Liverpool John Lennon Airport - Community Art Project

At the beginning of the year, Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) was keen to develop a relationship with the arts world in the local community. The Airport worked alongside the Liverpool Culture Company and introduced a Community Arts Project to give local artists the opportunity to exhibit their artwork to an international audience. JLA issued an ‘art call' to local artists inviting them to display their work at the Airport. The Airport received many applications and as a consequence formed an Art Panel which consisted of representatives from JLA, Liverpool Culture Company, Liverpool Biennial and a local artist to review all the submissions and make a selection.

The work of five local artists and 119 school children from three local schools has now been installed and the project was officially launched by Phil Redmond, Deputy Chair and Creative Director of Liverpool Culture Company.

On level 2 just past the John Lennon statue, Barry Worrall from Halewood, has both the 'Life in Halewood' and a panoramic painting of Liverpool on display (pictured on the right.)

In the stair well on level 2, there is an array of paintings from Parklands High School, St Ambrose Primary School in Speke and Gilmour Junior School in Garston.

Pictured right- Children from Gilmour Junior School stand above their artwork with Phil Redmond, Neil Pakey, Deputy CEO at Peel Airports and Head Teacher Peter Gibbons.

On level 3, above the Aintree Food Village, five creative pieces of artwork by Laurence Payot adorn the walls.

Moving the down staircase on level 3 towards security control, on display there are two colourful mosaics, by Debbie Ryan from Old Swan, three op and pop art canvases by Peter Collins from Knotty Ash and a huge map called 'Culture and Revolution' by Graeme Currie.

Pictured above -Debbie Ryan's butterfly mosaic

Following the installation of the community artwork, Phil Redmond, Deputy Chair and Creative Director of Liverpool Culture Company, said: "I am delighted that JLA is providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talent to a truly international audience. To embrace art and culture throughout a public building such as JLA is fantastic, as it vividly promotes why we are European Capital of Culture from the moment you arrive in Liverpool and right up until you depart."

The artwork will be on display until the end of the year, however, this Project is the start of a rolling programme which will continue to showcase new exhibits throughout next year.