Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre

Wet Waves emerged as an informal collective of organisers, practitioners
and supporters of radio seeking some irl collaborations in the immediate
aftermath of Covid. Converging at Bidston Observatory, a historical site of
environmental sensing and timekeeping for the city of Liverpool, activities
emerged that thread experimental sound practices, sporadic broadcast and
conversation.

From sounding out the acoustic archaeology of the building to reformatting
and hacking electric toys, Wet Waves has become a space of exploration and
improvisation for sound and radio enthusiasts to gather and share methods, needs and concerns about all things radiophonic. While Bidston Observatory, once a tool of the British maritime economy, has now been repurposed as a site for artistic research, we think too about the techniques of radio and how they can better serve our expansive networks of relations.

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“Listening is never natural. It requires and generates literacy. Since it puts subjects
into relation with each other and with the world, listening has the potential to
contribute significantly to the constitution of collectivity.”
Ultra-red, Five Protocols for Organised Listening (with variations), 2011 (p4.)

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On 18th & 19th April 2026, this meeting will encourage interference between our surrounding environments and ourselves through sound walks, broadcast and reflective conversation. Pursuing listening practices in line with the sonic protocols of Ultra-red, this is an opportunity to use radio and listening as a creative practice bringing radio practitioners together to find new ways of hearing our ecologies and landscapes.

Starting on the afternoon of 18th and running into the afternoon of 19th April 2026, Wet Waves will host a short programme of workshops, walks and conversations which will engage with experimental audio practices, DIY radio and ad-hoc broadcasting.

**Schedule**
Saturday 18th April
1pm Collective Lunch
3pm Sound Walk and Field Recording
5pm Free time / homework
6pm Sound Manipulation
7pm Dinner
9pm Domes FM Broadcast

Sunday 19th April
9am Breakfast
11am Collective Cleaning
1pm Discussion
- - - Departures
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Participants are welcome to stay on site from Friday 17th April to Sunday 19th April, though space is limited and the programmed event runs only on the 18th and 19th.

No prior experience with sound or radio is required, though an interest is actively encouraged.

Prices for this event are on a sliding scale, depending on your need. For those who wish to join for one night, arriving on Saturday 18th and leaving on Sunday 19th, a ticket is priced at £85/£95. This includes 1 night accommodation, food for the duration and participation in the workshops.
We will be working from Bidston Observatory on Friday 17th April. Those who would like to join from then, for discussions and to activate the space, are welcome to do so for £20 extra which covers an additional night.

For those who wish to attend the Saturday 18th April only, tickets are priced at £45/£55, including lunch & dinner and workshop participation.

If you need to, please email us with your booking to inquire about lower supported rates.

To book in, please contact wetwaves@causticsoda.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an artistic research centre?

In the arts, just like in the sciences, research is conducted in the process of making or experimenting. Practitioners take time, and focus attention on the way that they conduct their practice – however it fits into a discipline, or sits outside many. The process of doing research in the arts varies greatly, and there is no one methodology which applies to all. This artistic research centre is a space where people can come to explore different methods of working, have time for reflection, and get feedback from other practitioners.

What do you mean by self-organising?

The stewards are here to support the building and its resources. The building and its resources are here to support you and your work. While the project is all about trying to make things possible, stewards are already fully occupied with administration and practicalities and can not be expected to support the needs of your personal practice too.

Why is it only possible to stay for a minimum of two nights?

It’s not possible for people to stay for one night only, as this tends to take away from the community’s resources rather than add to it - not to mention the extra laundry costs!

Why is it only possible to stay for a maximum of one month?

In order for this resource to be shared by multiple different groups and individuals, stay is capped at one month. This keeps the space flowing and stops areas becoming territorialised unintentionally. As this is a study site, it is not possible to just live here, though we understand study takes many different forms and doesn’t always appear “productive”.

Why is there a sliding scale?

Many of the decisions we make here at BOARC focus on keeping this resource available for practitioners. The sliding scale helps us to offer a subsidised rate to people who would benefit.

Why is it important to read the values?

through the values carefully and make a decision for themselves about whether they feel aligned. It is not important to share all of these values exactly as they are written, but you should be aware that this is an actively anti-racist, anti-ableist, intersectional feminist site, and there are accountability guidelines in place here for users, stayers, stewards and organisers alike.[Link to values here]