Be sure to keep checking - there's lots more still to be announced
At The World Transformed 2022, we will imagine, demand and build radical alternatives to the status quo. From the cost of living to the climate crisis to attacks on workers - we’ll be responding to the biggest political challenges of today and sharing ideas, strategies and skills to strengthen our movement.
And after four long years, The World Transformed is back in Liverpool! We’re reuniting with venues like the Black-E and other old friends in England’s red hub.
As ever, the UK's biggest multi-day left wing festival will be packed with trainings, debates and workshops on the critical issues facing the left today. We’ll also be showcasing the finest in radical arts and culture, from cabaret and comedy to poetry and theatre. All this, plus the biggest and best parties on the left.
FAQs
We are committed to providing an event that’s as accessible as possible. We are guided by the social model of disability. We know we’ll get some things wrong, and we’re always learning.
The Accessibility Pack is available as view only google doc (opens in a new tab)HERE.
Please note we'll add to the pack as we compile more information. During the festival, it will also be available in hard copy from Box Office at the Black-E, just ask a volunteer there.
Here's some key information to help you plan your trip to the festival:
If you have any questions about accessibility in Liverpool this year, please get in touch at [email protected]
Childcare will be available for all four days of the festival run by our volunteer creche team. We will also be welcoming Red Sunday School (on Saturday!) for some participatory games and talks, which adults are welcome to attend! The Creche will be open from 10-6 in the following venues:
We’re keeping a close eye on Covid and will be sure to take appropriate measures, in line with both NHS guidance and what other comparable events are doing.
Venues have been asked to ventilate as much as possible and some may take additional precautions. There will be hand sanitiser across venues and you are welcome to wear masks in sessions and around the festival.
TWT strongly advises everyone to take a Covid test before attending. If you feel unwell you should avoid coming to the festival, and if you have any Covid symptoms you should take a Covid test as soon as you can. If you test positive you must not come to the festival, and should self-isolate.
Yes, but it's possible we'll sell out so we'd strongly advice you to buy in advance on our (opens in a new tab)ticket page.
Ticket holders can collect their wristbands, which are needed to access all sessions, from our Box Office at Black-E (see the maps below).
We’re expanding the online programme of our festival even further this year, to ensure anyone who can’t join us in person can still get loads out of TWT.
We’ll be providing recordings and live streams of sessions at the festival, special online-only sessions, and TWT TV is returning with even more ambitious plans for a mix of entertainment and politics, streamed directly from our TV studio at the heart of the event.
It will all be free to access - keep an eye on our social media channels to ensure you don’t miss out on updates and news.
We've closed applications for the festival now. Look out for next year!
Liverpool is highly accessible by train and road - be it car or coach.
This year, we are offering a limited number of National Express coach tickets, available to purchase at cost price from TWT. This provides the option to travel to and from the festival with other attendees. Please see our designated travel and accommodation site for more information: (opens in a new tab)https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theworldtransformed/763120.
Liverpool Lime Street is the main station connecting the city to the rest of the UK.
Liverpool ONE Coach station is the central coach station, served by National Express.
Both are an 12 minute walk from our main venue and Box Office, the Black-E.
There are multiple (opens in a new tab)private and (opens in a new tab)council run pay and display car parks around Liverpool city centre.
The address of the Black-E is:
The Black-E, The Blackie, 1 Great George St, Liverpool L1 5EW
All our other venues for the festival this year are around 10 minutes walk (maximum!) from the Black-E.
Liverpool has many accommodation options, as you’d expect from a large city. Some cheaper options include The International Inn and the YHA Liverpool. Websites such as Hostelworld and Booking.com will show a full range of options. This year, we are also offering the option of purchasing accommodation directly from TWT. We have a limited number of beds available in non-gendered dorms in Selina Hostel, about a 10 minute walk from our main site at Black-E. TWT is selling these beds at cost price, plus a small administration fee per night. For more information, please see our dedicated transport and accommodation site: (opens in a new tab)https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theworldtransformed/763120.
If you can offer accommodation in Liverpool, or if you need somewhere to stay, please also consider joining the TWT accommodation Facebook (opens in a new tab)group, where you can join a community of attendees.
Food
Our volunteers are serving veggie and vegan meals from the Black-E Gallery every day for lunch and dinner. Delicious, nourishing and very affordable.
Or head to DISTRICT to find our comrades Guac’n’Roll serving up seriously good vegan grub in the lovely beer garden over the weekend.
Drink
The Black-E main space bar is open in evenings, where you might secure a limited edition pint of Great Strike beer from Eagle Crag, commemorating the 180th anniversary of the first ever general strike.
