Tate Liverpool has a varied and dynamic learning programme delivered in communities across the city. It explores in action the role that art and museums play in society, and what positive contribution they can make.
Tate Liverpool has delivered learning programmes for the wellbeing of the city’s communities for over 30 years.
Ugo Rondinone, Liverpool Mountain 2018 © Tate Liverpool (Rob Battersby)
Tate has partnered with Everton in the Community and Edge Hill University in a programme called ‘Tackling the Blues’, which encourages children and young people to navigate problems with mental health through art. At the height of the pandemic, Tate commissioned Aliza Nisenbaum to create a large-scale group portrait of NHS staff working in Merseyside. The work captures the stories of individual and collective dedication by healthcare workers during a time of unprecedented challenge.
Photo © Gareth Jones
Staff gave me some canvasses and paintbrushes, and through trial and error I realised I could do something good with the time I had in prison. You know, every painting excites me ... the thought of giving joy to people instead of creating harm makes me smile and gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning
-Programme participant
Photo © Gareth Jones
Covid-19 and beyond
‘A Future I Can Love’ was quickly adapted to ensure that learners taking part could continue to create work and engage with art individually while group sessions were not possible.
In response to the pandemic more generally, Tate used a variety of approaches, from digital delivery to posting arts packs to participants, to try to continue making learning programmes accessible to their communities.
Tate Liverpool has also since created their Caring for our Carers course. Aimed at caring professionals, this 2-day course uses the expressive arts to facilitate a deep processing of the impact of secondary stress, and to facilitate growth and healing in a supportive environment.
Art can bring people together even at the toughest of times. A well-thought piece of art can reach people no matter how far away they are
-Programme participant
A Future I Can Love
In collaboration with Novus, Tate Liverpool’s ‘A Future I Can Love’ programme has been using art to encourage positive change and rehabilitation for learners in prison throughout the UK.
The programme supports participants’ mental health, helping them to cultivate and sustain relationships with others and working to create closer connection between learners and their families. ‘A Future I Can Love’ also provides opportunities to develop transferrable skills and imagine a hopeful life beyond prison.
Back to: Department of English