Following the announcement last week that Liverpool has been chosen as the UK?s nomination for European Capital of Culture in 2008, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published a report summarising the bids of the six short-listed cities and giving a justification for the advisory panel?s final selection.
The central theme highlighted in Liverpool?s winning bid is ?The World in One City?. This is underpinned by three supporting themes, namely Create: a new expression of 21st century British culture; Participate: a culture defined through participation; and Regenerate: a city made whole through cultural expression. The bid highlights the major regeneration taking place across Liverpool and the city?s track record in managing large-scale capital projects, and the panel of judges concluded that Liverpool?s bid ?best combines strong central direction and civic leadership with wholehearted public participation.?
The coveted title is expected to create around 14,000 new jobs in the city and attract as many as 1.7 million extra visitors. A new cultural infrastructure is planned or already underway, including a new Philharmonic Centre and the Kings Dock waterfront development. In total, 25 new capital projects will be completed to the value of around £1.5bn. Annual programmes of themed activities are to take place between 2003 and 2008, providing a phased build-up, and further events are planned through to 2010. The plans are structured around flagship activities involving three or four major events, performances and exhibitions each month. The bid targets support to disadvantaged communities and includes events designed to appeal to a wide cross-section of people. Its international dimension focuses on connections with communities represented in the city, as well as twin city linkages.
Announcing Liverpool as the winner, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell also paid tribute to the other cities running for the nomination and pledged support for ?the development of a cultural programme encompassing all 12 cities that bid? ? a move that has been welcomed by the judging panel. Representatives from DCMS will be meeting with Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund to take this further, and an announcement is expected later this year. The unsuccessful contenders for the title are now making plans for the future. Many of the projects born out of the bidding process will still come to fruition, helped by the £6m of funding awarded to the runners up. Cardiff is preparing to demonstrate its cultural ambitions with a national celebration in 2005 to mark its centenary and 50th anniversary as capital of Wales, and that same year has been designated a year for promoting Creative Bristol. The team that led the Newcastle/ Gateshead bid, which was widely tipped to win the contest, has pledged to re-double its already successful efforts to attract visitors to the city, and to continue its strategy of culture-led regeneration. A series of major new openings, including The Sage Gateshead, the Centre for the Children?s Book, Live Theatre?s Ideas Factory and a new headquarters for DanceCity, will take place in 2005.