Liverpool's Blue Coat village is showing an adult- immersive exhibition to battle falling footfall numbers
- lssrbutt
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
A group exhibition in the Blue Coat village art gallery is battling to break barriers that still remain in art galleries since the pandemic.
The exhibition, called “Just Browsing” is an immersive and tactile exhibition aimed at adults, that featured over 12 artists working collaboratively.
The collection of fabrics, furniture and tapestries is aiming to change people’s avoidance of interactive art since the pandemic and fear of public spaces that massively effected art galleries.
Since 2021, art galleries like Blue Coat have seen a drop in footfall and data released earlier this year said that three in five small museums and galleries in the UK face risk of closure due to declining revenue and footfall, according to the Survey of Independent Cultural Attractions.
Absurdist Basket maker and one of the leading artists of the exhibition Lewis Prosser, made wicker hats and assisted in the overall display in the gallery space.
He said: “The making and enjoyment of art is an inherently tactile experience, and as a basket weaver it often feels strange when my work ends up in galleries with "do not touch" signs."
"Baskets actually last longer the more you touch them, they soak up the oils from your skin, and it feeds the willow. So, the instinct to touch, and play rough with them is completely natural.”
Mr Pressor made a wicker basket that could be worn as a mask and said the purpose of the exhibition was heavily influenced by the shift in culture amongst society and the fear of touch.
He said: “We spoke a lot about the impact of Covid and how that experience changed the way we interact with objects in public spaces, whether in shops or galleries.”
“For me, this exhibition was very much about giving people the confidence to fully engage with the work again. It was about stripping away some of the rules and regulations that can make gallery spaces feel intimidating or exclusionary.”
The exhibition took inspiration from the surrounding retail stores surrounding Blue Coat and, according to thebluecoat.org.uk, aims to “offer an experience of art that can be touched, worn and bought to take home.”
Another artist in the exhibition, Bruce Asbestos, focused his contribution on T-shirts which contrasts greatly with his typical works as a modern high art sculptor.
He said: “It's very lovely to be included in the most recent show, and nice to be able to show off a different part of my practice.”
“The Bluecoat is an exceptional space, and I've always seen that they've been ahead of the curve offering people who've done many smaller shows, their first institutional show.”
The exhibition was supposed to end on the 20th of December but has been extended to the 8th of February 2026 due to its popularity.
A small number of the pieces will be available to buy once the exhibition is over.
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