Department for Culture Media and Sport
capital of culture
Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008 was an outstanding success.
The Liverpool Culture Company recorded the impact and highlights of Liverpool 2008 in a series of reports, available on the Impacts 08 website. Key findings:
Local involvement
- 10000 artists
- 160000 participants
- 67000 schoolchildren
- 7000 events
- 1000 venues
Success factors
- £800 million boost to the regional economy in 2008
- 3.5 million first time visitors in 2008: 25% of all tourists, generating £176 million in spending
- 5.2 million programme of event visitors
- 15 million visits to cultural venues and events in 2008, an average 30% rise on the previous year, similar increase to cultural attractions across Merseyside
- 150% increase to Liverpool’s Tourist Information Centres
- Increases in hotel occupancy rates
- Liverpool rose up the UK league table as the third favourite city to visit (source: Condé Nast readers’ poll 2009)
Highlights
- Paul McCartney headlining at Anfield Stadium
- Sir Simon Rattle with the Berlin Philharmoniker
- La Machine’s Giant Spider walking the streets
- MTV European Music Awards at the new Echo Arena
- Gustav Klimt Exhibition at Tate Liverpool
About the reports
Liverpool Culture Company’s reports, published in 2009 by the Impacts 08 research programme at University of Liverpool and John Moores University, look at the economic, social, cultural and physical impacts of Liverpool 2008.
A paper on Liverpool 2008’s research, framework and management models, which can be used as a reference source for cities and major cultural programmes, is in progress.
Find out more on the Impacts 08 programme website.
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