Arrival City presents a portrait of Liverpool, and especially L8, as a city of immigration. Liverpool’s historic status as an important port city makes it one of the most unique ‘arrival cities’ in the UK, with many layers of history still making up the identities of people who have lived here for generations. This past has influenced the architectural character of the city - we walk through streets named after celebrated anti-abolitionists, and past grand buildings paid for by slave-traders. However, thriving areas such as L8 demonstrate the power and solidarity that exists within communities made up of many cultures.

L8’s relationship with immigration is multi-layered, made up of different pasts and presents. This abundance of perspectives can be heard in the poetry, spoken word, and music of the area’s artists. Arrival City seeks to understand these points of difference through the timeless ritual of conversation: creating a space for exchange, whether through storytelling, poetry and music, or simply open discussion.

This project explores the importance of conversation, and how L8 can be understood as an ‘arrival city’ by asking the people that live and work there to share their own stories: whether reflections on the past, current experiences or their hopes or fears for the future. These exchanges make up five new films, produced by Liverpool collective Leech Video, and will contribute to a standalone zine published by ROOT-ed in June 2019.