18 September - 28 November 2010

PORTFOLIO / PERFORMANCE / EXHIBITION / INTERACT

A melange of unpredictable happenings in electric, plastic, paint and brain-wave – The Cooperative space was easy to find with its hideous frontage and delightful location. And worth it.  

This ambitious joint initiative was the first of its kind in the city. Seven of Liverpool’s key permanent arts collectives – The Royal Standard, Jump Ship Rat, Mercy, Red Wire, Arena Gallery and Studios, Sound Network, Lost Soul and Stranger Service Station – partnered to conspire and provide new work and an innovative archive.

This arts programme and creative hub was aimed at providing quality insight into the resident arts scene, and the work of top Liverpool-based curators, programmers and performers. The Cooperative also featured a new facade installation by Parisian squatter-artist Yabon Paname and Jump Ship Rat, and a bespoke performance space by Mercy.

Alongside a host of new artworks and an exciting performance programme, people visiting The Cooperative’s Old Paint Shop space on Renshaw Street were able to access a specially commissioned library and archive of work by artists based in Liverpool.

Contents of the Old Paint Shop also included a workshop and dialogue space for visiting and resident artists to share ideas, and a weekly rolling exhibition, including new work by Liverpool Art Prize nominees, and artists brought from around Europe.

The Cooperative featured a portfolio of artists associated with seven art collectives in partnership and project-managed by Mercy, a rolling exhibition programme jointly curated by The Cooperative groups, and a series of tours of independent art spaces across Liverpool.

The events programme, Midnight Special, was curated by Mercy, exploring language in performance.