Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest as well as one of the most exciting contemporary visual arts events, and with 960,000 visits in 2008, it is one of the best attended in the world.

18 September - 28 November 2010

For ten weeks every two years the city of Liverpool is transformed into the most amazing living gallery of new art, showcasing the best contemporary artists from around the world.

The Independents is one of the largest and most exciting contemporary visual arts festivals in the UK, with an exhibitions programme that runs in parallel to the Liverpool Biennial. This year the Independents will showcase more than 500 local, national and international artists in 128 events at 60 venues across Liverpool and surrounding areas. The Independents is an open access contemporary art event that showcases young blood and emerging new talent alongside established international artists.  These artists create new work specifically for the Independents Festival, which always throws up unexpected and genuine surprises in extraordinary and often unusual venues.

This year, in a climate of stringent public finances and without its traditional funding support, the Independents fights on against all odds, thanks to participating artists and galleries who have rallied to back the Festival financially because they understand the importance, the potential and the value that the Independents has for them. Their support is something to be celebrated.

I hope you find the Independents enjoyable, stimulating and compelling.

Mark Willcox
Chair, Independents Board

Opportunities are available to Sponsor the Independents or advertise on the website or in the printed material.

The Independents Liverpool Biennial is an established ‘not-for-profit’ Contemporary Arts Festival - one of the largest and most exciting in the UK - that happens alongside the Liverpool Biennial.

The Final Report for the 2008 Independents Liverpool Biennial has been uploaded to the website.

The report gives a very detailed account of the 2008 event which should be of interest to artists and curators planning to take part in this years Independents.

You can download the pdf file here. (2.3Mb)

Still time to Register for the 2010 Independents Liverpool Biennial

UPDATE: The official deadline to be included in printed guide (yes, there will be one!) has passed but whilst we're working our way through the mass of data you can still register and input your details.

If you have already entered data but can't see it here please check again on Monday (9th) when everything should be up-to-date.

You can register anytime to be included on the website.

Please register as soon as possible for 2010 Biennial

The Independents is an established ‘not-for-profit’ organisation that provides a centrally coordinated website, the credibility to attract press and media coverage and substantial visitor numbers (more than 400,000 in 2008) to the exhibitions and events. It is an exciting large scale event that happens alongside the Liverpool Biennial.