Guardian Newspaper Reports on Culture Changes

After our recent report on the changing faces of the Culture Company, today’s Guardian ran with a report outlining the new changes that have occurred and an interview with well respected TV Producer, Phil Redmond. Mr Redmond has been chosen as the new deputy chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company board, which has been slimmed down from 25 members to only six. He will lead the artistic side of the cultural celebrations, which begins next year, and he will work with arts organisations and encourage community participation.

Mr Redmond went on to explain that he hoped to give the programme more of an 'edge' by examining the city's Irish heritage and providing a "cultural clearing project", where arts groups who made submissions for 2008 and felt they were ignored can resubmit their ideas. He also spoke of the open culture initiative, which will encourage people to engage in activities: "I want people to know they don't have to have culture done to them - they can take part."

Could it be that Mr Redmond had recently read Duncan Campbell’s article in The Guardian? Or could it be that he’s been keeping up to date with the Liverpool Mural Project on this website?

Surely now the Culture Company must see how valuable the Liverpool Mural Project can be to not only them but more importantly to the city of Liverpool in 2008. The very fact that we have Belfast artists from two communities willing to grasp hold of the current peace process in Northern Ireland by working together. This along with their desire to bring years of artistic talent and experience to the people of Liverpool in order to help produce excellent pieces of public art in and around the city, surely common sense must prevail?

To read the Guardian's article in full click on the following link:

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2168056,00.html

Support Comes Thick And Fast For Mural Project

The depth of support for the Liverpool Mural Project increases from all quarters. The support ranges from the local and international media, from playwrights to novelists, film producers and directors to musicians and business entrepreneurs and by no means last politician's. The feeling of goodwill and support towards our project continues to steadily increase with every passing day.

The Liverpool Echo has recently published a further letter of support in its daily letters page from a local resident. To read this excellent letter in full from one of the Echo's many readers please click on the link below:-

Cultural Shame

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/views/echo-letters/2007/08/20/your-letters-20th-august-2007-100252-19661932/

Professor and Author Phil Scraton of Queens University Belfast, backs Liverpool Mural Project

Respected Queen's University Professor Phil Scraton author of the acclaimed book
'Hillsborough: The Truth' wrote to TLMP confirming his full backing and support for what we plan to do in Liverpool in the coming year.

“I am surprised and dismayed that the Liverpool Culture Company has declined financial support for The Liverpool Mural Project in anticipation of the '08 celebrations.

"As a Liverpudlian, now living and working in Belfast, I am deeply committed to developing and consolidating the strong historical and contemporary links between the two cities. One of the great successes of both cities is the strength and resilience demonstrated by our working class people in overcoming adversity, political and economic, in building cross-community alliances aimed at embracing diversity rather than allowing its worst excesses to destroy our lives. Both cities have emerged from economic marginalisation and inter-community conflict and experiencing the struggles of transition".

"On the 4 August 2007, I was with some of the Belfast artists who are part of The Liverpool Mural Project along with other helpers as they reproduced Picasso's Guernica on the world famous International Wall. Alongside, they were painting another mural on the International Brigades defiance of fascism in the Spanish Civil War. The power of murals to represent the mood and emotions of a community is more than symbolic.”

"It is my sincere conviction that the The Liverpool Mural Project, should it come to fruition, would make an outstanding contribution to the '08 celebrations. If the Project had been put forward in Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, San Francisco, Athens and so on - the list is endless - I am convinced it would have received support. I urge the Culture Company to think again".

Professor Phil Scraton
Author of 'Hillsborough: The Truth'.

Northern Ireland Murals are UK's Top Attraction.

Northern Ireland Murals are UK's "best tourist attraction", according to a leading travel writer, Simon Calder, The Independent's travel editor.

The Independent described the wall paintings as "an open-air gallery"

Lisa McMurray of the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau said of such good praise: "Visitors coming to Belfast do show a great interest in visiting the murals, which are of course an interpretation of Belfast's political history. But over the recent years they have evolved to also depict the city's cultural, artistic and sporting past."

