Community engagement programme launches alongside World Boxing Championships

Liverpool is preparing to welcome the inaugural World Boxing Championships for Elite men and women this September - and a major community engagement programme is set to run alongside the sporting spectacle.

From 4 - 14 September, the city will play host to the world’s best boxers, and Culture Liverpool is working with creative and sporting partners to ensure the event leaves a lasting legacy. The programme features three unique artistic residencies in schools and neighbourhoods, including a public exhibition celebrating the unsung heroes of the sport.

Delivered in partnership with Open Eye Gallery and England Boxing, the Unsung Heroes exhibition will be on display at St George’s Hall - Stable Gallery shining a light on 20 grassroots figures nominated by local boxing clubs. 

Photographers Emma Case and Katie Richardson, with filmmaker Susannah Fletcher, have captured portraits and stories of these “Unsung Heroes” - the people whose dedication continues to shape the boxing community. 

The free exhibition runs 29 August - 20 September, open Monday-Saturday, 9am-4.30pm.

Residencies will see artists working closely with local communities:

• At Rotunda ABC, artist and boxing coach Ciara Lyons is spending six weeks exploring stories of belonging, heritage and wellbeing, which will be developed into a film, performance and exhibition.

• Wired Aerial Theatre will work with secondary schools and take up residency at The Florrie - a venue with strong ties to Liverpool’s boxing history - delivering workshops and performances of their aerial theatre piece Me Vs Me. The production tackles themes of mental health and resilience, developed in partnership with mental health activists and education experts. Schools have also been offered the opportunity to attend boxing matches at the M&S Bank Arena during the championships.

This programme has been made possible thanks to Liverpool City Council, World Boxing Championships, England Boxing, GB Boxing and UKSPF, with support from adi.tv.

For more details, visit the Culture Liverpool website.