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Top of our picks this month has to be the John Moores Painting Prize – the most prestigious contemporary painting prize in the UK – which is now visitable online and set to open IRL at Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool as soon as government restrictions allow. The anonymous, open submission process never fails to bring works by lesser known or undiscovered talent to the fore, whilst reliably featuring pieces by some of the most celebrated artists in the country. Take a virtual tour, discover this year’s five winners, and cast your vote for the Visitors’ Choice award.
We’re also hugely looking forward to Sutapa Biswas’ major exhibition, Lumen, at BALTIC, Gateshead. From her role in the British Black Arts movement in the 1980s to her ongoing work today, the British Indian artist has long been a driving force in efforts to highlight and challenge the deeply-engrained imperialist and colonial patterns of thought that still exist within British culture and society. This promises to be a deeply impactful show whilst equally embodying the often playful, humorous or dream-like quality of much of Biswas’ extensive output.
Closer to home, Manchester-based artist Nicola Ellis’ first major solo exhibition is set to open at Castlefield Gallery this March. No gaps in the line brings the worlds of art and industrial manufacturing into dialogue, exploring new ways in which the two might interact and testing our assumptions of what art is.
Meanwhile, The Earth Asleep marks the latest collaboration between visual artist Clara Casian and composer Robin Richards, in which the two embark on a journey to Otsuchi, a village in remote North-East Japan that was all but wiped out by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The feature-length film and original live score responds to our ability to process human suffering within the context of our 24/7 global news culture. Experience the premiere at HOME as part of its spring theatre programme.
Explore more exhibition highlights below.
Here are our picks
John Moores Painting Prize 2020 at Walker Art Gallery, City Centre and online, Until 27 June 2021, free entry - Visit now
The prestigious John Moores Painting Prize moves online for the first time, featuring the best in contemporary British painting.
Sutapa Biswas: Lumen at Baltic, Newcastle, 8 May–31 October 2021, free entry - Find Out More
Sutapa Biswas’ major solo show explores the artist’s role in illuminating the imperialist structures that still exist within British society.
The Earth Asleep at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 31 March–1 April 2021 - Book now
The Earth Asleep, a new film and original live score from creative duo Clara Casian and Robin Richards, premieres this spring at HOME.
Nicola Ellis and Ritherdon & Co Ltd: No gaps in the line at Castlefield Gallery, Castlefield, 13 June–1 August 2021, free entry - Find Out More
After a year of mostly silent and empty galleries, we look forward to this clamorous return to exhibiting ‘in the flesh’.
Liverpool Biennial 2021, 20 March–6 June 2021, free entry - Find Out More
The 11th edition of the UK’s oldest and largest festival of contemporary visual art is about to open, with work by over 50 artists.
Obstructions at Castlefield Gallery, Castlefield, Until 18 April 2021, free entry - Visit now
Castlefield Gallery presents ‘Obstructions’ – a rather unconventional group show about the freedoms within restriction, and rules that are sometimes there to be broken.
AI: More than Human at World Museum Liverpool, City Centre, Until 20 June 2021, from £5 - Book now
Barbican’s major exhibition, AI: More than Human, comes to Liverpool, offering a tantlising look into the future.
Ad Minoliti at Baltic, Newcastle, 1 April 2021–13 March 2022, free entry - Find Out More
Ad Minoliti’s immersive exhibition draws upon queer and feminist theory to offer new understandings of the world around us.
L– A City Through Its People at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool, Waterfront, Until 7 March 2021, free entry - Visit now
Open Eye Gallery pays tribute to the proud city it calls home with three exhibitions about the people who live there.
Postal Exhibition Print Programme at OUTPUT in Liverpool, City Centre, Until 1 June 2021, free entry - Visit now
OUTPUT in Liverpool launches a new programme of mail-based exhibitions, sending original artwork directly to your home.
Fun & Games Playtime past & present at The Portico Library, Chinatown and online, Until 24 May 2021, free entry - Visit now
Fun & Games at The Portico Library explores the evolution and traditions of games and play throughout the ages up to today.
Grayson's Art Club at Manchester Art Gallery, Chinatown, Until 18 April 2021, free entry - Visit now
Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry presents a major exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery featuring work made by the nation during the initial weeks of lockdown.
Vision & Reality: 100 Years of Contemporary Art in Wakefield at The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield, Until 25 April 2021, free entry - Visit now
100 years of contemporary art in one sitting? Feast your eyes at The Hepworth Wakefield and discover the story behind its remarkable collection.
The Sheffield Project at Weston Park Museum, Sheffield, Until 3 May 2021, free entry - Visit now
Commissioned in the mid-1980s, The Sheffield Project focused a lens on a unique chapter in the city’s history, when it embarked on a journey of radical change.
Aliza Nisenbaum at Tate Liverpool, Waterfront, Until 27 June 2021, free entry - Visit now
International portrait artist Aliza Nisenbaum will present a new painting at Tate Liverpool this winter, depicting members of the city’s key workers.
AID WORKERS: ETHICS UNDER FIRE - Exhibition at Imperial War Museum North (IWM North), Manchester, Until 31 May 2021, free entry - Visit now
Aid Workers: Ethics Under Fire at Imperial War Museum North takes a close look at the moral dilemmas surrounding overseas aid.
What is Manchester Art Gallery? at Manchester Art Gallery, Chinatown, Until 31 January 2023, free entry - Visit now
Manchester Art Gallery reopens with a thought-provoking new exhibition that delves into the history of the public institution and its role within the city.
Don McCullin at Tate Liverpool, Waterfront, Until 9 May 2021, from £11 - Book now
Tate Liverpool presents a major retrospective of work by Don McCullin, widely considered to be one of the greatest photojournalists of our time.
Online film festivals, brand new streaming film and a Titanic watch-a-long feature in our latest cinema guide.
Online open mics and full-on festivals, virtual book launches and digital reading series… there’s no getting bored when you log on to Live Literature Land this March.
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
For the December guide, we’re looking at the best delivery options in Manchester, whether it’s for alcohol or food.
Discover the best things to do online from the organisations we love in Manchester and the North.
A jam-packed guide of the best sights, spots and locally sourced goods on offer in the surrounding areas of Blackburn and Burnley.
Plenty to do in the online world with cooking classes, talks and beer tasting in this month’s Tours and Activities guide.