Ku, who is also a well-established city beekeeper, will be available to give advice and support to those who have been missing out on restorative contact with nature during 2020 as a result of lockdown.

Ku’s new role builds on her previous collaboration with Bluecoat, in which she has developed a series of nature-focused blogs during lockdown against the backdrop of Frances Disley’s Pattern Buffer exhibition, which focuses on ideas of wellbeing and is currently on display in Bluecoat’s gallery Thursday – Saturday 11 am-4 pm.

Amongst the many projects planned with Ku is the development of a map of accessible green spaces in Liverpool, which includes Bluecoat’s historic inner courtyard garden where the artist will be based, as well as highlighting long lost city centre gardens. The map seeks to highlight less visited areas of the city that are safe habitats for families to explore. It will be available as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days from Friday 11th September, and will be distributed by Bluecoat both in print and online. The map has the capacity to reach 1000s of people and inspire them to look at their city differently.

Ku will also create 250 wellbeing bags for children containing art materials, printed activities and micro planting projects. Pots, seeds and child-safe compost will be included to allow families to grow their own window sill boxes. These wellbeing bags will be distributed from Bluecoat’s building, as well as via a local city centre school.

As Resident Gardener Ku will also film online tutorials in Bluecoat’s garden, as well as holding safe distanced tutorials with the public and advise Bluecoat on making its own garden even more biodiverse and bee-friendly.

Marie-Anne McQuay, Head of Programme at Bluecoat, said:

“Bluecoat’s garden is much loved by our visitors who enjoy its qualities as a tranquil green space in the city centre. We are thrilled that Andrea’s appointment will help us to use this space to its full potential, making it an even more pleasant and rewarding space for Bluecoat visitors by encouraging more diverse planting and future-proofing this precious green resource. Andrea will also enable us to bring restorative gardening and nature-themed activities to new audiences, something that has never been so vital following the stress and isolation many people will have experienced over the last few months.”

The Liverpool Without Walls Culture Fund, is designed to support organisations and artists in creating performance and visual art outdoors and is brought to you by Culture Liverpool and Arts Council England.

Categories: News

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