The Liverpool Biennial festival, which showcases artwork throughout the city, has announced it will return in 2016 for its ninth year.
The artwork, commissioned by 37 local and international artists, follows a story-narrated theme in several episodes such as: fictional worlds sited in galleries, museums, pubs, unused spaces, stations, hotels, parking lots, shops and supermarkets.
The exhibits will be presented outdoors and indoors across the city, as well as leading art venues such as the Tate Liverpool, FACT, Bluecoat, and Open Eye.
Sally Tallant, Director of Liverpool Biennial, said: “We are delighted to announce this wide-ranging group of artists from the UK and around the world who are participating in the 2016 Biennial.
“We are looking forward to working with artists from Asia, India, North and South America, the Middle East, Russia and Europe in the city.
“It is exciting to bring these artists together with the people of Liverpool to make this a place where art and artists can thrive and to create a focus for international contemporary art.”
Founded in 1998, Liverpool Biennial has commissioned 268 new artworks and presented work by over 400 artists from around the world. Among the artists listed for 2016 is Mark Leckey from Birkenhead, who is known for winning the Turner Prize in 2008 and produces various ‘found footage’ pieces.
Next year’s Biennial will see children working together with artists and the event team for the first time. This hopes to develop ambitious exhibitions, projects and publications specifically for young audiences.
Also featuring is one of the UK’s best-known painting competitions, the John Moores Painting Prize. This internationally renowned accolade has been recognising contemporary British painting for almost 60 years.
An exhibition of the selected shortlisted works is organised with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust and will be held at the Walker Art Gallery.
The contemporary art festival will be opening in Liverpool on Saturday July 9th 2016.