|
Liverpool a hit with
UNESCO
LIVERPOOL has been declared a City
of Music by UNESCO, joining a select number of Cities across the globe.
UNESCO, which awarded Liverpool 'World Heritage Site' status
in 2004, has now turned its attention to the City's musical offering.
The City of Music status has been awarded due to music's place at the heart
of Liverpool's contemporary culture, education and the economy; from the
live music scene to tourism, music management courses and digital
businesses. It was also given to the City based on its commitment to having
a clearly defined music, education and skills strategy for young people so
that Liverpool can continue to produce world class talent.
Liverpool is the 2nd City in the UK to be given the honour; Glasgow received
it in 2008. The City is among one of 10 other global destinations which have
also been given the title on Friday, 11 December 2015, including Kingston in
Jamaica and Salvador in Brazil. There are now 19 Cities of Music in total
and they form part of the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
The judges highlighted that urban festivals like Liverpool International
Music Festival (LIMF), Liverpool Sound City and Liverpool Psych Fest have
not only cemented the City as a haven for music, but also helped to develop
young industry professionals. The designation also noted the importance and
contribution of established names such as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra, Creamfields, Africa Oye and LIPA.
With music being 1 of the main drivers for visitors to the City, the award
also opens up opportunities to further market the City's musical heritage
and, ultimately, bring more tourists to the City. Joe Anderson, Mayor of
Liverpool, said:- "Liverpool is renowned for its musical influence and
this status is the ultimate, and appropriate, accolade for a City which
lives and breathes music. It's no secret that music is one of the biggest
reasons that visitors come here; you only need look at the numbers of people
going to The Beatles Story, or the crowds that head to annual events such as
Sound City or LIMF to see that. I'm confident that with the support of such
a globally respected name as UNESCO, this will grow further and people will
realise that it is not just about the City's contribution to music history,
but is about the exciting things happening right now. In the same way our
Waterfront has benefited from association with UNESCO, so too will the
City's music offer."
Liverpool City Council worked with the City's partners on the bid.
Kevin McManus, Investment Manager at Invest Liverpool who led on the
application on behalf of the City, said:- "Liverpool's musical
heritage is well documented, but the real reason we have been awarded this
accolade is for the contemporary scene. We have some of the most vital,
inventive festivals in the UK; as evidenced in the glut of recent awards;
and music is at the heart of the City's economic planning. Whether it's the
LIMF Academy developing young talent and teaching them how they can make a
living from music, Sound City offering a platform to meet agents and
managers or businesses like Sentric, in the Baltic Triangle, music is
integral to the City's future as well as its past."
Vasily Petrenko, Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra said:- "UNESCO's award recognises Liverpool as one of the
world's great music cities. 2015 is Liverpool Philharmonic's 175th
anniversary year and we are proud to continue to play our part at the heart
of Liverpool's musical life in our concerts at our home, Liverpool
Philharmonic Hall, with City partners in celebrations and festivals, through
our learning programmes such as In Harmony Liverpool and as an ambassador
for Liverpool when we tour in the UK and internationally."
This announcement comes just a fortnight since three Liverpool festivals
scooped gongs at the prestigious UK Festival Awards 2015. Sound City,
Creamfields and LIMF all took top honours, cementing the City's reputation
for hosting outstanding live music events.
The accolade is well timed as preparations are being finalised for a City
wide season launch in January 2016, of what is shaping up to be an incredible year
of music performance, exhibitions, festivals and events taking place across
Liverpool in 2016.
Destinations which have been given UNESCO City of Music status on Friday, 11
December 2015 where:-
► Adelaide, Australia
► Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal
► Katowice, Poland
► Kingston, Jamaica
► Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
► Medellín, Colombia
► Salvador, Brazil
► Tongyeong, Republic of Korea
► Varanasi, India
Destinations which already have the title are:-
► Bogota, Columbia (2012)
► Bologna, Italy (2006)
► Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (2013)
► Ghent, Belgium (2009)
► Glasgow (2008)
► Hamamatsu, Japan (2014)
► Hanover, Germany (2014)
► Mannheim, Germany (2014)
► Seville, Spain (2006)
|
