Rewards of following in wake of Liverpool
Supporters of Aberdeen’s bid to be named the UK’s first City of Culture in 2013 say the accolade would bring a major boost to the north-east economy. More importantly civic leaders in Liverpool tell Morag Lindsay it has the potential to change the lives of local people for the better
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It began with a bang, and a Beatle on the roof, and ended 2008 as one of the most successful European Capital of Culture programmes yet.
Now civic leaders in Aberdeen are being urged to look to Liverpool as an example of how culture and the arts can transform the fortunes of a city and the lives of its people.
As Aberdeen City Council prepares its outline case for a bid to become the UK’s first City of Culture in 2013, councillors and officials are being invited to Merseyside to see for themselves the spirt of optimism and confidence that abounds in Liverpool following its year in the spotlight.
The financial gains are there in black and white. The European Capital of Culture programme generated £800million for the Liverpool economy in 2008 and £200million in worldwide exposure.
It is also credited with being the impetus for much of the £4billion that has been invested in more than 300 major developments across the city since 2000.
But more important than the sums, says Councillor Warren Bradley, Liberal Democrat leader of Liverpool City Council and a firefighter in the Toxteth area, is the positivity and pride that the Capital of Culture reign fostered among his fellow citizens – a sense that came from realising theirs is a city that can hold its own on a world stage and compete with the best that anyone has to offer.
“Before 2008, Liverpool was known for dereliction, unemployment and extremist trade unions,” admitted Mr Bradley, who was vice-chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company, which put together the programme of events in 2008.
“What we had to change were people’s perceptions of the city, and also the perceptions of people here.
“Without doubt, 2008 made everyone feel more proud of their surroundings, and created a spirit of confidence and optimism.
“The challenge for us now is to build on that and make sure we keep moving forward and bringing people opportunities.”
At the Walker Art Gallery, where hordes of schoolchildren were pouring through the doors and large crowds still gathered around Ben Johnson’s massive Liverpool cityscape – finished in situ during 2008 – spokeswoman Laura Johnson said the real success of the year of celebrations was in enticing ordinary Liverpudlians to visit, many for the first time.
“A lot of people feel intimidated about coming to arts venues if they’re not familiar with them,” she said. “Maybe they think culture isn’t for them.
“What 2008 did, and is still doing, is make things more open and accessible to everyone.
“People in Liverpool realised these are their galleries and museums and they have as much right to be in them as anyone else.
“Now they see they are somewhere they can bring their children, have a coffee, just sit and enjoy the wonderful art.”
Beyond the cultural programme – underwritten with £94million of council funding – partnerships with private and public bodies paid for £11million of grassroots projects in schools, community centres and cultural venues in every corner of the city.
One of the most popular – Superlambanas – featured a series of 125 individually designed sculptures, looking like a cross between a lamb and a banana, which sprang up across the city, thanks to sponsorship from local community organisations and businesses.
Organisations like Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue and children’s services also used 08 projects to put over their messages about safety and responsibility.
The 08 Welcome programme put more than 5,000 frontline staff in hotels, shops, restaurants and taxi firms and through workshops in basic skills. Another 1,000 volunteers received valuable training in basic hospitality that has helped many into jobs.
All of this has added up to a sense of real sense of buoyancy, says Catherine Jones, of the Liverpool Echo. Now the paper’s culture editor, she was a news reporter before and during 2008 and has seen many of the critics silenced.
“Yes, there are still some people who say it wasn’t worth the money it cost to put the culture programme together and they’re probably never going to be convinced now,” she said. “And yes there are still areas of the city where people’s housing could be improved and the Capital of Culture doesn’t seem to have had much effect.
“But nobody said the title was going to be a panacea for all Liverpool’s ills. It hasn’t done that anywhere else, but nor has it had quite the transforming effect it had here.”
What the 2013 UK City of Culture title aims to do is give other places the chance to learn from Liverpool’s success and bring about their own shift in fortunes.
A total of 30 candidates registered an interest in bidding by the October 16 deadline – with Aberdeen the only Scottish contender. A shortlist will be drawn up, with the winning city announced later in the year.
Bidders will need to demonstrate a high-quality cultural programme that reaches out to a wide variety of audiences and, with support from key partners, provides a platform for lasting social regeneration and significant economic impact.
It won’t come cheap and with Aberdeen City Council facing £60million budget cuts and potentially another £20million to come, the path from preparing an outline case to making an official bid is likely to be rocky.
But the potential benefits are enormous. The winning city could host high-profile events such as the Turner Prize, BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, the Brits and the RIBA Stirling Prize and become a focus for national attention.
Announcing the contest, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said: “Liverpool’s success last year brought pride, confidence and real economic regeneration to the area. Their triumphant year shows that the title of City of Culture will be a prize very much worth having, with a huge amount to play for.”
As civic leaders in Aberdeen grapple with budget cuts, job losses and axeing council services, the city must decide soon if it is bold enough to grab that prize, or content to sit back and spectate from the sidelines.
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