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 I only just noticed there's a website for the new International Slavery Museum to open in Liverpool in August.
www.internationalslaverymuseum.org.uk
The new Museum will open its display galleries on 23 August 2007, Slavery Remembrance Day. 2007 is the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade and 23 August commemorates the date of the outbreak of the slave rebellion, which created the first independent Black republic of Haiti.
The International Slavery Museum will be at Liverpool's Albert Dock, at the centre of a World Heritage site. The location is only yards away from the dry docks where 18th century slave trading ships were repaired and fitted out.
Also there is an update meeting this Wednesday...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
International Slavery Museum update meeting
A meeting at the Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre in Princes Road to update on the development and progress of the forthcoming International Slavery Museum. The meeting, which will last for up to two hours, will be an opportunity to view current plans and speak to staff working on the project. Includes informal presentations with an opportunity for questions and answers. There will be plans available and object images.
Call 0151 478 4543 or email Lizzy Rodgers to book your free place.
Suitable for adults / seniors
3pm, Merseyside Maritime Museum
Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre, Princes Road
Here's something that may be of interest.
It costs £5 which goes to the children's charity KIND.
You can have an email address of yourname@livercool.co.uk . The email is simply forwarded on to your existing email.
www.livercool.co.uk
An exclusive from The Echo. (full story) ..
THE world famous Boat Show could sail into Liverpool for 2008.
The ECHO can exclusively reveal that talks to stage the show, which could bring in up to £40m for the local economy and 140,000 visitors, are nearing completion.
Organisers the British Marine Federation said they were close to clinching the deal and the "motivation and desire to do it is very strong".
The show has run in London for 53 years and in Southampton for 36 years.
Organisers are looking at staging floating exhibitions in the Albert Dock's Salthouse and Wapping Docks and land-based exhibits and entertainment in the Central and Northern Docks area on land belonging to Mersey Docks owner Peel Holdings.
Happy New Year!
No fireworks in Liverpool due to the stormy weather but you can watch some of the London extravaganza on the Londonist website.
http://www.londonist.com/archives/2007/01/and_for_anyone.php
 I've just been virtually racing a Jaguar X-TYPE in the prestigious Streets of Culture time-trials!
Students at St Margaret’s High School in Liverpool have designed this computer game as part of an initiative to encourage social enterprise and responsibility. Proceeds from the sales are raising money for BBC Children in Need.
I discovered this a bit late via Merseyside Digital Development
I've been a computer 'geek' ever since the late '60s, they'd only just been invented, but I've never been interested in computer games so I can't say whether this is any good or not. I downloaded the demo and it worked ok. I even managed a full lap without crashing though it was probably an embarrassingly slow time.
I think it costs £5 to download the full version.
www.streetsofculture.com
 From Cains Website...
Writer brews up history of Cains' famous brewery
Dec 27 2006
By Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo
A CALL has gone out for help to produce a book on the history of Liverpool's Cains Brewery.
Freelance writer and editor Chris Routledge has been appointed by Liverpool University Press to write the official history, which has the working title The Story of Liverpool in a Pint.
Mr Routledge is aiming to submit his manuscript to Liverpool University Press by autumn next year, ready to hit the shops in early 2008.
He is currently researching brewery founder Robert Cain, but is keen to fill in the gaps from 1921, when the Toxteth brewery was bought by Higsons.
Mr Routledge, from Aughton, said: "The book will show the history of the brewery and its connection with the fortunes of the city of Liverpool. It's an interesting pattern.
"I'm looking at Robert Cain himself and how he came from Cork to Liverpool. It's a quite remarkable story.
"He's thought to have arrived here in 1844 and by the 1870s became known as The King of the Toxteth."
After working at sea, Cain had enough money to buy his first brewery in Lime Kiln Lane in 1850 Mr Routledge said: "It's an amazing story of enterprise because within a few years he started buying pubs.
"He established The Vines and The Philharmonic for the growing middle class to go and eat and drink because although Liverpool had thousands of pubs in the 19th and 20th century, most of them were full of bruisers."
By 1896 the company was valued at £1m and when Robert Cain died in 1907, Liverpool's 700th anniversary, he left almost £500,000 in his personal will.
However, MrRoutledge says the research trail goes cold after 1921 when the Cains brewery was bought by Higsons and he is appealing to ECHO readers for help.
He said: "I would like to hear from people who have their own living memories, particularly from the war years and the 1960s."
You can contact him at cainsproject@wordcave.co.uk
From Culturepool
What
Dinner and a Movie - Scrooge
Christmas Dinner followed by the original big screen version of Scrooge. This 1951 classic is one of the best-known and most acclaimed film adaptations of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol starring Alistair Sim as Ebenezeer Scrooge.
When
Sunday 17th December 2006
Meet @ 7:00pm in the downstairs bar at the Royal Court Theatre.
Where
Royal Court Theatre
Roe Street, Liverpool, L1 1LH. Call 0151 709 4321 for directions.
Who
culturepool
Meet the other members of the group
How
Tickets are £10, which includes Christmas Dinner and the film.
Call the box office on 0151 709 4321 and quote “culturepool” when booking.
Yeh, why not? (As long as I don't have to enter)
From merseymarathon2008.blogspot.com
Mersey marathon?
As Liverpool is to be the Capital of Culture in 2008 and Merseyside has a proud, fine sporting heritage and as such should provide exceptional, blue ribbon events in the city; this subsequently showcases the city as an exemplar of sport and participation by residents and visitors. Such an event, which could encapsulate a range of races/events on the day, would encourage families and young people to participate in a sporting event that could have long-term positive benefits for their health and wellbeing.
This event would not only support the city’s drive to encourage healthy living in its residents, and in particular children, but would also serve to promote sporting interest in the forthcoming Olympic games in 2012. Visitors from all over the UK and indeed the world would travel to the city for such an event, thereby boosting visitor numbers and revenue for the city, and providing a positive view of the city, which is both affirmative and lasting. Please sign our petition and join the campaign now!
www.gopetition.com/online/10252.html
 Museum displays waterfront plans
(picture courtesy of Countryside Properties)
An exhibition of the planned multi-million pound re-development of Liverpool's waterfront has been put on show at the city's Maritime Museum.
