17 March 2008
Cultural Secretary Andy Burnham attends historic Bluecoat
opening
Saturday 15 March sees the Bluecoat, Liverpool’s centre for
contemporary art, opens its doors again for the first time since
2005, after a £12.5 million re-fit.
Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham, MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media
and Sport will be attending the opening with his mother. He
said:
“The reopening of the Bluecoat is a defining moment in
Liverpool’s Year as Capital of Culture. There is no place I know
that has the breadth of creative activity from the very start with
artists studios to the end with galleries and shops and all points
in between. I’m pleased that one of the very material legacies of
’08 will be an organisation that recognises the importance of
creativity in everyone’s lives.”
The Bluecoat re-opens with a two-day celebration on Saturday 15
and Sunday 16 March, at which the first exhibition Now Then, a
group show featuring Alec Finlay, Janet Hodgson, Hew Locke, Paul
Morrison and Yoko Ono, will be open to the public. The
opening will be a ‘people’s opening’, with hundreds of people
expected to participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the
official opening of the building.
Alastair Upton, Chief Executive of Bluecoat said:
“The opening of the Bluecoat is the end of a seven year journey
but only the start for us fulfilling our dreams for the building.
To achieve even what we have already has taken considerable
support, guidance even at times critical comment from our funding
partners and the Arts Council has led in this process.”
From 10am the galleries will be open, with taster events and free
activities beginning from 12 Noon, the chance to try out the new
restaurant-bar, Upstairs at the Bluecoat and to sample coffee, tea,
cake and sandwiches from Espresso at the Bluecoat.
Michael Eakin, Executive Director, Arts Council England, North West
said,
“The Bluecoat has a long and proud history as a creative
catalyst for the region in serving artists and communities of
Liverpool and the North West. Arts Council’s capital investment
will see the Bluecoat continuing to grow and develop this service -
bringing creativity and great art together with an engaging and
inspiring experience.”
Mike Henesey, Assistant Director of the Objective One Programme
said:
“The Bluecoat is a great testament to the spirit of partnership
that has driven Objective One and provides another great legacy for
the programme.”
Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the Northwest
Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:
“As Liverpool's oldest and most distinctive building, the
Bluecoat Arts Centre is one of the city’s architectural gems. It is
also a fantastic resource for contemporary artists, helping to
support creative and cultural industries on Merseyside. The Agency
is therefore delighted to support its redevelopment, helping to
provide the city with a unique arts centre fit for a European
Capital of Culture.”
Sara Hilton, Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Manager for the North
West, said:
"The Heritage Lottery Fund is proud to be one of the key funders of
this transformation of the Bluecoat, opening up access for new
audiences, creating wonderful new public spaces and offering
exciting opportunities for the future development of the venue.
Opening in Liverpool's year as Capital of Culture, this sits as
part of the £94million that we've invested in Liverpool's rich
heritage during the past 14 years."
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council and
Deputy Chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said:
''The reopening of the Bluecoat is a huge boost for Liverpool's
arts Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council
and Deputy Chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said:
''The reopening of the Bluecoat is a huge boost for
Liverpool's arts scene and injects an exciting dimension to our
capital of culture celebrations. The bluecoat has long been a
cultural jewel and to see it shine again will bring joy to people
all over the country. Its rebirth is another potent symbol of the
new, confident Liverpool and I'm sure it will quickly reclaim its
place in our hearts and at the cutting edge of art.”
Notes to editors:
Press Photo-call: Saturday 15 March, 10am in front of the gates,
Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and
Sport will be in attendance.
Tickets for events between 15 March and 31 May are on sale now
from
www.thebluecoat.org.uk
and GB +44 1517025324 Call .
Editor’s notes:
Further information contact:
Rachael Eades, Marketing Officer at the Bluecoat. School Lane,
Liverpool L1 3BX
tel 0151 709 5297 ext 24 email rachael.e@thebluecoat.org.uk
Antony Pickthall, Head of Marketing at the Bluecoat. School
Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX
tel 0151 702 5321 email antony.p@thebluecoat.org.uk