The Liverpool Biennial was conceived and founded in 1998 by James Moores (together with Jane Rankin Read, Lewis Biggs and Bryan Biggs).
Since its first edition in 1999, Liverpool Biennial has commissioned over two hundred new artworks .
Liverpool Biennial commissions leading and emerging artists to make and present permanent and temporary public artworks as well as long-term community-based projects.
The biennial has an integrated research program of learning, talks and events creating a dynamic year-round program of activity.
Every two years, Liverpool Biennial attracts an average of 600,000 visitors during an exhibition period of ten weeks.
In 2010 visitors to the Liverpool Biennial spent £27 million.
Sally Tallant is the Liverpool Biennial’s Artistic Director and CEO.
The 7th edition of Liverpool Biennial takes place 15 September – 25 November 2012.
Biennial Foundation speaks with Paul Domela on the various specificities and characteristics of the Liverpool Biennial, as well as on his views and knowledge on the biennial as exhibition platform in general. These are some of the questions posed:
– What are the origins of the Liverpool Biennial? – The Liverpool Biennial combines collaborative curating with the commissioning of new works. Can you elaborate? – How does the biennial relate to the contemporary art scene in Liverpool and the UK at large? – How is the Liverpool Biennial financed? – The Liverpool Biennial has done extensive market – research on the impact of the biennial in the city. What are the outcomes? – What distinguishes the Liverpool Biennial from a “traditional” functioning art institution? – What is the role of site-specificity inherent to the biennial? – Did biennials change art?