Building on success

Jul 11 2008 by Phil Redmond, Liverpool Daily Post

CONSOLIDATION. Often the boring bit that follows all the excitement.Whether it’s a football league title, a company takeover, tennis final or something more serious such as a battle, once the fighting is over, the need is for consolidation. To make sure that all the hard-won gains are not lost.

Around this time of the year, the sports news is usually dominated by football transfer stories, often fanciful, as managers everywhere try to consolidate the gains, or shore up the failures of the previous season. LFC are at it again, so no doubt we will be in for another season of settling in and getting to know one another while progress is being made toward that elusive title. But, above all, they will consolidate.

On a more serious note, the British Commander in Basra was recently talking about consolidating the gains there with amazing good grace, courtesy and patience while facing the typically banal journalistic questions about how long is a piece of string. No doubt he was thinking of a good use for said piece of string as he tried to get across that consolidating the peace is a little more complicated than going round shaking hands and swapping shirts.

For Spanish star Nadal, adding to Spain’s recent run of sporting success, the hard-won Wimbledon victory over the world’s current top seed was one thing; consolidating his own claim to that No 1 spot is going to take a bit more work over the coming six months.

And so to it will be for our great Culture project.

It would be a great pity if we get to the end of 2008 and simply say that was a great 12 months, so what’s next? Especially when people seem to be accepting that, no matter what has gone before, there now appears to be a sense that things can change simply by a common desire to work together and make them better.

That’s why I have been talking a lot recently about building economic models out of the cultural events that are going on. This week, we have seen three more examples of people’s own desire simply to do things through their own initiative. Monday saw the launch of Rathbones’ School Arts Exhibition, while Wednesday saw Boodles launch a jewellery competition.

Both are platforms for talent and both offer opportunities for new cultural careers.

Yesterday then saw Beatles Day, inspired by Summer Pops promoter Chas Cole, as a Scouse version of Red Nose Day, but in aid of Alder Hey.

While charitable in its aim, it is nevertheless a part of a newly discovered cultural entrepreneurship that will help us build on 2008’s success to date.

Help us to build on the growing confidence.

Help us consolidate.