Visitors can experience a computer animated 'fly through' of the Mann Island changes, said developers Neptune and Countryside Properties.
Building work is to start early in the new year.
The exhibition is open until 21 December and visitors can leave their comments in a special book.
'Under-used asset'
Plans for the Mann Island site include a new £65m Museum of Liverpool, an extension to the Leeds Liverpool Canal, a £120m mixed-use development as well as improvements to areas for public use.
The new waterfront scheme is expected to create over 800 new jobs, as well as increase the number of visitors, said the developers.
BBC LINK
This 'news' item has just appeared all over the web news sites (except the original said 'Capital of Culture in 2007 !!)...
Beatles to reunite in 2008?
Surviving former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr look set to reunite to celebrate their home city Liverpool's status of European Capital Of Culture in 2008.
McCartney has already been approached to perform at the opening ceremony - and now organisers want Starr to take part too.
A source reveals: "It's already expected that Paul (McCartney) will be involved but to get Ringo to join him on stage would be the icing on the cake.
"It would certainly be a massive coup and quite emotional for people of a certain age to see the two surviving Beatles performing together in their home city for the first time since the mid-sixties."
Using Culture to put Liverpool First Conference, 4 December, 10-3.30pm, Liverpool Football Club.
The aim of the Conference is to highlight how policymakers and all those working in the creative sector can use arts and culture to accelerate the delivery of Liverpool’s Vision – to become a better place to work, live, study and invest.
http://www.liverpool-community.org.uk/
Or contact Jacqui Lee, 0151 236 7728, Jacqui.Lee@lcvs.org.uk - for programme and booking form.
Arts & Culture Fund - Merseyside
The Arts and Culture Fund - Merseyside is a small grants programme financed by the European Social Fund, offering awards of up to £5,000.
In partnership with Community Foundation for Merseyside, the regions biggest community funder, Liverpool Centre for Arts Development is offering help and guidance with the application process and providing outreach and support for the programme.
Constituted groups set up for charitable purposes can apply for the fund, which is aimed at smaller voluntary sector organisations that want to participate in Liverpool's European Capital of Culture 2008 programme.
Successful applicants will be those that bring added value to the cultural and creative life of Merseyside, help improve skills, confidence and self-esteem and improve employment prospects.
The deadline for applications is Friday 20th April 2007.
Information packs are available direct from Liverpool Centre for Arts Development. Please call Sue Loftus or Colette Casey on 0151 707 1404 or email susan@lcad.org.uk
 July 3, 2008 will mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, a milestone reached by very few North American cities.
So last week we attended a meeting in Liverpool with a group of cultural representatives from Quebec who are keen to look for opportunities to collaborate with Liverpool. I didn't realise that the two cities where closely linked in the past, less so now probably because French is their first language.
Research in the archives of the Liverpool Maritime Museum reveals that Québec and Liverpool were very closely linked in the 19th century, with Québec a major point of entry into the New World via the Liverpool shipping route. Liverpool merchants actually sent members of their family to live down on the dockside in Québec to supervise orders for ships, and our research has revealed that between 1849 and 1854 alone, over 280 Liverpool-registered ships were built in Québec City.
Many of these ships brought timber to the UK and goods were exported from Liverpool on them into North America via Québec City, including a lot of Liverpool slipware. A lot of the empties returned with families as ballast, seeking a new life in North America. Many people continued to cross the Atlantic in both directions between Québec and Liverpool (this was cheaper than the New York crossing) on Allan Line and CP Line ships right up until the 1960s.
There may be several opportunities for exchange and collaboration. One of the people we met was from an art school Maison Des Metiers D'art de Quebec (MMAQ), specialising in ceramics, textile design and sculpture. It has residencies for young artists and established professionals from Canada or abroad. They take place from September to June and last for one month.
Proposals may be submitted at any time. See the website for more details, it helps if you can read French.
www.mmaq.com
www.quebec400.qc.ca/en
www.quebec.org.uk
 Support National Museums Liverpool this Christmas by ordering their Christmas cards to send to your family and friends.
These cards are a great reminder of the richness of their collections and of the important work they do.
3 designs are available in packs of 5 high quality cards, 135mm by 135mm, at £3.95 per pack including postage and packing:
LINK
Or you could save time, money and paper by sending NML e-cards
The National Trust has announced that a new on line booking system is being launched from 1 November for visitors wanting to tour the childhood homes of John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney in Liverpool.
The Trust acquired 20 Forthlin Road - home of Sir Paul and his brother Michael - in 1995 with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and opened it to the public in 1998. John Lennon's childhood home, 'Mendips' was bought and generously donated to the Trust by Yoko Ono in 2002, opening to the public in 2003.
Simon Osborne, the National Trust's Liverpool Properties' Manager says:
"I am delighted that we are able to offer this new on line booking facility for those who want to discover what life was like for John and Paul as they grew up in these two very ordinary surburban houses.
It will be much easier for overseas visitors to plan their itineraries and book tours in advance for 'Mendips' and 20 Forthlin Road, rather than having to rely on our current manual reservation system which, particularly when there is a time difference, can prove somewhat unsatisfactory."
Link
Liverpool History is Hot Seller
Editor of Liverpool 800: Culture, Character and History, Professor John Belchem will be signing copies at the 08 Place in Whitechapel on Saturday, October 21 from 13.30
The first comprehensive review of Liverpool's history for a century has hit the shelves - and its proving to be a world-wide hit.
Liverpool 800: Culture, Character and History went on sale on October 1 and is attracting sales from America to Australia and reportedly 'flying off the shelves' in stores.
A second print is already being considered and the city is also ensuring the book reaches audiences of all ages for generations to come, by issuing a free copy to all 194 Liverpool schools and all 24 public libraries.
Professor John Belchem, Professor of History at University of Liverpool, has spent three years drafting and editing what acclaims to be the definitive final word on the city's past. He will be among the guest speakers and will present a special edition to the Lord Mayor.
The 532 page book has been written by historians within the University of Liverpool and outside it, including researchers from Liverpool Hope, Lancaster University and the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.
They have made a path-breaking biography of the city, tracing its society, politics, economy and culture over eight centuries, from fishing village to world port and more recently from the post war decline to the beginnings of a new renaissance in the 21st century.
