Special campaign to map the identity of Liverpool
TODAY the Daily Post launches a campaign to capture Liverpool’s identity, and we want you the readers to shape the outcome.
The Liverpool Map project is aiming to define the city’s boundaries geographically, historically and culturally to celebrate 2008.
The new map will show where the people of Merseyside think Liverpool’s borders are and it will also highlight Liverpool’s local, national and global influences.
The final outcome will be an artistic representation of the Liverpool Map, which will be donated to Museum of Liverpool as part of the 2008 celebrations.
When the city was born 800 years ago, an original street plan, said to have been designed by King John as he granted the city a royal charter, consisted of seven streets, defining the city as it was then. Despite its huge expansion since, those original streets, including Castle Street and Chapel Street, still stand.
But, in the 21st century, where have the city boundaries moved to?
Daily Post editor Mark Thomas said: “Just what should be included in the map of Liverpool has been quite a hot topic over the years.
“I was born in Liverpool, and my family moved to Wirral when I was five – but I regard myself as a Liverpudlian, and I am fiercely proud of the city, even if I do get called a plastic Scouser for my pains.
“We all know that the issue of whether Kirkby is really part of Liverpool is a bit of a sensitive one amongst Evertonians just now. But is Crosby really any less part of Liverpool than Woolton? Or Birkenhead than Aigburth?
“And let’s not forget that the influence of Liverpool has spread far and wide across the world. There are undoubtedly corners of many a foreign field that count themselves forever Liverpool. We want to find them.
“Tell us why you, and your neighbourhood, deserve to be considered part of Liverpool. Don’t assume you are in just because you pay your council tax to Liverpool City Council. This is your map. But it's up to you to put yourself on it.”
The project is part of Open Culture – a platform to enable the people of Liverpool to engage with the celebrations for 2008. It is collaboration between Radio City, BBC Radio Merseyside, Liverpool Echo and Daily Post, Phil Redmond with the ICDC, and Liverpool Culture Company.
Mr Redmond said: “For the Capital of Culture award, the EU sums up culture as arts, literature and shared lifestyle. That means that 2008 is not just about putting on shows and exhibitions, but it is also about shared identity. For people in Liverpool, that means being a Scouser and what does that mean exactly?
“That debate has been raging for years, but beneath it is also how we perceive where we live. Is it just a line on a map or is more to do with where your family and friends live or where you go to work and shop?
“That brings us on to the Scouse Diaspora, the Scousers who have moved away for employment or just to enjoy a different lifestyle. Like the Irish, does it make them any less a Scouser?
“I’m really looking forward to the arguments ahead because that too, is what it is to be a Scouser!”
Lord Mayor Paul Clark added: “The history of Liverpool means that for generations Liverpudlians have travelled in vast numbers and settled all over the world.
“In turn, many people from other parts of the country and the globe have settled here.
“Liverpudlians have added a great deal of colour to the places they have gone to and in my experience wherever you are in the world you do not have to go far before you meet someone with a connection to Liverpool.
“I encourage people to get involved to make the most of our unique heritage and celebrate it in Capital of Culture year.”
* TO NOMINATE a location to be included in the Liverpool map you can:
Email lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk
Write to Liza Williams, Liverpool Map, Liverpool Daily Post newsroom, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB, including your name and telephone number
Post your suggestion on our Liverpool Map forum at http://forums.liverpooldailypost.co.uk
We are also asking what the Liverpool motif that will feature on the artwork should be.
Some ideas are: The Liverbird, a purple wheelie bin, a sea holly, Gibson violin bass guitar, the waterfront skyline, cones, the Superlambanana, the yellow submarine. But we also want your suggestions.
