The Bluecoat was built as a school in 1716–17 and it is now the oldest building in central Liverpool. In 1906 the school moved to a different site and it has operated as an arts centre since the 1920s.
The Bluecoat is the oldest arts centre in Great Britain and exhibitions have been held here as early as 1908 (before it became an arts centre) when Liverpool’s first exhibition of work by Claude Monet was held here and several years later there was another exhibition of impressionist art with paintings by Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh on display for the first time in the UK outside London. Yoko Ono also had an exhibition here in 1967 prior to meeting John Lennon.
What to see at the Bluecoat
The Bluecoat was bombed during the Second World War but was thoroughly restored in 1951 and was designated a Grade I-listed building the following year. Being such a significant historic building in a relatively modern city, many people visit the Bluecoat to admire the building from the outside while walking through the city centre but few people venture inside.
The centre hosts a varied programme of exhibitions and events mostly with up-and-coming artists so there is certainly not the same calibre of work that you would see at the Lady Lever or the Walker Art Gallery. However, this does make the place seem more approachable and it is more of a community hub for aspiring local artists than a place to showcase fine art.
Visiting the Bluecoat
The Bluecoat is located right in the heart of Liverpool’s city centre and it is only a three-minute walk to Liverpool Central station. There are plenty of other points of interest within a short walk of the Bluecoat, including the Cavern Club, Central Library, the Merseyside Maritime Museum, St George’s Hall, the Walker Art Gallery and the World Museum, which are all no more than a 10-minute walk away.
Admission to the centre is free although some temporary exhibitions may charge an admission fee.
The complex includes several places to eat and drink including an espresso bar and a lovely upstairs bistro. Its central location means that there are also plenty of other places to eat and drink nearby.
Most people visiting the Bluecoat don’t spend too long here and a half-hour is long enough to get a feel for the place, perhaps a little longer if you stop for a bite to eat in the centre’s cafe.
There are no comments yet.