Culture Secretary says ‘thank you’ to Liverpool on a fantastic year as capital of culture
144/08
18 December 2008
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham today said ‘thank you’ to Liverpool on delivering an inspirational programme of arts and culture throughout its period as Liverpool Capital of Culture.
Speaking at a reception at St George’s Hall in Liverpool to thank the Liverpool Culture Company, Burnham said:
“When Liverpool got the nomination to become Capital of Culture in 2000 some people doubted that Liverpool was ‘cultured’ enough to be up to it. But just look around the city now to see just how wrong those critics have been proved. This is a city that over the last year has delivered 7,000 events, sold one million hotel beds and been invaded by one huge mechanical spider. There’s been something – and something good – for everyone.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank-you. To everyone who came to a Liverpool 08 event, to all the artists and schools who worked together to ensure that every-single child in Liverpool was involved in Liverpool 08 and to the volunteers and the Culture Company who provided a truly world-class programme of events. Their efforts have helped raise the confidence of Liverpool as a city, evoking a spirit of optimism and a sense of momentum which I believe will endure long after our ‘year’ is over.
“A crucial part of the legacy of the Capital of Culture is ensuring that children have access to high-quality cultural experiences throughout their education. I have already seen some positive signs of this taking shape in initiatives such as the Find Your Talent Programme. Just this afternoon I visited FACT in Liverpool where I was shown a film made by a group of local young people before they led me around a new interactive sound exhibition, DING>>D0NG. I was amazed by the level of skill that these young people possessed – devising, shooting and editing their own film. I believe that if Liverpool can continue to inspire its’ young people, nurturing their talent and feeding their curiosity through the arts and culture then the city will have created a lasting legacy out of its’ year of culture.”
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Notes to editors
1. According to research released by the Liverpool Culture Company:
- Capital of Culture 2008 has generated an £800 million boost to the regional economy.
- The city has welcomed 3.5 million first time visitors in 2008-25% of all tourists-generating £176 million alone in tourism spend.
- Liverpool’s tourism sector has boomed with a record one million hotel beds sold in the city and average occupancy rates are at an all time high of 77% over the year.
- The Liverpool ’08 Events Programme, which included The Opening Weekend, The Tall Ships’ Race, The Turner Prize, The Stirling Prize, MTV Europe Music Awards, The Beat Goes On and Art In The Age of Steam, Liverpool Biennial, Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Sound concert, exhibitions on Gustav Klimt and Le Corbusier, Go Superlambananas and La Machine-the spectacular 50ft spider-attracted 5.2 million people to the city.
|
Visitor figures to selected cultural attractions - Jan to Dec* ‘08 % Increase |
|
National Museums Liverpool |
2,668,000 |
33 |
|
Tate Liverpool |
1,088,000 |
68 |
|
Mersey Ferries |
700,000 |
33 |
|
Echo Arena and BT Convention Centre |
600,000 |
Open Jan ‘08 |
|
Central Library |
568,000 |
6 |
|
Liverpool Cathedral |
519,000 |
22 |
|
FACT |
468,000 |
11 |
|
Liverpool Empire |
457,000 |
4 |
|
The Bluecoat |
395,000 |
Reopened Mar ‘08 |
|
‘08 Place |
365,000 |
60 |
|
Metropolitan Cathedral |
356,000 |
32 |
|
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall |
271,000 |
24 |
|
The Beatles Story |
201,000 |
30 |
|
St George’s Hall |
167,000 |
Opened Apr 07 |
|
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse |
163,000 |
22 |
|
LFC Museum |
162,000 |
7 |
|
Royal Court |
148,000 |
3 |
|
Spaceport |
110,000 |
67 |
|
Victoria Building and Gallery |
37,000 |
Opened July 08 |
|
Magical Mystery Tour |
31,000 |
46 |
|
Open Eye |
18,000 |
96 |
* Figures rounded to the nearest thousand, December figures projected
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6052/6277
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
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