TRAVEL

Mical mery tour

Once maligned as the home of shellshuits and wide boys, Liverpool has reinvented itself in recent years as a thriving, modern European city

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“I.

Chris Bradley overcomes regional prejudice to discover how Liverpool is shaping up as European Capital of Culture 2008

should declare my partiality

from the outset: I was born and

bred in Manchester. llealthy disdain for our neighbours to the west is not so much a point of view as birthright. But perhaps I‘ve judged too hastily. (‘liange is in the air over Merseyside. and. following in the footsteps of (ilasgow (another city which had a dubious reputation to overcome). Liverpool has been selected as liuropean (‘apital of (‘ulture 2008.

I won‘t be the only one who needs convincing. Once a city of great wealth and prestige. in the early years of last century. Liverpool‘s reputation plummeted following the collapse of its major asset. the shipping industry. So. how easily can negative perceptions of a city

be turned around'.’ "I’he (‘apital of

Culture status will enable us to redefine the city of Liverpool in the eyes of a still sceptical worldf says David Fleming. National Museums Liverpool.

The process is already underway. In 2004. Liverpool was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This year is the city‘s 800th anniversary

and there is a packed programme of

cultural events being held to mark the occasion under the banner

94 THE LIST 9‘.) Mar 11) Apr 900/

Director of

Liverpool ()8. They include exhibitions. music. theatre. dance. film. fashion. science. visual art. talks. lectures and other special events. The birthday celebrations will culminate in a big party on 'l‘uesday 28 August.

There is the UK‘s first major

exhibition of the Austrian artist (iustav Klimt and new work by acclaimed artists such as JyII Bradley. Ben Johnson. Michael Nyman. Sir John Tavener and Richard Wilson. There will be performances by Seamus lleaney. Akrarn Kahn. Philip Pullman and Sir Simon Rattle. And. in June. the People's Festival is a weekend celebration of football. fashion and

‘CAPITAL OF CULTURE STATUS WILL ENABLE US TO REDEFINE LIVERPOOL IN THE EYES OF A SCEPTICAL WORLD'

music. It climaxes with a specially commissioned work by composer Michael Nyman set against a backdrop of images of football‘s greatest moments selected by fans across l-iurope. and includes lixtra Time. a fashion catwalk show featuring ‘WAGs‘.

The celebrations have been tailored to lead into the (‘apital of (‘ulture programme in January 2008.

This year‘s Turner Prize will be hosted in Liverpool and the winning piece will be displayed in the city. the first time it has been exhibited outside London since its inception in HRH. The Liverpool Philharmonic are planning a huge. Viennese—ster ball and the legendary (‘avern Club. which famoust hosted the Beatles‘ first igs. has programmed an upcoming cries of special anniversary concerts. A year of public art and performance has been commissioned by the directors of international art festival. the Liverpool Biennial. and. in a nod to the city‘s shipping past. a huge maritime festival will coincide with the beginning of the Tall Ships Race. which is expected to attract in excess of I million spectators to the

S

River Mersey. So much for the future: as I discover. there‘s a lot happening

already. Take the network of

backstreets behind the shopping facade of Bold Street. considered a derelict. no-go area as little as five years ago. It’s now one of the most interesting areas of the city: a thriving quarter packed with new offices. flats. chic bars and eateries. not unlike Glasgow‘s Merchant (‘ity. The heart of this regeneration is undoubtedly the Foundation for Art and (‘reative 'l'echnology (FAC'I‘). which opened in 2003. Liverpool’s first purpose-built arts project for over (it) years. FACT is a hulking silver structure housing three cinema screens. various multimedia galleries and a cafe. which is possibly the busiest in the whole of Liverpool and undoubtedly the place to be seen. Further along the street I step into the ()pen Iiye Gallery. It is so small I have to check to make sure I‘m in the right place. yet it packs fascinating exhibitions of contemporary photography into two pocket-sized rooms. Both venues will play a key role in the 2007—2008 cultural programme. Among Liverpool‘s many boasts is that it has more galleries and museums than any other city outside of London. It has also appeared in more films and television programes than any other British city outside of London. from 51st State. The Hunt