the years the Bluecoat hosted a range of cultural and arts-associated events. These included art exhibitions, debates, discussions, public meetings and campaigns, poetry readings, musical concerts and recitals, and cultural lectures. It held book, record, and antiques fairs and became a centre for working artists and craftspeople. Some of the events have continued to hold a place in history. The 1908 exhibition of works mostly by members of the Sandon Society also included the first showing in Liverpool of Claude Monet who received a special invite. In 1911, the Sandon Society took on parts of Roger Fry's London Post-Impressionist exhibition, showing works by Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, and Van Gogh for the first time in the UK outside the capital. In 1967 Yoko Ono appeared at the Bluecoat, at a time before she met John Lennon. The Bluecoat was also visited by performing artists as Stravinsky, Michael Nyman, Doris Lessing and the Last Poets. Bluecoat today The Bluecoat was reopened on 15 March 2008, during Liverpool's year as a European Capital of Culture, by Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The opening exhibition, entitled Now Then, showed work by five artists, including Yoko Ono. During the early summer a display entitled Mr Roscoe's Garden, comprising part of Liverpool's Botanic Collection, was held. The Bluecoat organises exhibitions, events, education programmes and concerts. It also contains 22 artists studios. Coffee and light meals are available in the Espresso Bar and Upstairs Bistro. Since the reopening, the galleries have held major exhibitions by John Akomfrah, Mark Leckey, Sonia Boyce, Jonathan Baldock, Keith Piper, Siobhan Davies Dance & Niamh O'Malley, amongst others. Gallery of external features See also Grade I listed buildings in Merseyside Architecture of Liverpool References Further reading W. S. MacCunn, Bluecoat Chambers. The origins and development of an art centre, Liverpool University Press 1956. Peter Richmond, Marketing Modernisms. The Architecture and Influence of Charles Reilly, Liverpool University Press 2001 (preview at Google Books). External links The Bluecoat website Picture by nvmdigital.com Detailed account of the restoration and new extension from BDonline Video about the restored building Photographs of the new extension and some early exhibits School buildings completed in 1717 Buildings and structures completed in 2008 Grade I listed art galleries Grade I listed buildings in Liverpool Art museums and galleries in Merseyside Cultural organisations based in Liverpool Defunct schools in Liverpool Bluecoat schools 1717 establishments in