Tracing the Biennial - Panel Discussion

13 September 2023

In this panel discussion from 2023, discover the fascinating origin of the Liverpool Biennial, its aims and how it came to be the UK's largest visual arts festival. This panel delves into why the Liverpool Biennial is so important for the city and why audiences travel from all around the world to see it.

Panelists included Lewis Biggs, former Liverpool Biennial Director; Jonathan Swain, who led the independent programme that complemented the first Liverpool Biennials; Bryan Biggs, Bluecoat's Director of Cultural Legacies, and who has been involved from the start; Laurie Peake, who was Project Director from 2002 - 2012, and Lois Keidan, who was involved in the live art programme, 'Liverpool Live', co-curated by the Bluecoat and the Live Art Development Agency. Gabriela Saenger Silva chaired the discussion and reflected on her own more recent involvement with the Liverpool Biennial when she was Meditation Coordinator in 2016 and 2018.

Current Liverpool Biennial Director Dr. Sam Lackey also gives an introduction to the panel discussion.