Fully illustrated the book contains more than 300 images of adverts, maps and photographs (many of them rarely seen before) sourced mainly from Liverpool City Council's Record Office, which recently received national recognition for its archives.
Councillor Mike Storey, Executive Member for Special Initiatives, said: ''This is an essential book for anyone with an interest in this truly remarkable city. Every Liverpool home should have a copy and it makes for a cracking Christmas gift.
''It's a measure of Liverpool's rollercoaster nature that after decades of decline our future looks as bright as our once glorious past. Arguably our greatest chapter is about to be written over the next two years, with Liverpool 800 and European Capital of Culture 2008. The momentum from this dual celebration of achievements past and to come could easily shape our next 100 years.''
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: ''Everyone involved in this book deserves our thanks and I'm delighted we are sending a copy of this book to every school.
''We owe it to our children to give them a sense of identity and civic pride. By providing them the opportunity to celebrate their history and city through a whole series of events in 07 and 08, we're also giving them the tools to play their part in shaping our future.''
Liverpool 800: Culture, Character and History was commissioned by Liverpool city council, and was co-funded through its Libraries service and the University of Liverpool.
Professor Graham Dockray, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: ''The University sees itself very much as part of Liverpool and is therefore proud to have collaborated with the city council in enabling the Liverpool 800 project to engage in major historical research, the fruits of which are published in this splendid book.''
Published by Liverpool University Press, it is available in three formats, paperback (£14.95), hardback (£35.00) and a limited edition of 800 individually numbered and superbly bound slip case copies (£100.00).
Robin Bloxsidge, Director, Liverpool University Press, said: "Liverpool University Press is proud of its long association with the City of Liverpool and its contribution through publishing to an awareness of the history and heritage of the city. We are especially honoured to have played a part in this landmark book.
''We all know Liverpool has a high international profile but we have been genuinely surprised and delighted with the strong sales."
 Imagine! Yoko - 08 Ambassador
Yoko Ono has given her support to Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations by signing up to be an official 08 Ambassador.
On what would have been John Lennon's 66th birthday, the New York based artist opened her heart, expressing her love for the city and how it had shaped the man she loved.
She said: ''I am so proud to support the Liverpool 08 Ambassador Programme! I fell in love with Liverpool the first time I went there in 1967 as an artist. When I arrived in Liverpool, the first thing that caught my eyes was the beautiful, old elegance of the city by the water.
''The professors at the Art School were young, alert, and all very hip to my stuff. When I performed at the Bluecoat Society, the place was filled with students who welcomed me warmly...a barely five ft. asian artist who could have come from Mars for all they knew! It was an experience I would never forget.''
The Japanese-born mother-of-two is a frequent visitor to the city, recently donating Lennon's Childhood home to the National Trust and participated in the 2004 Liverpool Biennial festival of contemporary visual art.
She added: ''After John's passing, the people of Liverpool have been very kind to me. Now, I feel like I am an adopted Liverpudlian. When I'm in the far corner of the world having a hard time for one reason or another, I think of Liverpool, and it calms my heart.
''It is the city that shaped the man I love: John Lennon, his poetry, his sense of humour, and his Northern resilience to hard life. I am also from an old city by the water called Tokyo, which gave me a sense of poetry, humour and Asian resilience to life's hard blows. We met, and we fell in love. And I know, that part of John's heart was always with Liverpool, his hometown. He was a proud Liverpudlian, and when I prayed that Liverpool would be chosen for 2008, I knew that John was with me all the way.''
Yoko joins a long list of high profile 08 Ambassadors from the world of politics, entertainment and sport such as Liverpool FC ace Steven Gerrard, Ken Dodd and Cherie Booth, QC.
Yoko's support also comes just a month before the city prepares to make the first highlights announcement for the 2008 programme (on Monday 6 November).
In her 08 Ambassador form, Yoko ended with the line: ''Liverpool, Liverpool, stay magical and beautiful. Your future is whatever you wish to make. I love you!''
HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL SLAVERY MUSEUM APPOINTED FOR LIVERPOOL
National Museums Liverpool are delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Benjamin to the position of Head of International Slavery Museum. In this crucial role Richard will play a key part in the development of the new museum, due to open in 2007, the bicentenary of the abolition of the British Slave Trade.
Formerly the Community Consultation Co-ordinator for National Museums Liverpool, Richard has recently completed a PhD in Archaeology and throughout his career has combined academic research with community work to provide wide-ranging experience ideal for the role.
Having undertaken a visiting research scholarship at the WEB DuBois Institute of African and African American Research, Harvard University in 2002 Richard went on to become a Widening Participation Officer at the University of Liverpool where he worked with black and minority ethnic communities to provide routes to education.
David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool, said ‘The combination of Richard’s academic background, his ongoing links with the community and his engaging inter-personal skills made him a great prospect for this challenging position.’
Richard Benjamin, Head of International Slavery Museum, said of his appointment ‘I am extremely proud to be given the opportunity of heading this world class museum and research centre which looks at both the historical and contemporary aspects of slavery. I aim to make the museum a valuable resource for the local community, as well as visitors from elsewhere, which not only acts as an instrument of education but as a tool of social change to challenge many of the misconceptions generally held towards the subject of slavery and its legacy.’
To commemorate the bicentenary year National Museums Liverpool is creating a new International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, which will build on the groundbreaking Transatlantic Slavery Gallery in the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, opened by Dr Maya Angelou in 1994.
The galleries of the museum will open on Slavery Remembrance Day 2007 (23 August) a day that commemorates an uprising of the enslaved Africans on the island of St Domingo (modern Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in 1791. Designated by UNESCO, the date was chosen as a reminder that enslaved Africans were the main agents of their own liberation.
Liverpool was once Europe’s capital of the transatlantic slave trade in the late 18th Century and grew rich on the profits of trading in enslaved people. It is therefore fitting that this subject should be marked and explored in the city.
The museum galleries will feature new dynamic and thought-provoking displays about the story of the transatlantic slave trade. Crucially, it will include new displays about the legacy of transatlantic slavery and will address issues such as freedom, identity, human rights, reparation claims, racial discrimination and cultural change.
