Here’s a list of 10 facts about the Liverpool Biennial which was handed out recently. I think its rather impressive..
Liverpool Biennial – Top Ten Facts
1 – Liverpool Biennial is the largest festival of contemporary visual arts in the UK.
3 – the number of exhibition strands that form Liverpool Biennial: the International programme, the John Moores Exhibition of Contemporary Painting, Bloomberg New Contemporaries and the artist-led Independents element
4 – the number of Biennials which have previously been held in Liverpool.
39 – the number of artists participating in International 06. These artists, coming from 25 countries, were initially invited to make a research visit to Liverpool, and have been commissioned to create new works for this year’s festival.
40 – the number of locations (at least!) where works will be exhibited during this year’s event. This includes both major gallery spaces and unexpected temporary locations around the city centre – this autumn Liverpool will be home to pavements of shattered glass from Mexico City, work by the cream of Britain’s art school graduates, a football pitch designed as an obstacle course situated on the banks of the Mersey, and public transport transformed into vibrant pieces of art by Panamanian Bus Painters.
110 – the number of times you would have heard ‘Dancing Queen’ if you’d spent a day at Peter Johannson’s Musique Royale installation. One of the most popular works from the 2004 Biennial, Johannson’s prefab house-meets-music box was located at the Pier Head and played the Abba classic from 10 am to 5pm every day.
310, 000 – the number of images of Yoko Ono’s work which were distributed throughout Liverpool during the last Biennial, on bags, badges, banners and stickers, as part of her work, My Mummy Was Beautiful.
350, 000 – the number of visitors from around the world who attended the 2004 Biennial – an increase of 150, 000 since 2002.
£9 million – the estimated tourist spending generated by the 2004 Biennial, and….
£10 million – the total economic impact on the local area.