Urban Strawberry Lunch and St Luke’s have always meant a lot to the Fab Collective.  We have exhibited our photos in there three times now – once in 2009 and twice in 2010.  Their support has been invaluable to our development and, we hope, our success over our short lifetime.

Similarly, we have also come to appreciate the great work that USL does.  Not only are they custodians of St Luke’s – keeping its doors open for people to come and look around and to be reminded of why its there and what it means to the city of Liverpool, but USL are champions of the local community.  They support where they can with arts projects, both visual, music and performance.  In so doing they reach out to a number of people who fall under the radar of mainstream life.  The church acts as a magnet to a number of homeless people and rather than seeing that as an annoyance, USL embraces it – seeing an opportunity to do good where many would turn the other way.

Our connection with USL has taught us a lot about what they do and why they do it.  Members of the Fab Collective have all benefited enormously from being involved with projects run by USL.  They have taught us some valuable lessons.

Friday night last week was our chance to give something back in a tangible way.  As many of you know, USL was the beneficiary of an Arts Council grant amounting to about £30,000 per annum.  The government’s arts budget cuts announced earlier this year left us reeling when we learned that that £30,000 had been culled completely.

With the help of Partridge & Bray auctioneers the auction of 22 Fab Collective photos (and one painting from Bernie Howden) raised nearly £1,300 on the night.  That was an amazing result and far exceeded even the most optimistic of our expectations.  When one adds in door takings and bar sales, the total for the night is well over £2,000.

We also recognise and say big respect to the bands who played – John Head, Fabienne Rothschilde, Mervyn Gersh and Hope Street Harmonies. Thanks also to VJ Tristan Brady-Jacobs.

But all this would have been nothing without all the people who came on the night and, especially those who bid for and bought one of the lots.  To you – we say a massive thank you.

An evening of celebration and fundraising for Urban Strawberry Lunch and St Luke’s (bombed out) Church

On Friday 9th September , 6.30-9.30pm, the Fab Collective will play host to One Night Only – a gala evening of fundraising in support of Urban Strawberry Lunch and their work at St Luke’s (Bombed Out) Church.

USL have worked closely with the Fab Collective since 2009, when we held our first exhibition at St Luke’s. Since then we have returned for two more exhibitions, and been a major contributor to USL’s Hollywood Homeless project. See the photo below called “Dialing Dali” shot by Mick Jones, who was one of the participants in Hollywood Homeless.

When it was announced in March 2011 that USL were to receive a 100% cut in Arts Council England Funding the Fab Collective decided that action was needed, and instead of holding our annual exhibition at St Luke’s offered instead to auction the work that would have formed the exhibition. All the money raised from the auction will be donated to USL – the Collective having also paid for the production costs.

The auction will be undertaken by Nick Bray of Partridge Bray Auctioneers, Liverpool’s newest auction house and sale room. Nick has agreed to donate his time for free to the event, and he is inviting his partner Adam Partridge (Flog It!) and former colleague Cathy Hawkes (who has also worked with USL in the past) to join him.

And word of the event has spread, with John Head (Shack) donating a performance. John, local music legend with a loyal and strong fan base, will be appearing with special guests.

USL’s funding cut amounts to £35,000; and together the Fab Collective, Nick Bray and John Head aim to raise in excess of £1,000 towards this target.

The gallery of images for sale is below.  All images are A3 in size and are mounted and framed ready for hanging.  If you can’t come, but are still interested in making a bid, then we can accept bids by email.  Simply send an email to  info@fabcollective.com with your contact details, maximum bid and, of course the title of the photo you are bidding for.  Commissioned bids must be received by 23.59 hours on Thursday 8th September. 

We have also just received this fantastic original acrylic on canvas painting of St Luke’s from local artist, Bernie Howden. Not that we aren’t keen on our photos, but this is a stunning piece.