7 reasons to celebrate 35 years of Tate Liverpool – and get excited for its future!

Tate Liverpool is set to temporarily move out of its Royal Albert Dock home for a major reimagining of the amazing waterfront venue.

But before it does, we’ve all got a chance to celebrate the place that gave us three and a half decades of the best contemporary art on Merseyside.

It’s party time at the Royal Albert Dock, because while Tate Liverpool might be closed while it undergoes a transformation to create a new and even more dynamic space, it’s issuing an invitation to visitors to mark 35 years of incredible art and exhibitions – and look forward to better yet to come!

“This is a great opportunity to visit our gallery one last time to experience Tate Liverpool as it currently is” says Louise Shannon, Head of Programme Delivery “we’d love people to head to the gallery on the 14 & 15 October to celebrate 35 years of Tate Liverpool bringing the very best modern and contemporary art to Merseyside while also helping us look towards the future”says Louise Shannon, Head of Programme Delivery.

Fantastic future

Tate Liverpool may be temporarily closing the doors of its iconic Albert Dock gallery space BUT it’s to create an even better Tate Liverpool, embarking on an exciting programme of change to redesign and redevelop the gallery. Helen Legg, director of Tate Liverpool, says: “Since Tate Liverpool opened 35 years ago, the experiences our audiences want to have, and the kind of work artists want to make, have both changed significantly. So now is the time for us to reimagine the gallery for the 21st century and strengthen the connection between art and people.”

Party time

During the weekend of October 14-15 the gallery will hold a celebratory weekend. Tate Liverpool: Past, Present and Future will invite visitors to wander around the gallery as it currently is for one last time and enjoy a host of fun activities aimed at all ages – and present them with a specially commissioned, limited edition Tate Liverpool party bag with artist made prints and postcards to take away. And there’s no need to book, just turn up.

Making it special

Throughout both days there’ll be three different making activities to enjoy and have something to take away from the event. There will be a free mini placard making workshop inspired by artist Bob and Roberta Smith who is renowned for his ‘slogan’ art and the formation of the Art Party in 2013, and works like Make Art Not War and All Schools Should be Art Schools on display on the first floor at Tate Liverpool; the gallery’s programme for young people aged 16-25 will be hosting t-shirt customising workshops, and local artist Louise Waller will be encouraging visitors to repair and reuse by creating lids for topless Tate café teapots that they are welcome to take home and enjoy in an air-dry clay workshop.

Let the music play

On both Saturday and Sunday, the gallery will be filled with the sound of music, with live musicians and DJs making sure the party goes with a swing.

Artist talks

Throughout the weekend visitors will still be able to enjoy the incredible artwork for which Tate Liverpool has become renowned – it has extended the popular exhibition ‘JMW Turner with Lamin Fofana: Dark Waters’ along with four free displays including ‘The Port and Migrations’ and ‘Global Encounters’ and Torkwase Dyson’s monumental work ‘Liquid a Place’ – and Tate Liverpool’s long-established visitor experience assistants will share personal reflections and tours of the collection, along with special guest artists.

Keeping the conversation going

On Saturday, October 14, Tate Liverpool director Helen Legg will be joined by author Lauren Elkin for an In Conversation event on the first floor to discuss Elkin’s new book, Art Monsters, reflecting feminist practice.

You can still get your Tate Liverpool fix

Although building at the Royal Albert Dock will be closed from October 16 Tate Liverpool you can still find the gallery a short distance along Liverpool’s iconic waterfront as it moves into the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) North, Mann Island. From 27 October you can enjoy exhibitions and events delivered in.