Murals will tell the city’s story

Dec 18 2007 by Alex Bell, Liverpool Daily Post

TERRACED homes across Liverpool are to be painted with Belfast-style murals as part of the city’s 2008 celebrations.

Culture Company supremo Phil Redmond announced yesterday that the Liverpool Mural Project had been given the go-ahead.

The scheme had originally been knocked back because the proposal to create Beatles murals had not been deemed edgy enough.

The project has now been given £10,000 and the Culture Company are involved in bidding for more money.

Artists from Belfast are to work with community groups in Liverpool to produce non-political large scale murals to celebrate the city’s 2008 Capital of Culture year.

The Riverside Group, a housing association, is already on board to help locate one of the murals on one of their properties.

Last night Phil Redmond, deputy chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: “We are very pleased to have found a way to support the Liverpool Mural Project through development funding and look forward to working together to build partnerships as part of a region wide scheme for community public art.”

“The first project to be developed encourages a return to the original ethos of the Belfast Murals and will depict the historical link between Liverpool and Ireland.

“Artists from Belfast are to transfer their expertise by demonstrating how art can play a powerful role in community identity and cohesion.

“With Liverpool’s proud history as a centre of social justice we are sure this particular art form will find a natural place in many communities across Merseyside.”

Belfast’s murals sprung up on the sides of houses over the Northern Irish capital during the Troubles.

These murals are today a major Belfast attraction for tourists.

In the past they were a way for the residents of Belfast's troubled areas to get their points across.

Some of the murals are commemorations of something that has happened in the past, or a memorial of people that have been killed.

“I look forward to walking through Liverpool and spotting unique murals that capture the spirit of Liverpool,” said Dr Stuart Borthwick of Liverpool JMU. Caroline Field, director of community engagement, The Riverside Group said: “Riverside is planning to support the Liverpool Mural Project.

“We are identifying a location and will be making a contribution to the costs from our community funding, both from our Divisional funds in Waterfront and from our central funds from the Riverside Group.”