The project will include the development of a new visitor-focused resource centre with an events programme of performance, public lectures and debate using the newly-acquired Dock Traffic Office. A research institute based in the museum is being developed in partnership with the University of Liverpool.
To commemorate 2007 there will be a full programme of events and activities ranging from a series of debates to a schools twinning programme.
LIVERPOOL Central Library is about to be taken over by prancing parents, crafty kids and even radical robots!
A special family day packed full of exercise sessions, arts and crafts, wildlife and robot building is proving there's much more to libraries than books.
The 'Libraries Love Families' Day at Central Library on Saturday 14 October, is a completely free event which aims to get the whole family using libraries and show them all the fun, educational activities on offer.
It's all part of family learning week, co-ordinated by independent charity Campaign for Learning, which aims to place learning at the heart of family life.
Liverpool City Council Leader Warren Bradley said: "Our libraries are a wonderful resource for families. There's something for everyone - from hundreds of thousands of books, CDs and DVDs to free computer and internet access, and from community and family-themed events to exercise and yoga.
"This special event is about capturing the imaginations of families and showing them how fun, exciting and educational their local library can be. Hopefully we can get them hooked and coming back to their library again and again.
The event includes family exercise taster sessions, healthy eating advice and the chance for people to check their blood pressure.
Kids (and big kids!) can build a family robot and take him home.
Park rangers will be giving an introduction to bird boxes and feeders and familes can plant their own flower to take home. Children can also make their own wildlife mask.
Merseytravel will also be helping families get creative with arts and crafts sessions and families can log-onto a new Liverpool history website, whatwashere.com and add their own stories.
And there's storytelling to suit all ages, a treasure trail with a fantastic family prize on offer, and even confidence building sessions to make everyone in the family feel 10 feet tall!
Councillor Bradley added: "In recent weeks, we've introduced free book, CD and DVD borrowing for children and slashed prices for adults. This is the latest part of our mission to make our libraries even more attractive for local people."
The fun takes place at Liverpool Central Library on Saturday 14 October from 12noon - 4pm.
Anyone can download the Liverpool Heritage Forum newsletters which are a good read if you are at all interested in local history, buildings, public art etc.
http://www.lpl.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/heritage/page11.html
You can also become a member...
Aims of the Forum
The LIVERPOOL HERITAGE FORUM, founded in January 2005, is made up of representatives of various voluntary cultural organisations active in Liverpool - in the fields of history, archaeology, performing arts, architecture and fine arts.
Its objective is to improve contact between such organisations, and in particular to discuss how they can contribute to the celebrations in 2007 (Liverpool's 800th birthday year) and 2008 (Capital of Culture year).
HOW TO JOIN
Membership of the LIVERPOOL HERITAGE FORUM is open to all voluntary cultural organisations active in Liverpool in the fields of history, archaeology, performing arts, architecture and fine arts.
If you wish to participate in the Forum, please go to the Message Board and Register with your choice of user name and password. Please also complete the membership application form which will ensure that you are notified of future meetings, etc.
LINK
 Doctor Who Exhibition at the Spaceport, Seacombe
SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2006 TO THURSDAY 4TH JANUARY 2007
www.spaceport.org.uk
* Get scarily close to creatures from other galaxies.
* See some of the Doctor’s famous enemies including Autons, Slitheen and the awesome Cybermen.
* K9 is here to give the Doctor a helping hand.
* See actual costumes worn by the Doctor and Rose.
* See monsters, aliens and props from the last two series.
* Visit our hyperspace store for all the latest Doctor Who merchandise.
* And be warned - the DALEKS are around somewhere.
ADDRESS: SPACEPORT, VICTORIA PLACE, SEACOMBE, WALLASEY, WIRRAL, CH44 6QY
TELEPHONE: 0151 330 1333
 
So, we soon achieved our first mission of 20/08 day which was to find Sgt Pepper walking around Liverpool and ask him for a 'ticket to ride'. Unfortunately all the free tickets for The Beatles Story had gone, he had finished and was just returning his Culture Company umbrella to the 08 Place.
The 08 Place officially opened its doors in Whitechapel on this day last year so today is its first birthday. Hence the excellent looking cake. We got there just as the staff were about to cut into it and hand out pieces to the visitors.
We picked up a few leaflets for next weeks Mathew Street Music Festival whilst waiting for the guide to take us to St John's Beacon (now known as Radio City Tower). It was a long wait, in fact he didn't show up but eventually a replacement arrived, a nice young bloke called Jordan.
They have tours of the tower every Saturday and Sunday, bookable through the 08 Place but normally you have to pay, today it was free. It includes a quick tour of the Radio City studios and a showing of a short video about the history of the tower. Obviously we took loads of photographs but it was a wet, grey day and the windows are quite mucky so not ideal conditions. Some amazing views though, interesting what you can see on top of some of the roofs in the city centre.
Here are pictures of the fountain and roundabout in Williamson Square and a view of one of my favourite areas - The Museum, Central Library and Walker Gallery with St Georges Hall. We could have gone on to a few more places but we were worn out after climbing the tower (only kidding, the lift goes so fast it makes your ears go funny)
 
Sounds like fun. Women only I think.
Wild Woman Sparkly Pyjama Party©
Raise your self esteem, have a fun night and raise money for women
8th September 06 @ Toxteth Library
Windsor Street, Off upper parliament street, Liverpool, L8 1X (many thanks to Liverpool Libraries !)
6-8.30pm
Show off your pjs– yummy chocolate-self esteem building- feel good -meet lush new friends-creativity- inspiring bed time stories –massage-affirmations-glitter-sparkle-snuggle-prizes-candlelit labyrinth walk- magic-beautiful stalls-gorgeous goddess things !
Ticket Price £15 Limited tickets available and selling fast !
(book for a group of 10 friends or women from your workplace and receive your ticket free !)
(£5 from each ticket goes direct to help the fabulous women at Speke Garston Domestic Violence Project)
Organised by Wild Woman to book tickets contact
www.wild-woman.co.uk
email: clare@wildwoman1.fsnet.co.uk
According to a recent Ipsos MORI poll Liverpool's image along with the whole North West has improved greatly over the last few years.
Significantly more British residents who live outside the Northwest describe the region as a 'success' in 2006 than did in 2001 (35% now think of success when thinking of the Northwest compared with 22% in 2001).
