The Cathedral Dean

Cathedral House,

Mount Pleasant,

Liverpool. L3 5TQ

12^th of May 2OO4

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Liverpool

‘Eight Crucifixions’ & the Biennale.

Dear Rev. Mgr. Cookson, Sir,

Every second year, the City of Liverpool holds an International Art Biennale - a festival of contemporary Art with an international standing, the only true Biennale held in Britain. I was part of the last one in 2002, with my ‘Seven Liverpool Pictures’; it was during this time that I first proposed the picture ‘Eight Crucifixions’ that I was to give you in the April of 2003. It is that time again, and the Biennale is in the air. Once again a City Wide Art guide is in preparation, for the sizeable Art Public who will visit the City between September and November. The City is celebrating the ‘new’ in Art and taking a pride in hosting Britain’s premier Art Event. Our Great Cathedral could be involved.

Officially it has been said to me, that as a contributing Artist any building I am exhibited or exhibiting in, is, if it is open to the public, potentially listable as a venue. The Biennale city guide is to be produced soon listing all the events, Shows and places to view contemporary Art in the City.

I would therefore Like to respectfully ask, If the Cathedral Authorities would seriously consider, the Cathedral itself being listed. Such a fine Modern Space, a Work of Art in itself, should be a must for every Art lover, but it will not be so. With so much else to take in they will only do ‘the list’, that is, those places listed in the Biennale Guide’. The A Foundation, the Branch of the Biennale with whom I work, have said to my proposal, that it is in principle an excellent Idea, subject to my obtaining the Cathedral Authorities permission.

The Biennale Guide would then include a reference to the Work ‘Eight Crucifixions’, and put the Cathedral on its Biennale Venues Map. Then, the many international, national and local Visitors, doing the round of the shows, venues, Museums and installations, perhaps by visiting the Cathedral for the first time, will discover how magnificent a Space it is. I think for that reason alone, the Cathedral should consider participating in the Biennale. It is uniquely Liverpool’s place to host a World class and World renowned Art Showcase above even London, which has no Biennale. If listed as a venue all the Cathedral’s Art is there for those many visitors to make a point of viewing. As Liverpool’s finest building and a Modern cultural Icon to the World, we should be in the Biennale as of right, all the museums are. Unfortunately it is all about the Brand new. The A Foundation [The Biennale] will however welcome us, because ‘Eight Crucifixions’ is, at his moment, a contemporary work.

My reward in this is twofold. Firstly it is in the vanity of an Artist to enjoy his work being seen - something a little different in the Biennale. - The second reward is about my relationship with the cathedral. If I can bring in some extra, interested visitors, who will delight in discovering or rediscovering the Cathedral, on the strength of my Work, then I would have done something good for the place I Love. You have shown extraordinary trust in me, and I am, through this Work ‘Eight Crucifixions’, committed to the Cathedral for life.

Please consider what we ask, the sole commitment of the Cathedral is in granting permission for the listing in the book and possibly to a small sign outside. The extra visitors once you have them will be your visitors, to educate as to what is the deeper purpose of this magnificent Space.

We can however do this only once. In this 2004 Biennale the picture is barely a year old, in 2006 it will be three years old. Contemporary is a relative term, but in the terms of the Biennale, New art means just that. With your Permission I will ask them to contact you. I will then take the proposal back to the A Foundation for its listing, probably in not more than a few lines, and our Great Cathedral would be where it belongs, on the City’s Art Map, in Liverpool’s Biennale !

Respectfully yours

Julian Broadhurst.