Beyond Van Gogh attracts 60,000 visitors during Liverpool premiere

A multimedia exhibition which brought Van Gogh’s painting to life attracted 60,000 visitors over its four-week run in Liverpool it has been announced.

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience enjoyed a sold-out day yesterday on the final date of its UK premiere at Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

And the last 300 lucky ticketholders through the doors were also greeted with a glass of celebratory fizz.

Presented by Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group, the show brings together more than 300 of the Dutch artist’s paintings – including landscapes, street scenes, portraits and self-portraits - with cutting edge technology animating many of them along with a surround-sound musical accompaniment.

The experience has been showcased right across the United States, Canada and venues in South America but this is its first visit to the UK.

It is also currently running in Glasgow and will open at Birmingham’s NEC next week.

Meanwhile producers have also teamed up with Liverpool’s dot-art to commission artist Joe Venning to create a giant 8ft by 4ft painting inspired by the attraction – and titled Starry Night in Liverpool, which is set to be presented to the waterfront ACC Liverpool venue where it will go on public display.

Above: Joe Venning's Starry Night in Liverpool. Top: Beyond Van Gogh at Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

Annerin Productions’ Anna Parry says: “We chose Liverpool as the venue for the UK premiere of Beyond Van Gogh because we knew it was absolutely committed to supporting arts and culture – and so it has proved. We’ve had fantastic support from the team at Exhibition Centre Liverpool as well as from the wider city.

“It’s been an incredible and a humbling experience to witness the reaction of Liverpool visitors. An amazing 60,000 people of all ages have come through the doors over the past four weeks, including a sold-out final day, and I couldn’t have asked for a better and more rewarding start to our UK dates.

“We were also really pleased to be able to team up with dot-art to commission a new Liverpool-themed Van Gogh artwork. Joseph Venning has created a stunning piece. It’s our way of saying thank you to the city, and especially to the team at ACC Liverpool for their support and huge contribution to the success of the exhibition.”