Leading Irish novelist and screenwriter backs TLMP

More support this week for The Liverpool Mural Project from leading Irish novelist and screenwriter Ronan Bennett, who contacted the website to back our plans for Liverpool in 2008. Bennett was brought up in Belfast. He is the author of four novels, including the hugely acclaimed The Catastrophist (short listed for the Whitbread Novel Award) and Havoc, in Its Third Year (winner of the Irish Novel of the Year and long listed for both the Booker Prize and the IMPAC award). He has also written screenplays for film and television. His latest novel Zugzwang was serialised weekly in the Observer in 2006. Ronan Bennett lives in London with his family and contributes regularly to the British and Irish press.

'The Belfast murals are examples of the most vivid, dynamic and democratic kind of art. I would like to offer my support to the art and the artists in their plans to work with people in Liverpool to start an equally vibrant mural tradition there.'

Community newspaper The Irish World covers TLMP

IF it's happening in the Irish world, you'll read all about it in the Irish World. This week they reported on The Liverpool Mural Project. Now in its 20th year, the Irish World has established itself among the Irish population in Britain and Ireland as the newspaper that puts community first and making it the first choice when it comes to news, views and information about Ireland and the Irish in Britain.

"We are an integral part of the Irish community in Britain and we are trusted by that community."

Simply click on heading of this post to see the full feature

Echo letters, 20th November 2007: Murals magic

THE Liverpool Mural Project is important for many reasons.
Firstly, the Belfast mural artists are gifted craftsmen. Whilst their previous work was forged in the cauldron of armed conflict, they are now spreading their wings. Secondly, for both muralists to decide to work in Liverpool means something significant to Liverpool’s Irish community, those who identify themselves as unionists, and all points in-between. Thirdly, the project is democratic in nature. Both muralists have suggested that ordinary members of the public will be able to join them. Finally, the project has the potential to say something profound about Liverpool’s history and heritage, and as a result has caught the imagination of that mythical beast, the ordinary Scouser. I look forward to walking through Liverpool and spotting unique murals that capture the spirit of Liverpool and which tell their own story. Dr Stuart Borthwick, Liverpool JMU

TLMP fatured on Channel 4.com: MURALS MATTER

In an excellent article by Brendan Deeds, the channel 4 website has an exclusive interview with the Belfast artists Danny Devenny and Mark Ervine about The Liverpool Murals

Simply click on heading of this post to see the full feature

From the very beginning of the Liverpool Mural Project's existence we have received excellent reports right across the media world be it local and International press or local and international radio broadcasts. Now the television world has not only picked up on the creative aspect of our mural project, but rightly so, the significance of these mural artists working alongside each other. Channel Four’s excellent website 4 Talent has in the last few days, reviewed the work and commitment of the Liverpool Mural Projects very own Danny Devenny and Mark Ervine. Since the tentative early days when TLMP brought together for the first time these two highly sort after artists, demand for the pairs enormous talents have escalated. With calls for their skills both in their native Belfast as well as across the world this further highlights the enormity of the TLMP’s ability to cross the boundaries of political divide by using art as a means to unite communities.

Echo letters, 13th November 2007: The art of the city

I AGREE with Alan Mullins and Alison Dodd's comments in the ECHO (Nov 6) – large murals of The Beatles are a great idea for 2008.
There are parts of the city that need brightening up with good quality public art, and there is a real desire for Liverpool people to be given the chance to get involved in more projects in their communities.
The exhibition building at the back of the Adelphi would be a prime location as the Adelphi is where the yearly Beatles convention is held. It’s The Beatles that most tourists come here for, give them what they want and they'll keep coming back! Chris Gore, Old Swan

Giant Pudsey mural created for BBC Children in Need

BBC television presenter Christine Bleakley joined forces with Belfast mural artists Danny Devenny and Mark Ervine to create a huge mural of Children in Need’s famous Pudsey Bear in St George's Market in Belfast. Market-goers were given the chance for a small donation to help paint everyone's favourite bear. Danny and Mark who are part of The Liverpool Mural Project were helped by hordes of children, set about the job of painting a 30 foot high mural of the big hearted bear. For six or so hours, many little pairs of hands applied every colour of paint to the huge canvas in the market house.
This is another marvellous example of community art, and helping to raise thousands of pounds for the BBC Children in Need appeal and a fun time was had by everyone who took part. Excellent work by Danny and Mark and all the little helpers and more great preparation for the work TLMP intends to do in Liverpool in 2008. The finished canvas will be hung on the side of BBC Broadcasting House in the week leading up to the Children in Need telethon which takes place on the evening of Friday 16th November.

