A campaign from Homotopia, LCR Pride Foundation and Culture Liverpool designed to challenge hate and make the Liverpool City Region a safe and welcoming place for all has reached more than half a million people.
The artworks were created by graphic designer and artist, Leo Welton, and carried the statement “Liverpool is a city for all, so be sound and have a ball”. The works, which were displayed in three Merseyrail stations during the festive period and into the new year, also featured a series of inclusive and LGBT+ affirming slogans including “Love is Love”, “You are entering a hate free zone” and “Loud, proud and inclusive”.
The giant posters were intended to engage Christmas revellers and football crowds with the positive messages as they travelled on the city region’s transport network. Data provided by Merseyrail has since shown that they were seen by more than half a million people.
The project, which was funded by Culture Liverpool, was led by Homotopia in partnership with LCR Pride Foundation and Merseyrail.
Speaking of the project, artist Leo Welton said: “When Homotopia commissioned me to create this piece they were keen to produce something that was positive and festive whilst trying to deliver a message of inclusivity and kindness.
“The slogan we settled on captures the Scouse friendly spirit and hopefully puts a smile on readers faces. I created a bold and bright design that subtly uses pride colours and related symbols so that it could focus on the message of being sound to each other.
“Knowing that it was seen by so many people over the Christmas period is really heartening and my hope is that it might have shifted at least a few people’s mindset.”
Liverpool City Council’s Assistant Mayor and Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle said: “One of the main aims of this campaign was to spread the message far and wide that Liverpool is a city that does not tolerate hate of any kind, so it’s really rewarding to hear that these incredible artworks reached such a huge audience.
“Working in partnership with LCR Pride Foundation and Homotopia has enabled us to produce visible, creative and thought-provoking pieces or art which focus on acceptance, tolerance and love – showcasing the welcoming city Liverpool really is and drowning out the unwelcome voice of an ignorant minority.
“We look forward to the campaign developing in 2022 as the city continues to celebrate its LGBTQ+ community.”
The festive posters were part of a wider ongoing public arts campaign launched in response to a spate of hate crimes targeting Liverpool’s LGBT+ community in 2021. Homotopia and LCR Pride Foundation have been working in partnership with Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team to curate visible projects that not only celebrate the community, but emphasise the importance of acceptance.
