Arts Prizes – Turners shifting landscape

Christoph Grunenberg explains why one of the most talked about art prizes in the art calendar will be held in Liverpool this year.

For the first time in its 23-year history, the Turner Prize will be presented outside London, acting as a curtain-raiser for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008. By presenting the Turner Prize in Liverpool this year, Tate is demonstrating its commitment and support for the Capital of Culture celebrations. The objective of the Prize remains to honour a British artist or an artist living and working in Britain under the age of 50, for an outstanding exhibition or presentation over the past year. Holding the Turner Prize in Liverpool is an excellent opportunity to open it to audiences who otherwise might not be able to visit the exhibition. Tate Liverpool worked closely with a consortium of major funding agencies including Arts Council England, Liverpool Culture Company, North West Development Agency, Milligan and Tate Members, allowing the Gallery to present the Turner Prize exhibition free of charge. We have developed a number of exciting outreach activities, including a pioneering project with local taxi drivers, supported by Arts & Business, who will be providing their personal interpretation and critique of the art works exhibited.

The Turner Prize in Liverpool in 2007 is also an indication of how, since the Prize was first initiated by the Patrons of New Art in 1984, the creation and appreciation of contemporary art has spread far beyond London. This years shortlisted artists, Zarina Bhimji, Nathan Coley, Mike Nelson and Mark Wallinger, reflect the diversity and international nature of British art today. When Tate Liverpool opened in 1988, it was one of the first sites established by a London-based national gallery outside the capital. It was also, at the time, the only major English gallery outside London devoted exclusively to twentieth-century and contemporary art. The success of Tate Liverpool, with visitor expectations far exceeded and a major expansion realised in 1998, confirms the growth in contemporary visual culture over the past two decades. The Turner Prize in Liverpool builds on Tate Liverpools reputation for exhibitions of cutting-edge contemporary art.

Today, we find major galleries and alternative spaces presenting important exhibitions and projects of modern and contemporary art in all parts of the United Kingdom, with many more being planned. In Liverpool itself, the visual arts infrastructure has developed exponentially. With the Foundation for Creative Technology occupying its own purpose-built home since 2003, the Liverpool Biennial celebrating its fifth instalment in 2008, the Bluecoat re-opening after a major expansion in early 2008, and the Art and Design Academy of Liverpool John Moores University moving to a major new building, the city boasts now one of the richest arts scenes in the country. However, it is not only major institutions that make up the fabric of a thriving cultural landscape, but also the many enterprising artists, grassroots organisations and independent alternative spaces. There is still a long way to go in widening participation and making regional cities home to lively scenes of practising artists, galleries and collectors, bringing producers and consumers together. In order for modern and contemporary arts and the creative industries to have a true significance in this country, we need a strong presence in major centres across the country. We hope that the excitement and interest generated by the presentation of the Turner Prize in Liverpool in 2007 will reverberate for a long time, leaving a lasting legacy not only in Liverpool but also in the arts nationally.

Christoph Grunenberg is Director of Tate Liverpool.
w. http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool