Bluecoat, Liverpool : the UK's first arts centre

Bluecoat is aunique and much-loved Liverpool institution, its oldest city centre building.

Thisbook tells the fascinating story of its transformation from charity school tocontemporary arts centre, the UK's first.

Its early 18th century originsshed light on the religious and maritime mercantile environment of the growingport, whose merchants supported the school.

Echoes from then are revealed inthemes explored by artists in the 20th century, including slaveryand colonial legacies. The predominantfocus is on an inclusive building for the arts, starting with colourful bohemiansociety, the Sandon, who established an artistic colony in 1907, hostingsignificant exhibitions by the Post-Impressionists and many leading modernBritish artists.

Bluecoat Society of Arts emerged as the building's custodians,paving the way for the arts centre which, despite financial struggles and wartimebomb damage, survived and continues to play a prominent role in Liverpool's andthe UK's culture.

Bluecoat is describedas where 'village hall meets the avant-garde'.

In its rich story, Picasso,Stravinsky, Yoko Ono, Captain Beefheart, Simon Rattle and the inspirationalFanny Calder are just some of the names encountered, as key strands, includingmusic, visual art, performance and the building's tenants, are traced.