Radical Makers is a year-long free part time emerging artist training course for adults aged 25+ in Merseyside.

The current course began in September 2021. For information about getting involved in future Radical Makers courses, contact Aidan Jolly, Course Director: aidan[@]collective-encounters.org.uk or call/text 07377 968352

Current Radical Makers programme

There are 13 emerging artists taking part in the 2021-2022 programme, representing a range of backgrounds and artistic interests. Introductions to the group members will be added below over the next few weeks. More info coming soon!

Susan Cunningham
Susan Cunningham
I was born to Liverpool’s very own ragged trousered philanthropist.

Drama, contemporary dance and singing were my survival tools, in a gritty world I called Beirut.

Life began at 17, punk was #pollinate, I danced my way out of a shy girl chrysalis skin into a tough one.

I have an idea – ‘you’re mad if you’re normal.’

Now, I write (75,000 word novel), hundreds of poems; short stories and scripts in need of an outlet, pen name Suzie Sinclair Wood.

I’m a well adjusted misfit.

I’m a believer if you let yourself “see” people, you’ll like ‘em. Everyone has a story.

Tamara Walker
Tamara Walker
Tamara is talented artist, empathic counsellor, psychotherapist, holistic practitioner, and Reiki Master. Originating from Bulgaria, Tamara lived in different countries in Europe and resides in UK for the past 20 years, currently in Liverpool. Since young age she loves art and culture, where she expresses herself through different media. Tamara worked in the health and education sector for long part of her life, and she enjoys working with people of all ages, helping them to work towards achieving their full potential. Tamara loves writing poetry, she paints and over the years she has taken part in community and musical theatre, where she nurtured her love for life performance. Currently being associate artist, part of Collective Encounters, she continues to nurture her love for drama, theatre and radical changes through art.
Jo Mary Watson
Jo Mary Watson
Jo is a Queer, neurodiverse Mother of one, a reader, writer, and creator from Hamburg, now based in Liverpool. Her work is influenced by mental health matters, motherhood, people she has known and moments she has experienced, actual and imaginary. Jo is deeply inspired by her child, moving water (rivers, seas, oceans, tears, rain) and flowers.
Michelle Ryell
Michelle Ryell
Music was my first love having played in orchestra and wind band and sang in county choir and stage musical.
A hiatus of 30 years has seen me dedicate myself to bearing witness to the testimony of others. Supporting change and inspiring hope.
Radical Makers offers me the opportunity to combine these two aspects of myself and to discover renewed creative approaches to how I work.