Associations with high unemployment have fallen since 2001. Traditional images of the region as an industrial location are still present to an extent, mostly amongst audiences from overseas.
Perceptions of Liverpool have improved significantly from 2001, with views of Blackpool deteriorating slightly. Opinion leaders are far more positive about Manchester and Liverpool than residents, with opinion formers from overseas particularly likely to see them as strengths of the region.
Awareness of Liverpool's designation as the 2008 European Capital of Culture is still high among Northwest residents. Since 2003 there has been a slight drop in numbers saying the designation will benefit the region but this will be due, in part, to the initial positive feelings and publicity associated with winning the designation dying down before the practical improvements and investment has fed through. However, on the whole, the majority still feel the role will be good for the region.
Link to MORI report
The entire history of Liverpool is to be placed online in a unique project which will go live during the city's 800th birthday year.
The city council's Record Office and the University of Liverpool have been awarded £335k by the Arts and Humanities Research Council to build the "Liverpool in Print" website.
At its heart will be 156,000 references, including newspaper articles, documents and other print material from the city's local studies catalogue, of which there is only one increasingly fragile copy. A worldwide search will be undertaken top locate additional material held in libraries and repositories elsewhere.
It includes details of the launch of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway in 1830, playbills for Liverpool theatres from the 1770's onwards and rare copies of 'Merseybeat' magazine, which captured the explosion of pop music in the city at the height of Beatlemania.
Council leader Warren Bradley said: "Liverpool has a rich and varied history and is famous thanks to its period as second city of the British Empire and gateway to the new world.
"Liverpool in Print will enable people from Garston to Goa to find out more about the city's unrivalled heritage, at the click of a mouse.
"The website will create an extremely valuable resource that will be the definitive guide for anyone wanting to know more about Liverpool's past."
The site will be developed into a significant online resource and will also include reader guides, descriptions of the items and essays on key themes.
David Stoker, Head of the Liverpool Record Office, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to create the most comprehensive and indispensable portal to Liverpool's unique history.
"It will enable worldwide access to our current major resources and will complement the online access to the city's extensive manuscript archives which are held here."
The project is the result of a long standing partnership between the city council and the University of Liverpool to create a book to mark Liverpool's 800th birthday in 2007.
Professor John Belcham from the University of Liverpool's School of History said: "Building upon the knowledge and expertise acquired during the research for the book 'Liverpool 800', Liverpool in Print will become the indispensable point of reference for all aspects of Liverpool's remarkable culture, character and history."
The grant will be used to fund five staff, who will spend the next two and a half years building the website and scanning and uploading information.
The whole project will take three years to complete, but a significant amount will be placed on the website next year, the 800th anniversary of Liverpool being awarded its charter.
Via Daily Post...
A POET, a politician, and a musician were among those to be awarded honorary degrees at Liverpool University yesterday.
Brian Patten received a doctorate at the Philharmonic Hall for his contribution to arts and culture.
Together with Roger McGough - who received his doctorate earlier in the week - and the late Adrian Henri, Mr Patten became well-known in the 1960s by making poetry immediate and accessible to new audiences through joint anthologies such as The Mersey Sound (1967).
Mr Patten is also renowned for his best-selling poetry for children, such as the famous Gargling with Jelly collection.
He was awarded the Cholmondley Award for services to poetry in 2002, in the same year that both he and Mr McGough were honoured with the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.
The university also recognised the achievements of those who have had a positive impact on society, both locally and nationally.
Frank Field, Labour MP for Birkenhead, was awarded a doctorate for his work in social and pension reform.
In music, internationally acclaimed organist Professor Ian Tracey was honoured.
Link.
 I've ordered my copy, should be good.
From Liverpool University Press...
LIVERPOOL 800: CULTURE, CHARACTER & HISTORY
The publication in September this year of Liverpool 800: Culture, Character & History will be a major contribution to marking the City of Liverpool's 800th anniversary in 2007. I attach a flyer about the book, which is written by the foremost experts on the City's history and which is the first major history of the City for almost a century.
The book will be available in three formats, paperback (£14.95), hardback (£35.00) and a limited edition of 800 individually numbered and superbly bound slip case copies (£100.00). Names of purchasers of the limited edition, or a name of their choice, will be included in a list of subscribers in the book.
With over 500 pages and 300 illustrations (many of them rarely seen before) Liverpool 800: Culture, Character & History will be an essential book for anyone with an interest in this truly remarkable city.
Place an order today by completing the form attached. Alternatively you can order via phone (01517942233), fax (01517942235) or email (lup@liv.ac.uk).
If you require any further information on this book or would like to receive regular updates on forthcoming LUP books please don't hesitate to contact us.
http://www.liverpool-unipress.co.uk/
 Tall Ships sail into Liverpool for a weekend of maritime fun
Programme of street theatre and entertainment
Saturday/Sunday 1 & 2 July 2006 , 11am - 5pm, free entrance
Liverpool is offering a nautical alternative to the World Cup this weekend.
For those not wanting to spend Saturday and Sunday afternoon sitting in front of the box, a fleet of Tall Ships arrives in the city this weekend for a two day visit.
The Liverpool Culture Company has organised the 'All Aboard' weekend as a taster event for 2008, when Liverpool will host the start of the Tall Ships Race.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: "There are very few cities in the world with a seafaring history as rich as Liverpool's, and seeing the Tall Ships arrive on the River Mersey is a fantastic sight.
"All Aboard will be a great opportunity for people to have a look around these fascinating ships, and soak up some of the maritime atmosphere down at the docks."
Most of the ships will be based at Wellington and Sandon Docks (off Regent Road), while 'HMS Albion' will be at Canada Dock, and 'Artemis' at the Albert Dock. A free park and ride service, operating every ten minutes, will be on hand to ferry visitors to the docks from the city centre.
Jason Harborow, Chief Executive of Liverpool Culture Company, said: "The start of the Tall Ships Race in 2008 will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of 2008, attracting tens of thousands of spectators.
"We're delighted to welcome some ships to Liverpool this weekend to give just a flavour of what's planned for two year's time."
