Liverpool’s 10th Capital of Culture celebrations are in for a GREAT boost

Almost a decade since our amazing city celebrated being capital of culture with a year long celebration, we’re about to do it all over again.

Culture Liverpool has unveiled that the GREAT Britain campaign is the first major partner of the Liverpool 2018 events and arts programme. The partnership means that next year’s highlight events such as the Tall Ships Race and the end of the Clipper Around the World Yacht Race will be given even more of a national and international profile, as the GREAT Britain campaign will use its impressive reach across the tourism, culture, investment, export, trade and education sectors to promote Liverpool’s programme and position it as a must-visit destination.

The announcement comes as Liverpool officially launches its sponsorship programme for 2018. Conrad Bird, Director of the GREAT Britain campaign, said: “We at GREAT, are extremely proud to be the first to support the city’s 10 year anniversary of European Capital of Culture 2008.

“Liverpool 2018 will provide the city region with another opportunity to boost the economy and showcase what a great place to work, live, trade and invest Liverpool is. The GREAT campaign aims to showcase the best of Britain, but also what is new and surprising. With what I’ve seen planned for 2018 Liverpool’s partnership with GREAT is a perfect fit.”

Our Echo Arena’s flags at half mast today

The Liverpool 2018 programme will shine a light on the city’s progress since 2008 and its aspirations for the future. Plans are in motion to work with some of the world’s best artists, musicians and cultural organisations to create a programme which will be integrated into the city’s existing annual cultural offer and transcends the worlds of art, fashion, business and sport.

The aim is to attract audiences of around four million people, create £100million economic impact, engage with 50,000 through education and community initiatives and push Liverpool to the top of the ‘must-visit’ cities in 2018. Details of the 2018 programme will be announced at the end of October.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “2018 is a landmark year for the city and the wider region, and will be a celebration of Liverpool’s position at the heart of the UK’s cultural scene which continually attracts global attention and exposure.

“It’s a real coup that the GREAT Britain campaign is working with us to promote the tenth anniversary of our cultural title – which has already been several years in the planning.

“The year will be a nod to the success of 2008, but will act as a showcase for how far we’ve come in the last ten years in terms of our creative confidence and innovation, and also sets out a marker for our ambitions for the future.

“There is a buzz around the city ahead of our 2018 announcement which is to be expected given our reputation for staging unforgettable spectacles which engage audiences and push boundaries.  Announcing the partnership with the GREAT Britain campaign is an indication of the strength of the programme, and we are excited about revealing more details in the next month or so.”

The city is already promoting Liverpool 2018 programme to a global audience by virtue of its yacht in the Clipper Round the World yacht race which has just completed its first leg, from Liverpool to Uruguay, and returns back to the city next summer.

Another highlight announced includes a special Sgt Pepper’s concert by The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Bootleg Beatles on Saturday 13 January 2018 at Echo Arena Liverpool to reprise their performance to celebrate the first ever concert at Echo Arena Liverpool in 2008 – performed by the RLPO.

For more details about the Liverpool 2018 sponsorship programme email susan.finnegan@liverpool.gov.uk.