to trashy B Movies to political cinema from around the world, and lots more besides! I am sometimes accused of always showing grim films but that's only because there aren't enough political films with happy endings! 
 
TNC: How did you go about choosing the films for The Nerve Centre?
SE: I figured political documentaries were the most appropriate films to show while the Nerve Centre was open. Most of them were chosen from amongst the collection of films I’ve shown previously at the Documentary Night at Next To Nowhere (Liverpool Social Centre) in the basement of 96 Bold Street . I picked my own favourites of those and tried to choose a wide range to cover as many different topics as possible and find some short films which I thought would go well together.
 
TNC: Do you have a favourite film amongst those showing at The Nerve Centre?
SE: Hmmm, tricky! As an old punk I find the film about CRASS very inspiring. And ‘Arna’s Children’ is incredibly powerful and has the potential to really alter people’s perceptions, so it would be hard to top that one. But I love them all really!
 
TNC: Has any thing in the exhibition caught your eye particularly?
SE: What, apart from the huge naked man bearing down on me when I enter the building?! I like Dusty Paul’s artwork very much. And the window displays have been very eyecatching
  
TNC: What do you think is the message of The Nerve Centre?
SE: Express yourself in whatever way you find suitable. Get involved. You can help change the world if you try. Speak out if you have something to say. Come and join in!
 
TNC: Once the Closing Party wraps on September 11th, what should be the future for The Nerve Centre?

SE: It should remain a place with a series of homes, since it can’t remain in the building it’s currently in. Let’s find other places for it to exist and keep it moving so it reaches as many people as possible. Some of the social centres around the country have had several homes and are not tied to a particular set of bricks, but are more about the group of people involved
 
TNC: Are there any movies you were considering showing at The Nerve Centre but didn't? If so, what were the movies?
SE: Lots, but there’s only been time for so many. I tried to cover as many bases as possible theme wise but would have really liked to shown 'Beyond Hatred’ and Spike Lee’s '4 Little Girls’, two more extremely moving films
 
TNC: Can you sum up the power of film in a sentence?
SE: Not really! But film can provoke a thought or teach you something in only 90 minutes that may have a profound impact on the rest of your life – how many other mediums can do that?
 
TNC: Any parting words for us until we see you again at The Nerve Centre?
SE: I hope if you’ve watched any of the films I’ve chosen that they’ve made an impact and given you something to think about when you left. Until the Nerve Centre returns you can find me showing films at Next To Nowhere on a regular basis – I usually show documentaries on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, and I show feature films with a political or social message on alternate Sundays. Check the calendar here for more information - http://www.liverpoolsocialcentre.org/calendar/month.php

Thanks Steve for a great interview! Catch Steve when he's next at The Nerve Centre for a showing of Peaceable Kingdom on Wednesday 8th September.

The Nerve Centre.

Wednesday 1st September at The Nerve Centre.

Did you have a good time at The Nerve Centre today? Did you see the CRASS movie? Did you join in the discussion with Philosophy In Pubs? Whatever you did today, I hope it was fulfilling and above all worth it. But if it's inspiration you're looking for, and stimulating visual art and discussion, a visit to The Nerve Centre may well be the balm for your intellectual scars. Take a look at what the 'morrow - that is Wednesday 1st September - brings at The Nerve Centre:

We open at 12pm and will be showing some movies for your delight, shock, horror, enjoyment and whatever other adjective is on your lips as you view and the trailers for them are below: 

(There is short clip from Circus For Life here.)

Needless to say, some stimulating stuff here!

Following a quick break for tea, coffee or whatever it is you gain sustenance from, there will an important discussion on Higher Education, it's relationship with "reclaiming the city" and much more.  Hosted by Ross Dawson, it will undoubtedly be an interesting and well attended discussion. Head to The Nerve Centre, if you're not already there, for 3pm to have your say on this highly relevant issue!

See you soon,

The Nerve Centre.

Tuesday 31st August at The Nerve Centre.

It's a sunny day - for now, at least! - and The Nerve Centre is back with another day filled with possibility, discussion and ideas. Head down for twelve o'clock and you can see the exhibition before the following events occur:

From 12 to 2pm we have another film show, with the trailers for the films below:

If these look good, head down for 12pm and join us as we learn more of the world through the many fascinating movies showing at The Nerve Centre.

Coming at 3pm is another discussion from our favorite Philosophy group, Philosophy In Pubs. Todays topic is Nature versus Nature. Mike Ellis faciliates as the group discusses how we can turn peoples lives around. Come on down and join in! 

The Nerve Centre.

Open Mic Session on Friday 3rd September 8 - 10.30pm.

'Open Mic Session' hosted by Vinny Spencer and Gabi Monks of Rich Man's Ruin.

Friday 3rd September, 8-10.30pm at The Nerve Centre.

This is a free but ticketed event. Get your ticket at News From Nowhere.

The Nerve Centre.

Sunday 29th August at The Nerve Centre.

As you may have guessed from my rather imagination overload title, I'm about to tell you just why you should pay a visit to The Nerve Centre on Sunday 29th August! Despite the business all over the city, the Matthew Street festival, the Fringe and everything else in between there is an alternative, even if you only come in and have a look at the grassroots artists exhibition!

Yes, we bring you a day of workshops, discussions, demonstrations, films and fun from Climate Action Network and Critical Mass. The main events are followed by a Sunset Bike Ride which should prove a fitting end to a day of learning and fun. Free entry and all welcome.

