3m visitors flood in to enjoy Liverpool's Capital of Culture

May 16 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Crowds pack the streets

MORE than 3m people are expected to have visited Liverpool’s cultural attractions by the end of this week, as figures continue to break all records in Capital of Culture year.

In the first four months of 2008, the latest statistics show more than 2.75m people attended a cultural event or venue across the city – 25% up on 2007 – with some recording more than 50% growth.

With highlights such as the Art in the Age of Steam exhibition attracting records crowds at The Walker art gallery, it is estimated the 3m barrier for cultural visits will be breached over the next few days.

Since January 1, Liverpool'sŠ award-winning tourist information centres (The ‘08 place, Albert Dock and John Lennon airport)Š had more than 180,000 visitors, Šwith enquiries up by more than 70% on last year.

The city is also receiving unprecedented media coverage. It has already hosted over 600 journalists, with more than 4,200 articles in UK print media alone.

Bryan Gray, chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: “The impact of Capital of Culture is having an impact on our cultural and tourism sectors in a way that few, if any, previous culture cities have experienced. To have these figures at this stage of the year is truly amazing and surpasses all our expectations.” Visitor figures are expected to keep on rising with the onset of summer blockbusters, with the Streets Ahead weekend on May 24 to 26 and the Gustav Klimt exhibition at Tate Liverpool opening on May 30.

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council and deputy chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: “Liverpool is enjoying a huge boom on the back of ‘08 and is putting the city back on the global stage.

“These latest figures are the strongest indication yet that the city will benefit from being Capital of Culture for years to come.’’

Phil Redmond, creative director of Liverpool Culture Company, said: “These figures are a huge vote of confidence in our ‘08 programme and proves that people want to be – and are – at the heart of the city’s cultural offering. With so much on offer there’s no excuse for not being part of the year – and I’m delighted people have got the message.”

More than 350 events, many of them free, are being staged as part of the 2008 celebrations. Other blockbuster events still to come include the Liverpool Sound concert at Anfield on June 1 with Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl, the trail of Go Superlambananas from June 16, the Tall Ships Races from July 18 to 21, and the MTV Europe Music Awards in November.

vickyanderson