Liverpool arts sector calls audiences to continue to visit venues safely & enjoy the cultural offer in the city

Liverpool’s leading arts organisations have come together to call on audiences to continue to visit and enjoy the outstanding cultural offer in the city. The city’s arts venues remain open thanks to enhanced social distancing and safety measures.

All of the city’s largest venues are now open; with exhibitions, events and live performances, collectively offering a powerful and diverse opportunity for audiences to experience the world-leading culture that has put the city on the map.

Visitors must wear a mask in all venues, are encouraged to book in advance and select timed slots for entry. Among the measures introduced by the venues to ensure the safety of staff and visitors are; enhanced cleaning regimes, hand sanitiser stations, one-way routes and socially distanced seating.

Creating a safe environment for all has allowed the Liverpool attractions to remain open and continue offering a quality programme that befits a European Capital of Culture.

Exhibition highlights include photographers who captured very different aspects of life. Tate Liverpool’s Don McCullin show features images of conflict, famine and displacement around the world over his 60-year career.

While at the Walker Art Gallery visitors can enjoy the Linda McCartney Retrospective which has been extended until 10 January 2021 and includes iconic images from the music scene of the ‘60s and her family life. Both exhibitions include never before seen images of Liverpool.

At Bluecoat, Frances Disley: Pattern Buffer explores the potential of the gallery space to create a restorative environment, with relaxing film works combining with specially selected plants to create a welcoming setting focused on the wellbeing of the visitor. FACT’s Augmented Empathy also considers wellbeing through Instagram filters, which can be accessed both in the space and at home, to explore how social media can be used as a space for exchange and more empathic connection.

FACT: Augmented Empathy exhibition

There are exhibitions around the city which focus on global issues. Mikhail Karikis’s audio-visual installation, Ferocious Love, at Tate Liverpool focuses on emotional responses and the need for mutual care in the face of the climate crisis. While And Say the Animal Responded? at FACT creates a space for the voice of the animal in the midst of a rapidly changing climate. Bluecoat and artist Sumuyya Khader celebrate Liverpool’s Black artists using billboard style pasting of artworks on the building’s façade. Artist Shane D’Allessandro’s Contributions, an ode to the Windrush generation, will go on display at the International Slavery Museum in October.

Performance venues are now back and offering live entertainment for the first time since March. There are multiple opportunities to watch Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra over the coming months with a programme that includes Beethoven, Stravinsky and Mozart as well as Chief Conductor Designate Domingo Hindoyan leading his first concert of the season and a performance by superstar mezzo-soprano, Jennifer Johnston.

The Everyman theatre will reopen with a trio of shows for Homotopia Festival which features ground-breaking trans artist Mitchell Jay. Liverpool’s Royal Court will stage The Happiness Show for the first Annual Doddy Day celebrating Sir Ken Dodd which features Les Dennis amongst the host of variety acts.

The Unity Theatre also has its doors open for the city’s artists to use as a workplace, offering free rehearsal, development and recording facilities to local creatives.