Artist Ted Walker's Titanic painting 'Sinking' _460
Both Southampton and Belfast are planning big new museums dedicated to Titanic.
Belfast has a blinding artefact in the form of the recently rescued steam tender, Nomadic.
This is the last White Star vessel afloat and was built alongside Titanic and her sister ship, Olympic.
Like a tiny single-stacked Titanic, Nomadic was designed to ferry first class passengers and mail from Cherbourg’s quayside to the anchored superliners, too big to enter harbour.
After serving for years as a floating restaurant in the River Seine, in central Paris, Nomadic was saved from the scrapman and returned to Belfast.
Although Nomadic is a huge £7m restoration for 2012, it’s a tough act for others to match. Typically, Liverpool never bothered bidding for this priceless ticket to the global tourism market.
“We’ve got to ask ourselves what we can do that’s different and exciting,” says Judith.
“Besides important artefacts, Merseyside Maritime Museum has well-established talks and re-enactments about Titanic.”
Most eye-catching on public display in the fascinating Titanic Gallery is the giant builder’s model of Titanic, which began life as class-leader Olympic.
“Titanic trails are already popular, and we’re already feeding the idea of the centenary into the schools.” Liverpool’s culture czar, Prof Phil Redmond, a maritime enthusiast, is extremely keen on marking the anniversary.
To that end, the Festival of Performing Arts was approached about Titanic-related subjects.
Likewise, arts bodies including Liverpool Philharmonic, FACT and Bluecoat will hopefully present appropriately-themed performances and shows.
“I’m conscious of basing our ideas on what visitors would expect, rather than bringing in strange interpretations of what Titanic might be about,” says Judith.
