00:00Dot Art has spent 20 years fostering creativity across the city region, supporting more than 600 artists and engaging 21
00:08,000 schoolchildren through educational programmes generating around £5 million in social value.
00:16Anyone who knows me would say I'm just slightly determined, I should say. But yeah, I basically didn't give myself
00:25a choice. This is what I wanted to do. And I set out to do it. And it has certainly
00:30not been easy. And there's been many, many ups and downs, as many failures as there have been successes. But,
00:35you know, I was determined to make this work. And I'm just just absolutely delighted that we have. And, you
00:41know, it's something I'm incredibly passionate about and very feel very, very lucky.
00:46to have been able to do this for 20 years and hopefully for much longer, too.
00:49Over 30,000 hours of creative teaching have been delivered alongside 100 public and corporate art projects, as well as
00:57122 exhibitions showcasing local talents.
01:01I came to Liverpool to study art history and had always been inspired by the city and the amazing arts
01:07infrastructure that we have here. But when I graduated, I realised there wasn't really much of an arts market as
01:13such.
01:14You know, there wasn't really a lot of places for artists to sell their work or for people to buy
01:18affordable artwork. So that was really where it all came from. And yeah, that's the short version.
01:24Founder Lucy Byrne highlights how partnership and community collaboration have enabled Dot Art to thrive. The organisation continues to prioritise
01:33accessibility, providing opportunities for young people, artists and businesses to engage with visual art while contributing to Liverpool's cultural landscape.
01:42It's the thing I'm probably the most proud of. We've worked with over 21,000 young people now over the
01:48past 14 years, starting off here in Liverpool with our Dot Art Schools programme that covers the Liverpool City region.
01:54And annually, we work with up to 100 schools across the Liverpool City region. And then in 2021, we launched
02:00Art Bites, which is our national programme, building on the success of our work here in Liverpool.
02:04Celebrations in 2026 will highlight the 20-year impact of the gallery on Liverpool's art scene.
02:12Well, we have two special exhibitions, one launching at our space at the Inside Hotel on Old Hall Street, and
02:18that's called 20.
02:19And that is one large-scale artwork by 20 of the artists that we currently work with.
02:23So it's a really, really great, diverse show. And that's going to be on until May time.
02:29Here in the Dot Art Gallery, we're opening an exhibition called 20 by 20, which was an idea from one
02:33of our members who suggested we ask our artists to produce works that are 20 by 20 centimetres.
02:38So we've got, I think, about 80 or so of them.
02:42So there's going to be lots and lots of really affordable, beautiful little artworks of all different subjects and media.
02:49The organisation aims to continue delivering high-quality exhibitions, community murals and education projects, whilst nurturing emerging creative talent in
02:59the city.
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