Overall, the city council is investing £2m more in culture than before it established the Liverpool Culture Company in 2005.

The two-year programme divided funding across three categories – Cultural Drivers, Cultural Contributors and Grass Root Innovators.

Cllr Millar said initially the cultural legacy would be about consolidating what the city already has.

“Let’s make that sustainable,” he said. “I want to ensure that, this year alone, there’s a recognition that actually the big free participation events happen and are successful.”

He said the city would be announcing the details of nine large participation events in the next couple of weeks.

“The work of the city council should be about mass participation events.”

He said the ultimate goal was to achieve a “happier and healthier” Liverpool through culture.

He said the cultural drivers should work hand in hand with the cultural contributors in delivering events.

Part of the new contract will see the role of the taxpayer in funding arts bodies celebrated, said Cllr Millar.

“We want more recognition of the taxpayers’ input.”

He said it was hoped this would lead to people feeling more connected and a higher degree of “ownership” towards cultural bodies.

“We should be proud of every single one of these organisations for what they have done.

“I think a lot of them have learned to talk to each other.

“We will listen and help them deliver.

“One of the things we recognise is that some organisations need mentoring, some need pointing to other sources of funding.”