Bluecoat

Who we are

Bluecoat 

Bluecoat is Liverpool’s centre for the contemporary arts. Our landmark building, located in the heart of the city centre, is home to a year-round programme of exhibitions, music, dance, literature, live art and heritage events. Bluecoat also provides a base for around thirty artists, collectives, small arts organisations and craftspeople.

Bluecoat receives more than 600,000 visits annually from a diverse range of visitors. We seek to engage the broadest possible audience with exciting contemporary work and the creators behind it through a programme of considered engagement opportunities. We are shaping our organisation to create a unique arts centre which enables the public’s enjoyment of the building to blend seamlessly with the arts, heritage, retail and hospitality on offer to create exceptional arts experiences.

In 2017 we will celebrate the 300th anniversary of our distinctive Grade One listed building, the oldest in Liverpool city centre. The tercentenary provides a unique opportunity for us to engage with new audiences and stakeholders, to share our rich heritage and to invite them to be part of our future.

Bluecoat: a brief history

In 1907 a group of artists moved into the former Blue Coat School building in Liverpool city centre and the space has been synonymous with art and artists ever since, playing a major part in Liverpool’s cultural life. In 1927 the artists undertook a major capital campaign, secured donations, and bought the building outright. Bluecoat expanded and flourished from the 1960s onwards with a regular public programme of exhibitions, music, live art and dance. A working community of artists has always been present with creative businesses and small arts organisations added to the mix over the years. In 2008, Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture, Bluecoat reopened after a 3-year capital redevelopment which resulted in significant improvements to physical access as well as the creation of a brand new, award-winning arts wing.

Bluecoat: purpose and values

Our purpose is to open up new possibilities for individuals and communities by 

• offering experiences of the arts that are resonant, distinctive and profound
• helping diverse artists to find their voice, develop their work and sustain their practice
• opening our historic building to makers, traders and visitors
• making connections, virtual and live, between the culture of Liverpool and the rest of the world

Our work is shaped and developed by creating a sense of place, and through dialogue and collaboration with artists, partners, participants and audiences within and beyond our building. We are committed to values of equality, diversity and sustainability, and drive our work through being creative, inclusive and supportive.