Arts and Culture
Discover the best of arts and culture in Liverpool, featuring exhibitions, interviews, and cultural events celebrating the city’s creative spirit.
-
Tate Liverpool will present first UK retrospective of Lucy McKenzie
This winter, Tate Liverpool will present the first UK retrospective of Glasgow-born, Brussels-based artist Lucy McKenzie (b. 1977). The exhibition brings together approximately 80 works dating from 1997 to the present, including large scale architectural paintings, illusionistic tromp l’oeil works, as well as fashion and design. McKenzie’s body of work defies easy categorisation but has simultaneously established her among the most singular artistic voices of her generation. Over the past two decades, McKenzie has revealed…
-
In Conversation – Michelle Marshall
Michelle Marshall is a well known Liverpool photographer who has worked with the likes of Explore Liverpool, Mellowtone Records and the British Music Experience. She has photographed the likes of Mark Radcliffe, Pete Best and Liverpool actress Eithne Brown. We recently caught up with her… Liverpool Noise: What first drew you to the art of photography? Michelle Marshall: I’ve always enjoyed taking photos, capturing moments and memories. However, I’ve only taken it seriously over the…
-
In Conversation – Keith Ainsworth
Keith Ainsworth is a Liverpool based photographer specialising in concerts, music festivals and promotional portraits. He has taken images for Bido Lito! Magazine, and has also been published in Mojo, Classic Rock and NME. We recently called up with him…. Liverpool Noise: What first drew you to the art of photography? Keith Ainsworth: I remember a gallery exhibition of black and white photos I saw abroad. It was mostly images of pebbles on a sea…
-
Heavy Gardening Art Trail to Launch on LightNight
Heavy Gardening is a trail of seven art works, running from the back of FACT on Fleet Street, along the Baltic Corridor to Wapping Dock, produced by internationally renowned artist Andrew Merritt of Something & Son, in partnership with dot-art, Open Eye Gallery and First Take, as part of Liverpool City Council’s Urban GreenUP project which seeks to raise awareness about the future predicted impacts of climate change. Andrew has transformed seven small pieces of…
-
In Conversation – Mark McNulty
Pictured above: The original Baa Bar signage is carried down Bold Street to it’s home on Fleet Street. In the first of a series on interviews with local photographers, we start with Mark McNulty, the Walton born photographer who for well over 30 years has been at the forefront of documenting Merseyside’s cultural events… Liverpool Noise: What first drew you to the art of photography? Mark McNulty: It was a hobby at first, from…
-
Africa Oyé Nyumbani Episode 4 Features concerts, interviews, cooking & more
Africa Oyé have announced the line-up for the March edition of their online magazine show, Nyumbani. This edition of their monthly digital showcase – which takes its name from the Swahili word for ‘at home’ – will premiere on the Liverpool institution’s Facebook and Youtube pages at 7pm on Friday 26th March. The series, which debuted last December, features original concerts, interviews, DJ sets, and even cooking segments, from artists across Africa and the Diaspora. The show will lead with a concert and…
-
River of Light Trail Coming To Liverpool Waterfront This Month
The River of Light Trail, an outdoor illuminated art gallery, is set to take over Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront. For 14 nights, from Tuesday 23 March to Monday 5 April, the city’s residents can experience the River of Light Trail, which will showcase the work of leading local, national and international artists. Partners across Liverpool have come together to stage the spectacle which residents can experience with covid-safe measures in place across the 2km walking loop.…
-
Liverpool Biennial 2021 ‘The Outside Chapter’ Preview
Liverpool Biennial 2021 to open first chapter of The Stomach and the Port on 20 March with major series of outdoor sculpture, sonic and digital commissions, alongside the new Biennial Online Portal. Liverpool Biennial The Outside Chapter The 11th edition of Liverpool Biennial will open the first ‘outside’ chapter of The Stomach and the Port on 20 March 2021, starting with a major new series of outdoor sculpture, sonic and digital commissions by 9 different artists, alongside…
-
We Want Women: The Community Inspiring and Uniting Womxn Creatives
