THIS WEEKEND - Halton features in the Liverpool Architecture Festival for 2024!   

What better time to visit Halton than this weekend, where you can take a tour of the Buddhist Temple and Hazlehurst Studios in the Runcorn Old Town.  

Liverpool Architecture Festival is back, and the June 2024 edition will be bigger and better than ever. Building on the successes of the 2021 and 2022 Festivals, #LAF24 intends to deliver a full calendar of free, interactive events and exhibitions throughout the Liverpool City Region in Halton, Knowsley St. Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and Liverpool. The theme 'Neighbourhood' intends to help people connect with their local architectural environment. 

Hazlehurst Studios  

Hazelhurst studios will be opening their doors allowing visitors the opportunity to enjoy a tour of the building and explore the latest exhibition showcased on the gallery walls, see the print room in action, visit the darkroom, and discover the studios of talented artists who are part of Hazlehurst Studios. As a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC), Hazlehurst Studios is dedicated to providing affordable studio spaces for local artists. Following its expansion into the Grade II listed building last year, the organisation has significantly broadened its offerings for the local artistic community.  

Wat Phra Singh UK Buddhist Temple 

As part of LAF24 visitors will enjoy tour of the new Peace Garden. The publicly accessible facility adjacent to the temple will feature a 6M tall “Chedi” that is being donated to our temple by a benefactor in Thailand.  The project also includes landscaping, public seating and wheelchair access. This unique public space is the Buddist Temple's gift to the people of Runcorn who have been so welcoming since it opened in 2013.  After the Peace Garden tour a participants will also be able to look around the temple. This event is open to all.  

Reconnecting Runcorn 

A guided walking tour of Runcorn town centre along series of regeneration sites part of the Reconnecting Runcorn program. The tour will start at the community room in Runcorn station, providing participants with understanding of the proposals to regenerate the town centre with Government Town Deal funding. The projects have been developed in consultation with the local community, aiming to increase footfall, dwell time and local spend supporting the local economy. The tour looks at the proposed locations for new open green space around historic canal extension, the Peace Garden at the Buddhist Temple, new canal front homes, Hazlehurst arts collective in restored Georgian property, youth centre with winter garden proposed in vacant Victorian high street shop, and the Brindley Theatre extension with new public realm. 

For more information and ticket release information:  

Open Door: Hazlehurst Studios — LAF (laf-uk.com) 

Peace Garden — LAF (laf-uk.com)  

Reconnecting Runcorn — LAF (laf-uk.com) 

About Recconnecting Runcorn

Reconnecting Runcorn is an ambitious set of eight projects incorporating 15 strands, that collectively will improve the lives and livelihoods of local people and boost the local economy. The total funding awarded to Reconnecting Runcorn to deliver Runcorn's Town investment Plan is £23.6m. 

This programme is funded through the Towns Fund which forms part of the UK Government's Levelling up agenda, with the purpose of driving sustainable long-term economic and productivity growth, through the regeneration of the town. The ambition is to invigorate and enhance the connections locally, through improved training and economic opportunities, enhanced transport links, housing and environmental improvements, and upgraded visitor attractions.

For further information or to request interviews or images, please contact  

suzie@viv-id.co.uk