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Liverpool City Council is inviting local residents to experience a moving new art installation located in the historic Cunard Building in the city. This project is designed to foster reflection, open conversations, and greater understanding about suicide and how it affects individuals, families, and communities. The installation, titled *Close to Home*, is crafted by award-winning artist Mark Storor and will be on display from Saturday, 5 September, through to 10 October 2026. This period notably includes both World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) and World Mental Health Day (10 October).
The initiative is presented by Heart of Glass, a community arts organisation, working in collaboration with Liverpool City Council, Culture Liverpool, and Public Health Liverpool. The installation stems from over seven years of collaborative engagement with people who have direct lived experiences relating to suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and bereavement caused by suicide. As part of Storor’s broader project, *The Suicide Chronicles*, *Close to Home* reimagines the Cunard Building’s Arrivals Hall as a compelling environment using multiple mediums such as film, photography, sculpture, poetry, music, and spoken word. These artistic expressions delve into personal narratives of suicide and loss while encouraging visitors to consider themes of grief, care, connection, and hope.
The stories featured in the installation are contributed by communities across England, Ireland, and Wales, including those bereaved by suicide, first responders, and others impacted by suicide. Liverpool City Council plays a crucial role in supporting this project as part of their ongoing efforts to tackle stigma, promote open dialogue about mental health and suicide, and enhance access to support services. Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, emphasised the importance of the project stating:
“Culture Liverpool and Public Health Liverpool are proud to be partnering with Heart of Glass on this important and poignant project.
Suicide remains a public health priority for Liverpool and our prevention work continues to grow, but the fact that we still don’t talk openly about suicide and it remains a ‘taboo’ subject is one of the biggest challenges in our work.
By collaborating with partners on projects like Close to Home, we can use the power of art and culture to break down barriers and bring our communities together to learn and reflect, create space for important conversations, and provide access to support for those that need it.
Talking about mental health and suicide can be difficult, but it’s one of the most important things we can do – research shows that open conversations can raise awareness, break down stigma, encourage people to seek help, and support their wellbeing.
We are committed to fostering a community where people feel able to speak openly, share their feelings, and access the help they need.”
Throughout the six-week run, *Close to Home* will also offer a series of performances, talks, and discussions aimed at deepening public understanding of the issues the installation explores and promoting city-wide engagement. The project has received financial support from Arts Council England, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Located at the Cunard Building on Liverpool Waterfront, the installation is free to attend with no booking necessary. Opening hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 12 noon to 6 pm, with the venue closed on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday except for scheduled events or pre-booked visits. Extended hours will be offered on select dates during the residency.
*Close to Home* presents emotionally challenging content as it explores lived and living experiences of suicide and bereavement. Although it does not depict suicide itself, visitors are advised to engage with the exhibition in a way that feels comfortable and to make use of available support information throughout the installation. For those seeking immediate help, 24/7 support services exist, including the NHS mental health helpline (dial 111 and select the mental health option), Samaritans on 116 123, Papyrus HOPELINE247 at 0800 068 4141, or emergency services via 999 in urgent situations. Additionally, local mental health support can be accessed through one’s GP within Cheshire and Merseyside
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More
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