Very few womxn in the performing arts scene in Liverpool haven’t heard of We Want Women. Over the last few years, it has become highly regarded with monthly showcase performances in a variety of venues across the city. Performers are drawn to the friendly and welcoming nature of the open mic nights and there is a real sense of support there if you are performing. You may arrive at your first performance not knowing anyone…
-
In Conversation – Cliff Sayer
Liverpool born and bred, Cliff Sayer still resides in the city. Having studied Fine Art here, he took a studio opposite the great Arthur Dooley’s in Seel Street, and soon was exhibiting his work at exhibitions. However, his connection with the local music scene started when in 2000 he began to make animations, and was quickly commissioned by the likes of Shack, Edgar Jones, Mike Badger and Mongooses to make animated videos for them. Now…
-
In Conversation – Joe Campbell of Culture City
Specialising in high-end creative and corporate film production, music management and through their partnership with Klee Music, record production, Culture City celebrate their third birthday this month. We spoke to Director, Joe Campbell to find out more about their journey. Liverpool Noise: February 19, 2021 is a big date for you, as it signifies Culture City’s third birthday! How did it all start? Joe Campbell: Well, the first ideas of Culture City started way back…
-
March for the Arts call for arts sector workers to help develop a Freelance Working Agreement
March for the Arts is asking for help from freelance arts sector workers to create a Freelance Working Agreement, to support arts sector workers in the Liverpool City Region. Artists, musicians, writers, designers, producers, project managers and other freelance workers in the arts can apply to be part of the Freelance Working Agreement Committee, who will help create a document to promote a fair working environment for freelance workers when hired. Caitlin Clough, March for…
-
British Music Experience To Host Temporary Exhibition Celebrating Frankie Goes To Hollywood
The Frankie Say 1984! Exhibition will be at the British Music Experience from 29 May 2021 to 9 January 2022. No band has ever dominated a year like Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984. Born out of Liverpool’s post-punk scene with a brash, mischievous, ‘do what you want’ attitude – Frankie were a one-off. With their first three singles all going to No.1 – a feat previously only achieved by fellow Liverpudlians, Gerry and the…
-
Milap celebrate Diwali with a packed programme of Indian Arts this November
Milap – the UK’s leading Indian Arts and Culture company – is preparing to celebrate Diwali with a week-long programme of music and dance that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. One of the most popular festivals of India, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and…
-
Homotopia Festival 2020 Preview
Nobody knows how to adapt and survive to strange times like the queer community and Liverpool’s Homotopia Festival is back with a bang for 2020 and a dynamic line-up of physical events and online happenings. In a year where everything has changed, the UK’s longest running LGBTQIA arts and culture festival will reach out into new places and spaces, including a drag promenade down Liverpool’s Hope Street, a ‘Queer the City’ art crawl and a…
-
Liverpool Irish Festival 2020 Preview
Irish comedian and TV presenter Patrick Kielty has been announced as the headliner for the Liverpool Irish Festival this October, as the cultural showcase goes online for 2020. The 10-day festival celebrates the connections between Liverpool and Ireland and although this year’s event will be exclusively virtual, will still feature an exciting line-up of music, film, art and spoken word. Patrick Kielty headlines the programme on 17 October with a special event called ‘Hard Histories,…
-
Black History Month Events in Liverpool
Black History Month is an excellent time to spotlight history that should already be part of the curriculum, highlight incredible individuals within the city’s rich black history and celebrate black culture. There is a host of events happening throughout October from organisations across Liverpool and we’ve handpicked some highlights from across the programme. Black History Month Events in Liverpool International Slavery Museum Liverpool is home to the International Slavery Museum giving the city the greatest…
-
New Brighton’s Oakland Gallery Brings Together Top Names In British Street Art
