Tate Liverpool has been given the Freedom of the City in recognition of its two decades as a major cultural presence there.

Since its opening at the Albert Dock in 1988, the gallery has hosted more than 150 exhibitions. In 2008 it was responsible for one of the highlights of Liverpool's Capital of Culture year when it displayed the work of Gustav Klimt and it is currently showcasing the work of Picasso in Picasso: Peace and Freedom. Artist and long-serving Tate Liverpool supporter Sir Peter Blake has created a new artwork as a gift to the city in recognition of Tate Liverpool's Freedom award.

Liverpool's lord mayor councillor Hazel Williams said: "Tate Liverpool has been an outstanding success and is now a fully established major cultural institution." Tate Liverpool director Christoph Grunenberg said: "We are delighted that Tate Liverpool has been admitted to the Freedom Roll of the City. Tate is enormously grateful to the city and the local people who have supported Tate Liverpool since its inception in 1988." Councillor Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: "Tate Liverpool is a great example of the way in which the city has reinvented itself. It is one of Liverpool's major tourist attractions which has played host to millions of visitors during the last 20 years.

"As well as attracting national and international visitors, Tate Liverpool is equally popular locally and is a particularly prized visit for schoolchildren." Image: Tate Liverpool