The DISTRICT bar serves everything you’d expect from one of Liverpool’s best clubs - it’ll be open lunch time onwards, to accompany the arts and entertainment programmed there.
We will always provide free tickets to The World Transformed - there are instructions on how to get one on our (opens in a new tab)ticket page.
However, in order to provide free tickets to anyone that needs one, we rely on those who can afford to buy a ticket to select one that’s appropriate for their income. That’s why we have Low/Unwaged tickets, Standard tickets, and Pay It Forward tickets, which buy one for you and one for someone else. It’s essential attendees of TWT stick to this principle in order to keep the event going each year.
Our prices are reduced this year compared to 2021, despite increased running costs. We have done this by refining our processes further and working closely with new and existing partners, who help subsidise the cost of putting on The World Transformed. If we sold tickets at their cost price, it would be £100 each!
We’ll continue to work to keep tickets cheaper whenever we can. (opens in a new tab)Joining our supporters network is one great way to help us, for regular or one-off donations. Or if you’ve got ideas or expertise, feel free to contact us at [email protected]
Absolutely, no questions asked. Head to our (opens in a new tab)ticket page to find out how.
How do we provide free tickets? Check out the answer to the question above!
TWT’s position is that the Labour Party is an important site of struggle for socialists. Engaging in electoral politics is valuable for the left. It opens up the opportunity of taking state power and, as seen during the Corbyn project, it can allow us to build up our numbers and skills quickly. With a first past the post voting system, and the Labour party’s links with many trade unions, currently Labour is the best vehicle for the social movement’s interventions in electoral politics.
Part of TWT’s role is to help activists develop an understanding of where we can use the party effectively in struggle and what its limitations are, as well as facilitate discussions on why and how the Labour Party dominates our politics in this way, and how we can move beyond it. In doing so, we hope to help galvanise and maintain connections between the Labour and extra-parliamentary left, who are becoming increasingly fragmented in the aftermath of Corbynism.
Local Transformed groups around the country organise their own political education events and festivals. They vary in size and type - but they’re all united by a common aim of creating engaging and accessible education.
Transformed groups are largely autonomous, with their own programme tied to local aims and themes, but most have a close relationship with The World Transformed, who facilitate the Transformed network and provide training and support to ensure that groups have the best chance of getting off the ground.
There are currently 10 active Transformed groups, and there will be special sessions at the Liverpool festival both by and for Transformed groups - whether they’re brand new or well established!
If you have questions about the network, or want to start your own group, email Lucy on [email protected]
The best way to support us is to buy a ticket and get involved at the event! You can also provide a monthly contribution via our (opens in a new tab)Supporters Network which helps keep our finances reliable.
Or you can volunteer! The World Transformed is powered by volunteers - in all aspects of the work, the dedication and energy of incredible comrades from across the country is what makes the festival work. It’s an amazing way to meet people and learn new skills too - (opens in a new tab)here’s how you sign up!
Please note the following Code of Conduct, which details what we expect from those the festival:
TWT22 Code of Conduct
TWT should be a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone. By attending TWT you agree to adhere to our Code of Conduct - whether staff, volunteer, speaker/session organiser, partner, ticket-holder or other member of the community - whether you’re in a session or just relaxing at the festival:
We recognise that each and every person who contributes to or attends TWT both belongs to, and is an equal member of The World Transformed. We expect everyone to treat each other with respect, understanding and decency.
We look after one another, and, even in times of stress or disagreement, we approach each other with a caring and considerate attitude. This includes when approaching TWT volunteers.
We demand that politics becomes welcoming, inclusive and accessible for everyone. We do not tolerate behaviour which is discriminatory, aggressive, exclusionary or abusive - this includes anything that is racist, sexist, ableist, ageist, classist, homophobic or transphobic - in sessions or around the festival.
We do not tolerate any form of sexual harassment or violence.
We respect the instructions of volunteers carrying out TWT's health and safety protocols, and any other related policies and protocols.
Anyone breaching the code may be asked to leave the festival.
Any press related queries should go to Kallum, at [email protected]
The Black-E is the spiritual home of The World Transformed - we started here in 2016.
The main space is the heart of the festival - expect big names, good vibes and a great bar!
Raked seating and good acoustics make this the most traditional teaching space in the Black-E; but don't worry, there's nothing traditional about the lessons.
Note the queue forms round the side of the building by the railings.
The heroes at Video Odyssey are working with us to provide more online content than ever before. TWT TV is back with a bang at Toxteth TV, and there's space for a live audience.
The social hub of the Black-E, with our left bookshop and volunteer run cafe serving tea, coffee, cake... and if you're lucky, lunch or dinner!
