| UK. Liverpool cultural extravaganza to include major yacht & power boating events |
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| Monday, 30 January 2006 | |
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Marian Martin Details of the fourth Capital of Culture themed year - Liverpool Performs - were unveiled today (Monday, January 30) at LIPA's 10th birthday celebrations. The city can expect to host 40 new events in the realm of art, music, sport, theatre and opera - including two European premieres and a UK premiere. The focus of Liverpool Performs is on the resurgence of art, business and sport in the city and celebrating performance on the stage, on the field, on the water and in the boardroom. As well as its usual calendar of events the programme will highlight Liverpool's regeneration and reaffirm the richness and energy of the city. As the Liverpool One development begins to take shape in the heart of the city, the Open Golf Championship returns to Royal Liverpool in summer, autumn sees the next Liverpool Biennial, the UK's only contender for visual arts biennials, based on the Venice model. As visitors flock to new regional attractions such as Antony Gormley's Another Place on Crosby beach, or World Museum Liverpool in the Cultural Quarter, old favourites like the Grand National and the lust for football have lost none of their appeal. The Liverpool Culture Company and Liverpool City Council are working towards a European Capital of Culture which allows us to say "come any time in 08 and you'll find something exceptional." Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Warren Bradley, said: ''Liverpool Performs emphasises that Liverpool is already a bona fide European city, with an active sporting and cultural life to please all tastes and business opportunities a plenty. 2006 is a great foundation for the city to build on and gain the experience and expertise to deliver the best ever European Capital of Culture in 2008.'' Liverpool Performs embraces the ongoing programmes of all cultural institutions in the city. There is also a special new strand of work entitled The City In Transition, a programme of music, theatre and multimedia performances around the theme of transition and rebuilding. The City in Transition is the first programme to be revealed by Robyn Archer, Artistic Director of the Liverpool Culture Company. It will run from May-November and will be launched with a Public Art and Architecture series involving new walks and tours, performances and a national conference and commissions involving the Liverpool Biennial. As well as the performances CIT encourages collaborations between some of the worlds leading arts, music and dance companies and Liverpool organisations. Robyn said: ''As we move towards 2008 the city is experiencing tremendous change at high speed. This is both exhilarating and disruptive and The City in Transition programme will take that on board. A special programme of talks, debates, walks, exhibitions and local and international performance will all connect in some way to architecture, building and the way cities change." To complement the artistic programme a Merseyside-wide Sports Strategy was launched to develop the role of sport in the run up to 2008. The strategy involves sponsorship deals with teams such as St Helens RLFC and Tranmere Rovers as well as marketing events such as the Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool. The strategy also brings new national and international sporting events to the city for the first time. Highlights include the inaugural PSA Liverpool 08 Open Squash Tournament, The Tour of Britain and the city's first Disability Sports Festival in March; the Homecoming of the Clipper 05-06 Race in July and the Final Grand Prix in the Honda Formula 4-Stroke race series in September, which is scheduled for televising by both Sky Sports and Channel 4. The business element of Liverpool Performs will be unveiled tomorrow (Tuesday, January 31) with the launch of 08 businessconnect - a forum for local companies to capitalise on the opportunities 2008 presents. Almost 700 companies have signed up to the free to join business forum, which will be launched at St George's Hall. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 30 January 2006 ) |
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