In advance of Taylor Swift‘s three sold-out concerts in Liverpool this June, the British city will be transformed into “Taylor Town” and will soon play host to new art installations about the singer.
Local Liverpool creatives came together to make 11 art installations inspired by her studio albums. Highlights include a playable moss-covered grand piano inspired by Evermore, a “red room” honoring the Red album, and a Fearless mural based around the singer’s lucky number, 13. At College Lane, there will be a mural to celebrate Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. Additionally, in the city center, in front of St. George’s Hall, there will be “Taylor” banners.
A series of craft workshops dubbed Liverpool Loves Taylor (Craft Version) will also be held throughout the city. Origami pieces made by fans will be added to the main art installations. Fans can also create homemade T-shirts, collages, and cupcakes. A “Tay Day” free symposium for academics, students, and fans will also be held at the University of Liverpool.
“One of the biggest stars on the planet is coming to the birthplace of pop,” reads a notice from the Liverpool City Council. “And to mark this musical moment for the ages, there are plans in place to give Swifties a proper scouse welcome.”
Every city where Swift has performed has seen a boost in business across retail, food and beverage, and hotels. The Eras Tour alone has generated a total economic impact that likely exceeded $10 billion in the United States, according to the US Travel Association.
Though the Eras Tour has been sweeping the globe since March 2023, Liverpool’s homage to Swift is hardly the first of its kind. For the singer’s kickoff show in Glendale, Arizona, for example, the town temporarily changed its name to “Swift City.” In Rio de Janeiro, a Swift-inspired T-shirt was projected onto the Brazilian city’s statue of Christ the Redeemer.
The trail was made possible by Liverpool Council’s culture team and social enterprise Make CIC.
Claire McColgan, Liverpool’s Director of Culture, told the BBC that using “incredible art” as installations was the “right thing to do” to bring back the “Eurovision sparkle.” She added, “Her team will know what we are doing and it’s important when you get an artist of her scale that the city embraces it.”
