Watch as we find out about the Turner Prize 2022 launching at Tate Liverpool

The Turner Prize 2022 is about to launch in Liverpool

It’s the highest profile award in British art and the one that’s guaranteed to get people talking every year.

Winning the Turner Prize is like an actor getting a BAFTA, it’s the major accolade artists really want to claim.

This year, for the first time since 2007, it’s coming to Tate Liverpool – and there’s going to be a free exhibition so everyone can make their own minds up about the work of the four artists in the running.

It opens in October ahead of the hotly-anticipated winner announcement in December, so here are 8 reasons to be excited about the Turner Prize coming to Liverpool.

The Turner Prize is one of the best-known art prizes in the world

It’s the Tate’s annual celebration of British artistic talent, awarded to an artist born in Britain or working mainly here, but it attracts attention from across the world – not just for the artists and the eventual winner, but for the host city and gallery too which is very good news for Liverpool!

It opens soon – and it’s free

The Turner Prize exhibition opens at Tate Liverpool on October 20 and visitors will be able to see art by the four shortlisted artists and decide for themselves who they think should get the top honour.

There will be work by four nominated artists

This year they are Heather Phillipson, Ingrid Pollard, Veronica Ryan and Sin Wai Kin. If you don’t know much, or anything, about them or what they do then and you can find out a bit more about each artist and the art that they create on Tate’s website. 

You’ll be in good company, joining art experts who will decide

The Tate selects a new panel every year to choose the winner – they include respected gallery directors, curators, critics and writers. 

A celebrity presents the prize

The handing over of the Turner Prize is a big event in itself, not least because it’s traditionally done by a famous name. Previous presenters have included Richard Attenborough, Paul Smith, Nick Cave, Yoko Ono, Mario Testino and Madonna. Actor and director Dennis Hopper presented the award the last time it was in Liverpool.

The Turner Prize was last in the city 15 years ago

Tate Liverpool was the first gallery outside London to host the Turner Prize in 2007 when it helped launch the city’s year as European Capital of Culture. Back then over 70,000 people visited Tate Liverpool to see the exhibition, including work by the winner Mark Wallinger, and this year’s is predicted to create the same – probably even more – interest.

Lots of previous winners and nominees have links to Liverpool city region

• Antony Gormley, known for the Iron Men (Another Place) on Crosby beach, was awarded the Turner Prize in 1994 
• Tracey Emin, who was nominated for the prize in 1999, has two public art works in Liverpool: the pink neon sign, I Felt You and I Knew You Loved Me, and the tiny bronze bird The Roman Standard, which are both at Liverpool Cathedral
• Nathan Coley, nominated in 2007 when the Turner Prize was last in Liverpool, has his work From Here on Liverpool’s waterfront, wrapping around all four sides of the St George’s Dock Pumping Station near Mann Island
• Liverpool-born Tony Cragg was awarded the prize in 1988. He has a sculpture outside Tate Liverpool called Raleigh 
• Assemble, a London-based collective who work across art, design and architecture were awarded the prize in 2015 for projects including an ongoing collaboration with local residents and others in Liverpool’s Granby Four Streets
• Mark Leckey, who was awarded the Turner Prize in 2008, was born in Birkenhead

It’s art for anyone

The Turner Prize has been described as the ordinary British public’s chance to voice its feelings about contemporary art. You might love something, or really not like it at all, or have no idea what it means. That doesn’t matter, it’s all about opinions and nothing divides art opinions quite like the Turner Prize – remember Damien Hirst’s formaldehyde cow and calf and Tracey Emin’s unmade bed? It’s time to see what 2022’s artists have to show.

Find out more about the Turner Prize at Tate Liverpool HERE.