A brand new contemporary art gallery has opened in Wirral this month. Oakland Gallery exhibits a mix of contemporary art alongside pieces from artists heavily involved in the global street-art scene. Located in the heart of New Brighton’s independent Victoria Quarter, Oakland Gallery is the latest addition to regeneration company Rockpoint Leisure’s portfolio of hospitality and retail concepts within the town. Oakland has partnered with leading creative studio Our Types for the inaugural show which…
-
Moving to Liverpool: What You Need To Know
There are various reasons why UK residents move to Liverpool: starting a family, looking for a change of pace, entering the job market as a fresh graduate, jumpstarting a career, getting a quality education, or just fleeing the hustle-bustle of London without totally uprooting their life. Regardless, Liverpool is a forgiving place. Located in Merseyside, England, the most recent surveys estimate that Liverpool is home to almost half a million UK residents. This number makes…
-
Milap unites artists for a tribute to one of India’s greatest music icons
The UK’s leading Indian Arts & Culture company, Milap, has assembled an extraordinary ensemble of Indian virtuosos to record a unique version of one of Lalgudi G Jayaraman’s masterpieces. Somewhere in the world, every few minutes, someone is performing, listening to, or dancing to a composition of Lalgudi G Jayaraman. This maestro musician has made an unmatched contribution to the world of Indian Classical Music. A trailblazing performer, composer and teacher, he has left behind…
Liverpool has long been recognised as one of the UK’s most creative cities, with a thriving arts and culture scene that continues to inspire, innovate, and attract visitors from across the globe. From world-class art galleries and museums to grassroots exhibitions, community-led projects, and bold new work from emerging artists, the city offers an ever-changing landscape of creativity.
Our arts and culture in Liverpool section celebrates everything from major cultural moments to intimate creative experiences. Here, you’ll find coverage of the city’s most exciting art exhibitions, from Tate Liverpool’s thought-provoking contemporary shows to Bluecoat’s pioneering visual arts programme and FACT’s boundary-pushing exploration of digital culture. We also shine a spotlight on independent galleries and artist-run spaces, such as Output Gallery and dot-art, which champion local talent and give a platform to Liverpool’s diverse artistic voices.
But arts and culture in Liverpool is about more than exhibitions. It’s also about the stories behind the artists, curators, and cultural leaders who shape the city. Through interviews, features, and opinion pieces, we explore the inspirations, challenges, and creative journeys of those contributing to Liverpool’s cultural life. Whether it’s an established painter, a theatre director, or a multidisciplinary artist experimenting with new forms, we share their perspectives and amplify their work.
Liverpool’s cultural calendar is packed with must-see events, and this section keeps you up to date with the highlights. From visual arts festivals like Liverpool Biennial, to multi-arts celebrations such as Africa Oyé and Homotopia, we cover the festivals and events that bring people together and reflect the city’s spirit of creativity and inclusion. Alongside these larger-scale happenings, we also look at grassroots cultural activity—pop-up exhibitions, open studios, and collaborative community projects that keep the city’s cultural identity vibrant and alive.
The city’s strong cultural foundations, built on its history as a UNESCO City of Music and European Capital of Culture 2008, continue to fuel innovation. Today, arts and culture in Liverpool is about creating accessible, inclusive, and exciting opportunities for everyone to experience creativity. Whether you’re interested in traditional painting and sculpture, cutting-edge digital installations, performance art, or cultural heritage, Liverpool offers something for every taste.
By exploring this section, you’ll discover not only what’s on, but also gain insights into why the arts matter here and now. Liverpool’s artists and cultural organisations are shaping important conversations about identity, diversity, community, and the future—and we’re here to share their stories.
So whether you’re planning your next gallery visit, looking to discover a new artist, or simply want to stay connected with the heartbeat of Liverpool’s creative scene, this category is your guide to everything happening in arts and culture across the city.