Tate Liverpool, the most significant UK art project outside London, is set to reopen in the spring of 2027 after a £30 million revamp project, according to Tate. When it closed in October 2023, it was intended to stay closed for two years. The revamp project aims to make the most visited contemporary art gallery in England, excluding London, a “sustainable, decarbonised” venue. The ultimate goal is an 85% reduction in carbon emissions, assisted by the removal of the gas boilers and insulation improvements.
The phase one of the project involved demolishing the air conditioning units that ran the length of the building, bringing natural light into the gallery, and stripping back the interiors to reveal the original brick walls. The new look gallery plans to attract 1 million visitors upon reopening, a significant increase from the 700,000 visitors it received pre-pandemic. New renovation features include a ground-floor art hall, where larger works can be displayed.
One of the central themes of the renovation is “flinging open the windows”, as the previous design never revealed the magnificent views of the Mersey or the fact the building was a Grade-I listed 19th-century warehouse in Liverpool. The renovation is crucial in ensuring the gallery moves with the times, as Executive Director of Tate Liverpool, Helen Legg has stated it was left behind in modern thinking as other galleries followed its successful opening.
On the hard-hat tour, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool city region, said, “By breathing new life into this historic building, we’re not only celebrating its legacy but strengthening its role at the heart of our £6.25bn visitor economy and restating our place as the UK’s cultural capital”. The project hopes to “create opportunities, drive regeneration, and showcase the very best of our city region to the world,” according to Rotheram
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