LJMU opens new art space at the Albert Dock
The Albert Dock and LJMU are launching 'Site' - a major new exhibition space situated within the Grade 1 listed Albert Dock and due to open to the public on 14 February 2007.
The new partnership between the Albert Dock and LJMU's School of Art and Design will provide a prestigious platform for contemporary artwork produced by international as well as local artists, university students and staff to be exhibited in the Dock's World Heritage waterfront setting.
The partnership with LJMU reflects the Albert Dock's new focus on leisure and tourism. Part of this fresh direction will be a greater emphasis on cultural activities, an exciting events programme and new partnerships with local arts organisations. Each week thousands of people visit Tate Liverpool, the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Dock's many art retailers and Site is hoping to attract even more culture vultures to the waterfront.
LJMU has transformed the Albert Dock's Queen Elizabeth Hall unit into 350 sq metres of high quality exhibition space.
Site's opening programme includes exhibitions from the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art; The Royal Standard, a Liverpool-based contemporary arts organisation and Microzine, the Bold Street unique lifestyle store and gallery.
John Byrne, Site manager and LJMU lecturer, says: "Site is a fantastic opportunity for us to challenge people's preconceptions of what constitutes art and how it should be displayed. As well as exhibitions at the Albert Dock, we'll be harnessing new media technologies to reach beyond the confines of the gallery and experiment with how contemporary art and design can be viewed, analysed and debated."
Ian Brown, Director of the Albert Dock says, "We're committed to enhancing the visitor experience at the Albert Dock and supporting local arts and attractions. This partnership fits very well with our new focus on tourism and leisure and we're delighted to be working with Liverpool John Moores University to showcase talent from Liverpool's vibrant creative community. We're looking forward to working with a number of different arts organisations in the future."
As well as hosting a selection of work from LJMU's School of Art and Design Degree Shows, 'Site' will provide students with real life experience of curating and managing a gallery space.
John Byrne explains: "We will be featuring the work of established artists and designers but our students are also key to Site's success as an experimental gallery. Over the coming months, our students will influence how Site evolves, working as curators, web designers and film makers as well as showcasing their own work as part of the final year shows. That's what makes this such an exciting project because your Site experiences will be different every time you visit. So expect the unexpected."
