House of The Vivienne CIC and Proudly Said announce plans to commission a permanent lifesize statue of The Vivienne, to be sited at the entrance to Liverpool’s officially recognised Pride Quarter, backed by Liverpool Business Improvement District, and supported by a community fundraising campaign launching today.
House of The Vivienne CIC, established by the family of James Lee Williams, and Proudly Said have today announced plans to commission and install a permanent life size statue of The Vivienne at the junction of Victoria Street and Stanley Street, at the threshold of Liverpool’s officially recognised Pride Quarter.
The project has secured initial funding from Liverpool Business Improvement District, made up of business and cultural leaders in the city, to fund the project directly in recognition of its significance to the city, enabling the campaign to formally launch and the community fundraising drive to begin.
James Lee Williams, known and loved as The Vivienne, moved to Liverpool from North Wales at the age of sixteen and found in the city a place where he could be fully seen and accepted. Working in iconic Liverpool venues including Garlands, GBar, and Superstar Boudoir, The Vivienne became a defining figure of the Pride Quarter long before national fame found them.
James went on to win the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and later competed on Dancing on Ice, bringing their extraordinary talent and personality to audiences across the country.
James passed away in January 2025 following a silent battle with addiction to Ketamine, with House of The Vivienne CIC being established by his family to support others facing similar struggles, ensuring that no one has to face those battles alone.
Chanel Williams, Director, House of The Vivienne CIC and sister of James Lee Williams said:
“James gave everything to Liverpool and Liverpool gave everything back to him. This city saw him, accepted him, and helped him become The Vivienne. A permanent statue in the Pride Quarter feels like the right way to make sure nobody forgets that, and to remind anyone who might be struggling that they do not have to do it alone. That was what James believed, and it is what we are going to keep saying.”
Leading on the project, John Hyland, from Proudly Said, said:
“The Vivienne was the Pride Quarter, and James had a way of making everyone who walked through any one of those doors feel like they belonged, and that didn’t stop when the cameras arrived, and their star shot into the sky.
“This statue is Liverpool acknowledging what the LGBTQ+ community already knows. But it’s also the beginning of something bigger. The Pride Quarter deserves investment, attention, and a future, and this is the first statement of intent that it’s going to get both.”
The proposed statue will be positioned at the entrance to the Pride Quarter, looking out over Stanley Street and the community James helped to define, acting as its guardian angel, and inviting visitors to sit and have a catch up. The location was chosen to ensure the statue can be gathered around, becoming a lasting focal point for both the LGBTQ+ community and visitors to the city.
The announcement marks the beginning of a broader effort to invest in Liverpool’s Pride Quarter, with the statue intended as a catalyst for wider community-led regeneration of the area. A community fundraising campaign to support the costs of delivering the statue launches today at proudlysaid.co.uk/bring-the-vivienne-home/, with details of how to donate and get involved.
Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool Business Improvement District, says,
“Liverpool has always been a city that celebrates the people who shape and help to define its culture, and The Vivienne was one of them. We are proud to support this project and what it represents, not just as a tribute to James, and all those who loved and supported James, but as a statement about the kind of city Liverpool is.”
The community fundraising campaign is live now at proudlysaid.co.uk/bring-the-vivienne-home/. Every donation contributes directly to the commission of the statue and brings the project one step closer to reality. All information for businesses and organisations is also within this link.