Echo letters, Tuesday 6th Nov: Call to Beatles artists

AS a lifelong Beatles fan living in Merseyside and someone who regularly takes other fans from all over the world around Liverpool to various Beatles sites, I would love to see large Beatles images on gable walls and I know the millions of expected visitors in 2008 would love them as well. We need more Beatles imagery, so the tourists – many of whom are visiting Liverpool because it’s the home of the Fab Four – keep coming back long after 2008. Liverpool needs to make more out of the fact that the greatest and most influential band ever came from Liverpool. Get the artists who know how to paint quality murals over from Belfast and you’ll have lots of Beatles fans from Liverpool turning up to help out. Alan Mullins, Wirral

Echo letters, Tuesday 6th Nov: Clean up this eyesore

NOT a day goes by when I don’t fail to notice misspelled, idiotic graffiti plastered across the walls of the seemingly vacant and vandal-ravaged exhibition building at the rear of the Adelphi Hotel.
There has been no attempt to clean up this eyesore for many years, judging by the ancient ‘Punk’s not dead’ slogan running along its walls! Rather than leave this building to fester and decay, why doesn’t the council let the likes of the Liverpool muralists have a crack at brightening it up and turning it into something both locals and tourists can enjoy and look upon admiringly, rather than averting their eyes in embarrassment? I’m sure that a stunningly-rendered Beatles’ mural, or a similar image that celebrates our city, our people and our fantastic heritage, would be a massive talking point and a tourist magnet that would be a wonderful way of welcoming people to our city centre. The argument of not being able to grant planning permission doesn’t hold water, either.
When did the original “artists” ask permission for their pidgin-English scrawlings? Yet there is no attempt to clean them up! Alison Dodd, Liverpool 12

Ulster's political party leaders Gerry Adams MP and Dawn Purvis MLA united in support for Mural Project

Though there have been many political changes in Northern Ireland in recent years and two of the leading political parties have declared their steadfast support for The Liverpool Mural Project. The Progressive Unionist Party and Sinn Fein have both contacted TLMP to fully back this significant, historic and exciting arts project that wishes to change the face of Liverpool for the better in 2008.
Dawn Purvis was chosen as PUP's new party leader in January 2007 and became the first woman to lead a unionist party in Northern Ireland. She played a vital role in the peace talks team in 1998.
Gerry Adams has been President of Sinn Féin since 1983, and has been instrumental in the party's peace strategy. He has travelled internationally to advance the peace process particularly in the United States, Britain and South Africa.

Both politicans stand behind the principals of The Liverpool Mural Project and its desire to bring together muralists from both sides of the political divide in Northern Ireland.

The use of wall paintings and drawings is as old as humanity. Neolithic murals were once all the rage in cave and stone dwellings. They were an artistic means of getting across a message when communications were limited. And so it is today. Danny Devenny is a master artist in their design and production. He has been producing wall murals across Belfast and beyond for more years than he or I care to remember. I am confident that he and Mark Ervine will bring to their work with The Liverpool Mural Project the same dedication and commitment, and artistic prowess that has marked their work here. A few months ago I had the pleasure to unveil their reproduction of Picasso’s Guernica on the international wall in West Belfast. This is only one of scores of excellent murals which they have brought to life on the walls of this city. There are many points of connection between Ireland and Liverpool which I am sure will be reflected in the art work. The Liverpool Mural Project is a unique project and it will have two very unique and talented Belfast men helping to mark Liverpool's 2008 European Capital of Culture year.

Gerry Adams MP, Sinn Fein President

I wanted to write and voice my support for The

Liverpool Mural Project. This is a very exciting concept, bringing together Mural Artists from Northern Ireland and our neighbours in Liverpool. This project is interesting on so many different levels. Not only does it bring together mural artists from across the political divide in Northern Ireland, it also reaffirms Belfast and Northern Ireland’s long history with the city of Liverpool and helps to rejuvenate and regenerate areas of disadvantage. Liverpool as a ‘City of Culture’ should be holding such projects as beacons of hope, while there will always be finance and a place available for mainstream art mediums; whenever such an unusual project bringing together those from conflicting cultures and involving real people – it must be supported. I wish you all the best with this project and will help in any way I can.

Yours sincerely Dawn Purvis MLA
Progressive Unionist Party Leader