Liverpool Biennial 2010: 18 September – 28 November

(Laura Belem)

The Independent is pleased to be supporting Liverpool Biennial 2010; the largest and one of the most exciting contemporary visual arts events in the UK, with 975,000 visits in 2008. Liverpool Biennial 2010 will offer a concentration of quality contemporary art unprecedented in the UK, built on newly commissioned works from the world’s most challenging and ambitious artists.

For Liverpool Biennial 2010, hundreds of artists will present work across this unique city in exhibitions chosen from the best new and established artists from around the globe.

At the heart of the festival is Liverpool Biennial’s International exhibition, Touched. Selected international artists are invited to showcase their work, principally new commissions as well as several key works previously unseen in the UK. Touched is spread across the city: 52 Renshaw Street, FACT, Open Eye Gallery, the Bluecoat, Tate Liverpool, A Foundation, The Black-E, The Oratory, Liverpool Cathedral, as well as other sites. The festival also encompasses the best British artists through the John Moores Painting Prize and Bloomberg New Contemporaries, as well as international and local artists within the new programmes City States, S.Q.U.A.T. Liverpool and The Cooperative.

Make sure you visit the festival Visitor Centre at 52 Renshaw Street (the former Rapid Homeware shop). Every day there will be special events, talks and tours associated with Touched, most of which, whilst being free you need to book for – either on line or in person. Make sure you pick up the free map or buy the Guide for £5.

Some of the art works only really come alive if you interact with them. For example you can bring clothing to Lee Mingwei’s Mending Project or exchange one of your own precious objects for something in Meshac Gaba’s Souvenir Palace or you could even sign up to be a life model in Daniel Knorr’s Naked Corner.

For more information, go to www.biennial.com

In association with Novotel Liverpool Centre, Official Hotel Partner for Liverpool Biennial 2010, Liverpool Biennial are delighted to offer one Independent reader and guest overnight bed and breakfast accommodation during their visit to the Liverpool Biennial festival. The winning reader and guest will also receive their own copies of the Festival Guide 2010 and enjoy a Liverpool Biennial tour on the day of their choice.

The tour will enable you and your guest to see some of the most high profile artworks on display as part of this year’s festival. International 10: Touched presents over 60 artists from across the globe, including up to 40 brand new commissioned artworks exhibited throughout Liverpool’s prestigious art galleries, as well as the diverse public spaces of Liverpool city centre.

Accommodation can be reserved for any weekend night of the festival, which runs from 18 September to 28 November, subject to availability at Novotel Liverpool.

Novotel Liverpool is in an excellent city centre location, situated amongst many of the exhibiting sites including FACT, the Bluecoat and Tate Liverpool, which makes it an ideal spot to stay when visiting the festival.

To enter this free prize draw, answer the following question: What is the theme for Liverpool Biennial's International 10 exhibition? To enter, simply click here and use the reference code LIVERPOOL, when entering your contact details. Closing date for all entries is 30 September 2010. The successful entrant will be chosen at random and will be notified by 1 October.

Terms & conditions: closing date for competition is 30 September. Winner will be picked at random and notified by telephone or email on 1 October. Prize includes 1 night stay in the hotel Novotel Liverpool Centre for two people staying in a double room.Prize includes bed and breakfast. Travel to and from Liverpool is not included. At least one of the people staying at the hotel must be over eighteen years old. The Editor's decision is final. Only one entry per household. For full terms and conditions, go to www.independent.co.uk/legal