Education

The Bluecoat Display Centre seeks to inform and inspire all members of the community with an engaging programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions and residencies connected to the applied arts and crafts.

Our exhibitions cover the full spectrum of contemporary making from the traditional to the cutting edge, with learning at the core of the exhibition programme. To promote and enable an understanding of contemporary applied art and craft we include in our education programme the following:

1. Supporting information

Interpretation panels written to enhance the visitor’s experience and to inform students of art and design regarding the curatorial considerations of exhibitions and the backgrounds of the participating artists.

Copies of the information, artists’ CVs etc. are available to the public.

2. Guided talks 

Available to student groups, free of charge, although booking is advisable. We are delighted to accommodate visiting groups including schools and colleges to our exhibitions at no charge (maximum number 10 per talk).

3. Artists’ talks and lectures

These give in-depth background insights to the creation of the objects, the artists’ training and the inspirations that they have drawn on to produce the work. Groups are also very welcome to talks and workshops (there is a small fee for many of these), which are often of great value to students and emerging makers as they look at career paths plus creative and professional development issues.

4. Workshops led by artists

A hands-on experience by the public to learn, under the guidance of the country’s leading practitioners, aspects of their crafts.

5. Educational talks are given regularly by key staff team members at Colleges and Universities on a wide variety of topics including marketing work to galleries, curating exhibitions, creative and professional development and current trends in the contemporary crafts.

6. Young graduates and emerging artists

 One-to-One professional development help for individuals in marketing their work.

7. Schools

Bluecoat Display Centre can advise, liaise and place leading applied artists in schools for school children’s hands-on educational workshops and talks.

8. Links with Educational Institutions

Display cabinets at the Royal Liverpool Teaching Hospital and the Department of History at the University of Liverpool are updated regularly with a variety of artists’ work.

For further information on forthcoming educational events please check our listings of lectures and workshop.