The Ships arriving this weekend:
In Wellington/Sandon Dock (off Regent Road):
Christian Raddich: A sail training ship. Considered to be Norway's grandest sailing ambassador.
Bessie Ellen: Britain's last wooden coasting ketch still under sail.
Swan Fan Makkum: Designed in the style of a traditional windjammer, this is one of the world's largest brigantine and two-masted ships.
Eye of the Wind: One of the prettiest small tall ships, built in Germany as a gaff-rigged topsail schooner freighter.
Iris: Goddess of the rainbow and one of the most beautiful and fast Dutch sailing vessels.
Le Orla: An Irish Naval Coastal Patrol Vessel, involved in defence of the state, fishery protection, search and rescue, drug interdiction and pollution control.
Canada Dock:
HMS Albion: An amphibious assault ship. One of the largest vessels in the Royal Naval Fleet.
Albert Dock:
Artemis: Originally a whaling vessel, this ship takes her name from the goddess of the hunt.
 COSMOPOLITAN LIVERPOOL
still the world in one city?
Wednesday 19th July 6pm - 8pm
Princes Road Synagogue (corner of Selbourne St L8)
Loyd Grossman in conversation with Professor John Belchem
(editor of Liverpool 800 - Culture, Character and History)
The final event in this series of Liverpool 800 'conversations' takes place in the glorious surroundings of the Princes Road Synagogue; one of the outstanding places of Jewish worship in the world.
Loyd's guest is Professor John Belchem who is widely recognised as a leading expert on the cosmopolitan history of Liverpool and who has written widely on the subject. His much praised work 'Merseypride - essays on Liverpool exceptionalism' has recently been re-printed and has again won widespread praise from the critics.
As we celebrate our Capital of Culture status and yet reflect on the horror of Anthony Walker's murder, it is an appropriate moment to think about our city's cosmopolitan past and it's cultural future.
Liverpool was once undoubtedly 'the world in one city' and was hailed as 'Europe's New York', but it has become one of Europe's least ethnically and culturally varied cities. How did this happen, what does it mean for contemporary Liverpool and how will it impact upon the future of our city?
There is plenty of room for everyone in the synagogue, but entrance is on a first come first served basis with no reservations and no tickets.
Excellent news!!
MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL GETS THE GO AHEAD
The Northwest Regional Development Agency today announced a grant of £32.7m to support the development of the Museum of Liverpool. This news, which follows a successful planning application in December, means the museum now has the green light to proceed.
The Museum of Liverpool, with a budget of £65m, will be one of the world’s leading city history museums reflecting Liverpool’s global significance through its unique geography, history and culture.
Building on the incredible success of the Museum of Liverpool Life, the new museum which will be located on Liverpool’s famous waterfront, will provide a showcase for social history and popular culture. The museum will draw on National Museums Liverpool’s vast wealth of collections, many of which have never been on public display. As a vital part of the legacy of 2008, when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture, it will express Liverpool's confidence as a great 21st century European city.
David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool says:
“The Northwest Regional Development Agency decision means this new museum is now in business and Liverpool is about to get one of the world’s best museums right in the heart of the city. It will attract people from far and wide and will be a brilliant learning and recreational resource for local people.
“There are still hurdles to overcome but this museum is becoming a reality. Work on site will begin in the autumn and the building is due for completion in 2008.”
To enable building works the current Museum of Liverpool Life will close on 4 June 2006. A programme of special events for the public has been planned for the museum’s closing weeks, giving visitors a last chance to see some of the most popular exhibits and take part in exciting events and activities.
In the run-up to the new museum opening two major exhibitions about Liverpool will be staged at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. In 2007 a large-scale exhibition will explore Liverpool’s history over the last 800 years, told through the lives of ordinary people, the famous and the infamous. A major multi-sensory, exhibition in 2008 will celebrate Liverpool as the capital of pop and rock, exploring Liverpool’s popular music heritage from 1945 to the present.
There are plans to take the Museum of Liverpool on the road with a series of displays of our collections in shops and venues around the city later this year.
Museum of Liverpool – an Overview
The new museum will provide 5,000 square metres of exhibition space and will be unique in its approach to display, featuring flexible spaces that regularly change showing more of the collections than ever before. The museum will focus on four main themes: Port City, Global City, My Liverpool and Expressive City.
As visitors enter the building they will find Port City, a gallery that will exploring Liverpool’s role as a port city and the development of its architecture, infrastructure, people and commerce. This will follow the story of the industrial revolution and will feature Lion, a 1838 steam locomotive as its centrepiece. The main gallery will explore stories about the people living and working underneath the rails of the Overhead Railway, or the Dockers’ Umbrella, and will feature an original third class Overhead Railway carriage, suspended above the gallery at its working height.
Also located on the ground floor, Global City will explore Liverpool as a world city. The main attraction will be the 200-capacity Liverpool Theatre featuring an unmissable show experience created by Liverpool film makers, writers and artists, using local voices to tell the blockbuster story of Liverpool’s history.
Plans for the first floor include the History Hub, a resource centre housing over 10,000 objects from the NML collections. Featuring an interactive zone, the Hub will offer highlights from the collections and an opportunity to explore stories and objects in depth. Aimed at everyone from children to academics, this will be a one-stop shop for exploring Liverpool and Merseyside’s archaeology and social history.
On the second floor visitors will find People’s City. This gallery will explore the city and its people through themes such as housing and health, opportunity and deprivation, social reform, religion and trade unionism. The centrepiece will be the model of the proposed Liverpool Catholic Cathedral by world-famous architect Edwin Lutyens which was never built.
In Expressive City visitors will be able to discover the unique and creative character of Liverpool. The gallery will explore why this city has produced such an amazing roll call of writers, performers, comedians and sportsmen. The gallery includes some unique Beatles objects, including the original stage on which John Lennon’s band the Quarrymen played in 1957. A special immersive experience in the gallery captures the excitement, passion and intensity of football in Merseyside through the fans’ eyes. The story of the history of the clubs will investigate how they have become such a cornerstone of the city’s identity.
The new museum visitors will give visitors breathtaking views of the city and river.
 Got my 08 Ambassador Welcome Pack in the post this morning complete with a nice new badge and lots of fact cards for me to quote at random people
e.g. "FACT - £16.2m will be invested in events and arts in 2008 alone"
If you are passionate about Liverpool you can be an ambassador too, just go to the website to sign up, you have to enter a few details and words of nonsense about why you think Liverpool is dead good.
