On the Boxing Day of Eurovision (yes, still taking about it!) I thought I’d reflect on the last couple of weeks and look forward to the Greater Together Government Delegation GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign to LA. So much going on and so much to talk about.
First of all, we had the launch of Liverpool Music Month and Liverpool Summer of Music, which was kicked off by an incredible Sound City Festival and the indomitable, Becky Ayres. Sound City was just great this year with some brilliant support from BPI and some really interesting debates and discussions.
Liverpool Music month was a concept born from New York City and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Mayoral Mission with conversations between Kevin McManus , NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment’s Shira Gans, MPP and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Vanessa Reed becoming reality.
The city then developed its first Music Month featuring work across the region and happening now and throughout the summer. This is a a huge step in how we focus on music and our UNESCO City of Music status and will be something we continue to grow.
This was followed hotly by Creative Cities Convention, featuring some of the best creatives in the Film and TV industry and hosted brilliantly by Camp and Furnace in the Baltic Triangle. It was fantastic to have so many great minds in Liverpool and from Liverpool, around the table, talking, listening, learning (especially the screen skills), and I was delighted to be part of that.
It was so great to see Sir Phil Redmond there who supported so many working class voices both on screen and off. Lynn Saunders, who has led this work for over 20 years (and has a great story about how Brookside being filmed at the end of her road inspired her), was given a Creative Cities Champion Award, which was another very special moment and a testament to her tenacity and fortitude in this space; there is a lot that would not be here without her.
Also in a full circle moment Barry Ryan, who I went to school with in Corby, was at the first round table. Two people from the same school in Corby amongst those brilliant executives and industry specialists was quite a result for Our Lady and Pope John comprehensive (now closed).
I’ve then been to Sarajevo with the British Council to talk to the Government there, and the The World Bank Group, about Liverpool’s journey over the last 20 years. We spoke about how this city has put culture at the heart of its regeneration, whilst also discussing the learnings that long commitment has brought both economically and socially. Hosted by the Ambassador and ran by Beyond it was a very moving experience to see the work the British Council is doing to promote cultural diplomacy and artist collaborations, and to meet some of the artists and creatives who are making that world happen. Whilst there, I also caught up with Mario Milanovic who has been working with Kevin McManus and artists from Liverpool and Bosnia on UNESCO City of Music programs.
On Monday I join the official delegation led by Lisa Nandy MP Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom to LA to discuss cross-country collaborations in film, music, sport and culture. There’s lots of excitement about links and collaborations with institutions here and over the pond, not just within the football and the music sphere but around the links that go back 250 years in the year of America’s birthday. And its really exciting to note that Red Rum Club, a local band from Bootle will be flying the flag for the region!
As part of the official delegation I will also be joined by my colleague James Wood and the brilliant Annie Brown from The Municipal Hotel & Spa Liverpool – MGallery who will be attending the conference as part of the ‘Greater Together Los Angeles’ VisitBritain delegation, to drive tourism from the West Coast to the UK and to Liverpool. James’ meetings book is already packed!
We’ve got some big things happening and some big collaborations being made over the next few years with Culture Liverpool and Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, as we build up to the 20th anniversary of European Capital of Culture in 2028 and the major events that are coming to our city in the next few years. Not to mention for the US market, the Four Queens and four Beatles films.
And there’s the small thing of potential Northern Olympic bid…exciting times to come and more to follow!
By Claire McColgan CBE
Director of Culture & Major Events, Liverpool City Council. Associate Director, Liverpool City Region
