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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