An art blogger has disputed the notion that Liverpudlians are not interested in modern art.

This comes after several people interviewed in the city centre expressed their dislike of contemporary paintings.

The issue of modern art has taken on added significance because Liverpool will become the Capital of Culture in just under three years.

Ian Jackson created and runs Art In Liverpool, “the best British art blog” according to The Times (October 2005).

“I think modern art is fairly popular in Liverpool though maybe not as much as in more modern cities,” Mr Jackson told Liverpool News.

“Liverpool is an old city with a wealth of old, traditional buildings and associated artworks so that's what people here grow up with and are accustomed too; compared to say, Milton Keynes which had a fair amount of modern public art as part of the landscape from day one.”

On whether modern art is an integral part of Liverpool's culture, Mr Jackson replied: “There's always a radical element to Liverpool - a willingness to experiment and try new things.

“Although The Walker is an old civic art gallery, it has always had a fair share of modern art. The John Moores prize for contemporary painting has been running there since 1957, with prizewinners such as David Hockney, Patrick Heron, John Hoyland and Peter Doig.”

To underline his argument, Mr Jackson pointed to the Liverpool Tate, which was built in 1988 and features four floors of modern art exhibits.

“It’s hard to imagine Liverpool now without the Tate. It’s even more integral now there is the new post-graduate programme - something that was always lacking here – which is a collaboration between the Tate, the Universities and FACT (another integral part of the art scene, albeit new media art).”

Stephen Guy, press officer for the eight National Museums in Liverpool (including the Walker Art Gallery), agrees with Mr Jackson.

"The modern and contemporary art exhibits are just as popular as the more traditional displays," Mr Guy told Liverpool News.

"As a general rule, we find this interest is always boosted when the John Moores exhibition is on every two years. Last year's exhibition ran alongside the first major exhibition staged by the Stuckists and both were very popular. The John Moores is Britain's biggest painting competition, with the emphasis on the painting!

"We get lots of compliments about our modern art displays, particularly as we were able to expand our modern art galleries following the opening of the new temporary exhibitions gallery in 2002.

"Modern art is very much an integral part of Liverpool's culture, not least because of the Liverpool Biennial which runs alongside the John Moores. Liverpool has always been home to talented artists and this remains true to this day although most of the John Moores exhibitors are based in London. This is because Britain's national art scene is, like most creative spheres, centred on the capital."

Mr Guy also commented on one of the Walker Art Gallery's current displays - Art Craziest Nation, a single exhibit - made from Lego - depicting a ‘mini-exhibition’ of modern art.