Link
... Essen (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey) and Pecs (Hungary). Still to be ratified by the European Parliament.
They keep changing the rules and the rules will change again next year so it will be interesting to see what they come up with for the years after 2010.
I may be wrong but as I understand it, last year, 2005, Cork (Eire) was the first European Capital of Culture. Before that there were Cities of Culture (often more than one each year).
This year, 2006, its Patras in Greece.
Then we have joint EU and Non-EU Capitals
2007 is Luxembourg (EU) and Sibiu (Romania - Non-EU but hoping to join that year)
2008 Liverpool (EU) and Stavanger (Norway - Non-EU)
2009 Linz (Austria - EU) and Vilnius (Latvia - oh, hang on, Latvia is in the EU!)
Then we have EU, Non-EU and New-EU. Hence..
2010 Essen (Germany -EU), Pecs (Hungary - New-EU) and Istanbul (Turkey, Non-EU)
Is that clear?
Space girls' mission launched
The largest rocket ever launched in the UK is being displayed at an all girls' school to inspire the next generation of female scientists.
Standing at 43ft high, the NOVA / Starchaser rocket reached outer space after being successfully launched from Morecambe Bay in 2001.
Now back down on earth, the Starchaser's outreach team will be embarking on a mission to enthuse girls at St Julie's Catholic High, Woolton as part of National Science Week.
Councillor Paul Clein, Liverpool's executive member for children's services, said: "Science education is important for pupils and for the future of our society. This visit by the Starchaser team demonstrates just how exciting science and technology can be."
John Grace, head of science at St Julie's, said: "Science is a declining subject in the UK so we want to use National Science Week to raise its profile with our pupils. With St Julie's being an all girls' school, we want to challenge the stereotype that science is a boy's subject.
"We are also keen to develop links with other local schools, and are delighted that pupils from Saint Francis Xavier's College will be participating in the day. Three local primary schools are also bringing pupils, which is a fantastic way to develop links between secondary and primary education and to get children interested in science from an early age."
The Starchaser team will be giving pupils a number of presentations that link in with the science and technology curriculum.
Founder of Starchaser Industries Ltd Steven Bennett said: "Our aim is to open up the space tourism industry so that people will get the chance to fly in a rocket."
 From eupolitix.com...
Special report: Liverpool’s long and winding road
Liverpool has put its heart and soul into preparing to be European city of culture in 2008.
The “greatest day in Liverpool’s recent history” came quite unexpectedly, on June 4 2003. The announcement that the Merseyside city will be the UK’s European capital of culture in 2008 was considered the key to unlocking a regional renaissance.
Locals hope the standing will allow Liverpool to transform its image from gloomy northern city to major European player. According to some estimations the cultural status will generate at least £2bn in investment, 14,000 new jobs and 1.7 million extra tourists.
“2008 is the rocket fuel for Liverpool’s economy,” Mike Storey, deputy chairman of the Liverpool culture company declared. “June 4 2003 changed Liverpool. At a stroke, national and international perceptions changed and the image of the city improved. Solid foundations have now been laid for Liverpool’s ongoing transformation into a world-class city.”
LINK to full article
From the Liverpool Daily Post...
100 reasons why we'll be the best culture capital
1. The city will have more than 50 international festivals in art, architecture, ballet, comedy, cinema, food, literature, music and theatre.
2. By 2008, more than £3bn will have been invested in Liverpool businesses over the last five year.
3. More than 14,000 jobs will be created as a result of the surge in businesses and tourist attractions in and around the city.
4. At the start of the Tall Ships Race in July, more than 1m people are expected to come and watch.
5. Income from tourism in Liverpool surpassed the £1bn milestone for the first time last year and is set to grow even further.
....
Lets hope so.
From the Daily Post....
Culture company can be permanent
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff
THE organisation behind Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations is set to stay in the city until 2015, the Daily Post can reveal.
Executives are drawing up a business plan that will secure the team's future once Liverpool's reign is over.
They want to continue signing up private investors as well as winning public sector cash to fund cultural events in the city well into the next decade.
If it proves successful Liverpool Culture Company could continue indefinitely.
Cllr Berni Turner, executive member for environment and heritage, was given special responsibility for the city's post-08 culture strategy in the council's cabinet reshuffle last month.
She said: "2008 is the springboard from which we jump to greater heights.
Not sure why they needed to respond to a load of nonsense that's been in the local press for the last few weeks but here we are...
We're backing Robyn Feb 1 2006
By Joe Riley, Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL'S leading arts groups have given their full backing to the work of the Culture Company in planning 2008.
In a joint statement, the Liverpool Philharmonic, as well as the city's theatres and galleries endorse the work of artistic director Robyn Archer.
Australian Ms Archer has been at the centre of stories about obtaining a UK work visa.
The arts bosses expressed concern at a widely held public perception that "nothing was happening" in the run-up to Capital of Culture.
LINK
LIVERPOOL'S film and TV industry continues to boom.
New figures from the city council's Film Office - part of North West Vision - reveal they organised the equivalent of 632 days of filming during 2005 - beating the previous record of 612 days of filming in 2003.
Staff assisted with an incredible 182 productions last year, while the number of enquiries from producers rocketed by 38 percent to 250.
Productions shot in the city in 2005 included:
* Beyond Friendship - A feature film starring Winona Ryder and Tom Conti about a friendship between a Jewish and an Arab man. The Brunswick Street area of the city centre was used to depict 1940's New York. Trials Hotel was used for interior shots.
* Karim's Story - a TV drama for Channel Four shot in Garston Under the Bridge which will be a key element of their 2006 schedule.
* Eleventh Hour - A sci-fi thriller for ITV Granada focusing on catastrophes caused by modern science, starring Patrick Stewart. Castle Street and Formby Beach were used for filming.
* BBC One children's TV series Grange Hill and Channel Four's Hollyoaks.
During the last 12 months, TV commercials for HP Sauce and Bisto were shot in the city, along with pop videos for The Coral, Ms Dynamite, Liz McLarnon and Natasha Hamilton.
