Liverpool Businesses To Launch City’s ‘Answer To Edinburgh Fringe’ For Artists With ‘Look Up’ Exhibition

A new annual art festival will provide emerging local artists with the opportunity to exhibit in some of Liverpool’s most prominent spaces. Artists will be given the keys to display work in otherwise inaccessible buildings across the city region, as well as receiving mentorship and support from the business community.

The initiative is being launched by the “Liverpool Radicals” – a new collective of prominent business leaders headed by Ian Seddon – with a mission to create Liverpool’s answer to the Edinburgh Fringe for visual artists. Other members include Tony Reed, Head of Commercial at Bruntwood Works, Daniel Jones, Director at Melius Finance, solicitor Rob Rea and financial advisor Ian Knox.

Liverpool Radicals aims to boost the profile of emerging local talent in the city region by enabling them to exhibit in high quality and iconic spaces free of charge. The shows will also be free for the public to attend.

Liverpool Radicals’ future vision is to expand to an Edinburgh-fringe-like model, with an annual exhibition selected by the previous year’s artists and spin-off events which will allow further opportunities to engage the public and businesses, including workshops, conferences, performances and live painting/sculpting. 

Their first exhibition, ‘Look Up’, will showcase the work of three local artists: 

• Kirkby-born Steve Randall, who turned to painting after his wife was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour, self taught and working solely in oils, previously exhibited at The Walker and is currently the artist in residence at Aintree University Hospital. 
• Lost Hills, Kirkdale-born artist who works in murals, paste up art, and contemporary paintings around the UK & Europe.
• Toxteth-born Alan Murray, a self taught artist and former winner of the Liverpool Art Fair People’s Choice Award. His public artworks in Liverpool include the Titanic on Park Road and Shankly mural in the Shankly Hotel.

The exhibition is being supported by Hugh and Cathy Frost and Simon Kinsella who are providing space at West Tower; Cass Art who is supporting the hang; Sophie Wilson from Tuesday Media who is helping to curate the show as well as providing PR and marketing support; Andrew Weatherstone from Nonconform who is supplying brand and visual design assets; and Major Tony Sandle, a distinguished army veteran who is in charge of risk assessment, security and events management.

Ian Seddon said: 

“Liverpool Radicals is a coming together of prominent individuals in the business community to support emerging artists. We are a city that has dominated the headlines with football and music for decades. Now we want to say to give a clear message to current and the next generation of artists, whether formally trained or not, that there can be a viable career path. 

“As well as having a passion for art, me and my fellow Radicals saw a gap in the market. We wanted to be able to support artists on an ongoing basis, providing mentorship and business support pre and post exhibition.

“Unlike traditional representative arrangements, all proceeds raised from art sold will go to the artists. We want to get the commercial community behind it, buying art at the event, but also give the public the opportunity to see new artists’ work – free of charge.

“Being able to draw upon our experts in property has meant we’ve been able to find prominent venues through the city region that wouldn’t usually be available as exhibition spaces. This is a win-win for landlords with vacant spaces who have the chance to put their assets in front of potential tenants. I have no doubt that we will garner the full support of the Liverpool commercial district/business community behind Liverpool Radicals.” 

Look Up, will open 28 / 29 / 30 June 2023 at West Tower over the ground, first and second floor commercial space. It is free to attend, with refreshments provided. To reserve your free tickets go to Eventbrite.