All Day - Transition Town Allotment, Fix you own bike, generate electricity on a bicycle

11-1pm - Living off grid discussion, followed by introduction to 12/24v DC

electricity and electrical generation

1-2pm - Urban Agriculture and Community Orchards

2-3pm - Lets Talk about wild flowers

3-4pm - Transition Towns

4-5pm - Action report - Liverpool Climate Action Network talk about recent campaign actions, followed by an open floor for people/groups to talk about a local campaign

5-6.30pm - Trade Unions and Climate Change

7-7:30pm - What happened and where next.

Don't forget about the Sunset Bike Ride that follows where you could easily imagine yourself in some fantasy end credits sequence cycling off into the distance and the unknown future if you wanted to!

Remember that Monday is a day of rest for all our busy Nerve crew, so we'll be closed. Come back on Tuesday from 12pm for more radical fun and artistic inspiration. Check the events calendar for full details of the day!

The Nerve Centre

Friday 27th August at The Nerve Centre.

Almost half-way into The Nerve Centre's run, time has certainly flown by amid a whirl of activities, workshops, live music, art and much more. Today was a prime example with another session of the Windows Writing Desk, where the aspiring writer, feedback seeking author or person with writing to discuss can come and get feedback from Windows. And,of course, Val Walsh and Arthur Adlen appeared with their part performance, part workshop, part discussion piece 'Poetry, Politics and Difference'. Not as event packed as the upcoming weekend, but still full of observations and thoughts to dwell upon!

This Friday at The Nerve Centre we have another film show from 12pm, featuring Critical Mass films such as...

We Aren't blocking Traffic, We ARE Traffic

Still We Ride

Live Bicycle 

Come along at 12pm and watch them all! There may be more so stick around after Live Bicycle and enjoy the movies and the exhibition!  Plus, why not contribute something to the free to add to ongoing retrospective of The Nerve Centre, 'Nerve Ends', which is just opposite the kids space?! Anything goes, a word, a poem, a motif, a sticker, a 3-D sculpture...just fill the canvas so we start another one!

The Nerve Centre.

John Daly's 'Movie Moments' @ 3pm Sat urday 28th August.

Have you got a favorite scene or moment from a movie that you want to share with the audience at The Nerve Centre? On Saturday 28th of August from 3pm to 4pm you have a chance to do exactly that! 

Once the clips have been shown you will be invited to discuss how it makes you feel both emotionally or on a humorous level and beyond that brief there is only one request from John that you try and keep the clips relatively short as there will be limited time for each person's clip. Have fun choosing  and see you there!

The Nerve Centre.

Tuesday 24th August at The Nerve Centre.

Following a day of relaxation for all the busy people at The Nerve Centre, Tuesday sees another day of radical fun for all including the exhibition open all day and the following events:

We present the film "We Feed The World" from 1pm, a film concerning food and globalisation, fishermen and farmers, long distance lorry drivers and high powered corporate executives. See the trailer below.

Other films may follow it, so stick around afterwards for the inevitable discussion that will flow before we lead into another discussion from The Nerve Centre from 3.30pm presented by Marina Grueic. The topic, 'Is Veganism the Answer?', centers around a report from The United Nations that has identified the worlds rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife.

Needless to say it'll be a stimulating day, so come on down and get involved!

The Nerve Centre.

Saturday 21st August at The Nerve Centre.

Following another action packed day at The Nerve Centre is an even more action packed day on Saturday 21st August! Wipe your brow and check out the mammoth day we have lined up tomorrow...

From 12pm to 1pm we have some poetry and stories from Arthur Adlen.

At 1pm we have an origami demonstration with Shinobu Gahan.

From 2pm we have the sure to be brilliant Snappertronics, with their excellent live dub show.

From 3pm Philosophy in Pubs are back with a discussion sure to be heated and as topical as topical can be. That is, the legacy of 2008 and Consumerism or community? Are we losing our community through our obsessional search for materialism? Paul Doran facilitates.

And if that wasn't enough there's more! We have the ever more topical in our city, How to Write a Planning Objection Workshop at 5pm with Nina Edge of the Welsh Street Campaign leading a practical session on how to fight demolition.

Rounding off the day at 6.30pm we have Flaming Maimies, an all girl, six member group who perform Country, Jazz and Blues. 

And don't forget the artwork from our many contributors and friends!

The Nerve Centre. 

Coming Up at The Nerve Centre.

After an interesting day at The Nerve Centre, with art a plenty, Windows Writing Desk offering valuable feedback to Liverpool's writers, surprise visitors of many origins and the weather not being too much of a draw back, let's look at Friday 20th August's multitude of pleasures:

We have Historic Films of Liverpool from 12pm including the following:

Morning In The Streets (1959)
Beat City (1963)
Turn Of The Tide (1967)
Liverpool Sounding (1967)
Us And Them (1970)
Who Cares? (1971)

From 2pm we have Philosophy in Pubs with a talk with the film maker of ‘Us and Them’, Peter Leason, followed by discussion on the burning issue of the demolition of Liverpool communities from Scotland Road, Kensington, Toxteth and many others, raising the questions ‘how did it affect us?’ ‘why were we not consulted’ and 'how can we ensure we are listened to in the future?' 

Finally, when you've caught your breath, we have from 4:30 Living Newspaper, in which Carl Dutton encourages expressive interpretations of the news. Sound intriguing? Come on down to The Nerve Centre and get involved! 

The Nerve Centre.