And 2006 is getting off to an equally promising start, with filming now underway on 'Across the Universe'. It is a romantic musical set in the 1960's told through Beatles songs. Made by Revolution Films which is part of Columbia Pictures, it is the largest scale production ever shot in Liverpool with more than 150 extras are taking part in some of the scenes being shot in the docks area, Wavertree and New Brighton.
Film Office manager Lynn Saunders is delighted: "We've now earned a reputation as a film friendly city and every week we receive enquiries from producers both home and abroad.
"We are already dealing with some extremely promising enquiries from production companies and I am confident that the success will continue in 2006.
"We are in the process of placing our locations database online, which allows producers from around the world to see what Liverpool has to offer at the click of a mouse."
The Film Office estimates that hundreds of people were employed on productions, giving a multi million pound boost to the local economy and benefiting businesses such as hotels, taxi firms and caterers. Local spending on one of the productions totalled more than half a million pounds.
Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision, the TV and film agency who works to promote Liverpool and the rest of the north west as a film location, added: "Liverpool is a world heritage city and has incredibly cinematic locations, so it is no surprise that film makers continue to descend on the city.
"Filming generates job opportunities and brings in inward investment, so it is important we continue looking at new ways to increase filming across the city."
KNOWSLEY ON BOARD THE FRIEND SHIP
KNOWSLEY schools are the latest to climb aboard the Friend Ship, a magical project for primary aged children.
The Friend Ship is a portable "ship" which sails from school to school, packed full of cultural treasure troves. It has already reached 25,000 pupils in 100 primary schools in Liverpool, as part of the city's build-up to the European Capital of Culture year in 2008.
Friend Ship has been developed by the Liverpool Culture Company and is managed by Creative schools officer Kathy Heywood. Kathy said: "The Friend Ship is Liverpool's gift to the rest of the region and we're so pleased that Knowsley has jumped on board. They will have a fantastic time, as well as learning a lot about being good citizens. We're welcoming other schools to sign up right across Merseyside so they can join in the fun!"
If schools want to get involved in the Merseyside project, they should contact Alexa Mearns on 0151 233 1103 or visit www.liverpool08.com.
A second ship is also touring nine other cities in the UK. The Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport were so impressed by Friend Ship that they provided £250,000 towards sailing the second ship from shore to shore.
 Just a reminder to recycle your Christmas trees and other materials.
From the liverpool08 Creative Communities site...
Help make Liverpool the 'greenest' city this Christmas with the Love Liverpool campaign. Check out our top tips for a green Christmas or enter our competition to win a Fair Trade Christmas hamper, courtesy of World Museum Liverpool, and a beautiful, handcrafted glass bowl made in Liverpool from 100 per cent recycled glass, courtesy of Energywise.
The Liverpool Culture Company and Liverpool City Council have pooled resources to develop Love Liverpool, a marketing and awareness-raising campaign around key environmental issues.
The campaign encourages everyone from children to adults, visitors to businesses to take personal responsibility for recycling, environmental cleanliness and the prevention of litter, graffiti, dog fouling and environmental anti-social behaviour.
See the liverpool.gov.uk page for more advice.
Its not me that's asking. Its the Daily Post. (Full article)
Jessica Shaughnessy looks at getting ready for 2008
FORMER Leader of Liverpool City Council Cllr Mike Storey led the city to victory in the battle for the title of European Capital of Culture 2008.
In those glorious moments after Liverpool won, Cllr Storey jubilantly said: "This is like Liverpool winning the Champions League, Everton winning the double and the Beatles reforming all in the same day - and then Steven Spielberg coming to the city to make a Hollywood-blockbuster about it."
But, two years on, instead of looking back on his finest hour with satisfaction, Cllr Storey has expressed doubt about whether the city is ready for the big event.
Speaking to the Daily Post, he said: "I have concerns on two levels. Firstly, it's about the legacy of Capital of Culture. I don't think we have thought through what our legacy will be from this."
...is Patras in Greece.
 
There is a website but is a bit short of info. I signed up for the weekly newsletter last November and have not received anything yet. Some of the links return blanks, the pdf download has an incorrect format so won't open. The list of events looks interesting but there's no venue information yet even for the Da Vinci exhibition that opens on the 10th Jan.
The Greek language version looks a little bit better but not much.
Perhaps they're all still trying to get these little wooden houses off their heads. I hope we can all dress up in silly outfits like that in 2008!
Link : http://patras2006.gr/en/
from the Guardian...
Museums and galleries across England received a £9.4m boost today, as the government announced new funding for educational work.
National and regional museums and galleries will be funded to work more closely with schools to aid children's learning, ministers said
....
Projects include the Understanding Slavery Initiative, which saw the National Maritime Museum, National Museums Liverpool, Bristol Museums & Art Gallery, British Empire and Commonwealth Museum and Hull City Museums & Art Gallery collaborate to produce materials for schools about the transatlantic slave trade.
From liverpool08.com...
Sound City
A unique "soundscape" of Liverpool, a city in transition, has been recorded and edited by a group of young people, capturing the soul of our city in sound.
They have worked in equal collaboration with a sonic artist, an acoustic ecologist and a performance poet to record and document the sounds that most of us allow to wash over us almost unnoticed.
The work will be presented to the public in an innovative Surround-Sound experience at the Liverpool Culture Company's "08 Place" in Whitechapel. The exhibition will run from Saturday 10 December until Monday 19 December.
The project has introduced young people to the concept of listening more closely to the everyday sounds that we generally take for granted whilst teaching them the skills and processes of editing and recording.
The participants wandered the inner-city streets of Liverpool, capturing the city's sounds and conversations using a range of equipment from boom mikes to dictaphones
From BBC website...
The city of Liverpool is to have a museum dedicated to its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
National Museums Liverpool said it followed the success of the Transatlantic Slavery Gallery at the Merseyside Maritime Museum.
The £10m project will centre on the former dock traffic office.
Liverpool was regarded as the principal slave port in Europe by the 1740s and the trade contributed much of the city's wealth during the 18th Century.
A museum spokesman said it was hoped phase one would finish by 2007, the 200th anniversary of the abolition of Britain's slave trade.
The museum will feature dynamic displays about the story of the transatlantic slave trade.
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