LIVERPOOL must continue to stage “blockbuster” events to help cement the city’s position as a European cultural capital, according to an internal council panel.
The recommendation is one of 11 conclusions that are aimed at ensuring a vibrant and positive legacy comes from the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.
The Cultural Legacy scrutiny panel also calls for a review of tourism and marketing plans for the city region to ensure the city capitalises on 08, and better working between cultural partners.
“Blockbuster” events, like the La Machine spider, were the huge unifying moments during the city’s flagship year, attracting worldwide attention at the same time.
Yesterday, culture supremo Phil Redmond revealed “something big” was being planned in the city for 2012, the year of the London Olympics.
Cllr Beatrice Fraenkel, chairman of the panel, said: “There is no doubt in anybody’s mind about the superb outcomes that have been achieved in the year.
“What we can’t tell at the moment is the impact in the long term in our communities.
“Communities – that’s where the perception lies that not enough was done.
“A huge amount of work was done, but the perception often creates the reality.”
Presenting the report to the council’s executive board, she said the council was expected to take a lead on cultural issues now, or others would step in.
“What we’re picking up is that if it does not happen from the city council it’s going to start to happen from elsewhere,” she said.
The panel’s report states that Liverpool should be officially branded as a “European Cultural Capital”.
“There should remain the ambition to encourage and actively seek and stage ‘blockbuster’ exhibitions and events which maintain the reputation of the city as a cultural capital.”
The report makes a number of recommendations about encouraging and improving cooperation between the city’s cultural bodies.
“Internally, the events associated with the year, linked with other regeneration initiatives which have come to fruition in 2008, have given people a new sense of pride in their city, helped generate a ‘feel-good factor’ and stimulated a new interest and awareness in what the city has to offer.
“The evidence gathered both by the panel and Impacts 08 [a report] has shown that externally the city has received a huge amount of positive press coverage, both nationally and internationally, which has turned the image from negative to positive.”
The panel said the city needed to continue highlighting its creative and innovative credentials.
“Both the UK Government and the European Commission have declared that Liverpool has delivered the best European Capital of Culture to date.
“There is a unique opportunity here to capitalise on this high-profile position for the benefit of Liverpool both for tourism and inward investment strategies.”
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