The very fact that The Liverpool Mural Project has procured the talents of some of the best artists Belfast has to offer, to work wonders with communities in Liverpool can only boost the city's image to the world during The European Culture year.

Institute For Irish Studies Confirms Its Support For Liverpool Mural Project.

TLMP is excited about the links that are being created with Institute for Irish Studies.

Founded in 1988, the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool is unique as the national centre of excellence for the study of Ireland in Britain.
From the outset, the Institute has been held in the highest regard in Ireland itself, in Britain and further afield, for its role in teaching and researching Irish culture, history and politics, promoting understanding between the people of Britain and Ireland and for contributing positively to today's improved perceptions of Ireland.

The very nature of our project by bringing together artists from the two main communities in Belfast highlights the significance of a such ground breaking scheme.

"Take it as read that the Institute will be very happy to be involved, it's a great project. Well done for thinking of it."

Professor Marianne Elliott, OBE, FBA
Director of Institute of Irish Studies

"I think your project is a brilliant idea!"

Dr Ian McKeane

Academic Liaison Officer Institute of Irish Studies

One that almost got away

It has come to our attention via an eagle-eyed supporter that a letter sent to the Liverpool Echo by a local resident had escaped our attention. With the heady speed in which the project has moved on in its pace, we at TLMP failed to notice this letter. Yet again the standard of letters of support to the Liverpool Echo has been phenomenal to say the least. For all who may wish read this letter please click on the link below:-

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/echoletters/tm_headline=your-letters-11th-june-2007&method=full&objectid=19278840&siteid=50061-name_page.html

Award-winning Liverpool writer backs Mural Project

Acclaimed Liverpool writer John Fay (Coronation Street, Brookside and Clocking Off) as well as the recenent ITV1 hit drama "Mobile" offers his support. John contacted us by email after reading about it in The Liverpool Echo. John told us he'd been reading with interest the letters of support in The Echo, and then he went through google to reach our blog, and that he thought it was a great idea for Liverpool's 2008 European Celebrations.

John wrote about the historical and cultural links between Ireland and Liverpool and the opportunity to express these links with murals, and the chance for all communities to build on these links for future projects.

"Many years ago now I was privileged to be part of a cultural exchange between Kirkby, Derry and Belfast. I spent an utterly inspiring week in Northern Ireland, meeting and working with many fantastic people. So I know from first hand experience what a great project this will be. Best of luck with it."

Andersontown News reviews mural artists link to The Liverpool Mural Project

After the recent publicity in Northern Ireland via the Belfast Telegraph's feature and our live interview on BBC Ulster Radio's Arts Extra programme, news of The Liverpool Mural Project hits the Irish editorials again.

The Andersonstown News, a well respected local community newspaper has picked up on the importance of the two Belfast artists willingness to work together on our project.

The strong commitment and enthusiasm of both Danny Devenny and Mark Ervine towards the Liverpool Mural Project weaves through the report written by local journalist Ciarán Barnes, who emphasises how positive and monumentally important our project is and what it can lead to in the future. To read the news article in full click on the following link:-

http://www.irelandclick.com/atn/index.tvt?_ticket=2MTEDWX263RGUU4IINNADY7BZKLAFUUGUYRMKRPCAUVE9LLDN32STRRIVON9ANVRBNKACJ5J9QRFK11M9NTGNXT9CHUT72QFIRY4S0SEAOYEJGSGX2L24NNAD0SEARM9CHZKTRRLWNNADY8OSC2Y7VJ&_scope=atown/Content/News/Features&id=3168&_page=&psv=20

Ex-British Soldier speaks up for The Mural project

It seems almost daily there's a letter in Liverpool's evening newspaper supporting our project.

A former British Soldier from Liverpool who served in Northern Ireland during some of the most violent times throughout the troubles, has wrote a letter to the The Liverpool Echo supporting The Liverpool Mural Project.

The letter talks about his time patrolling the streets of Belfast and remembering the division and hatred as well as the amazing murals, he goes on to say that any project that gets people working together has got to be a positive thing all round, and should be supported.

It is overwhelming to find that we have support from a former member of the British Army and another example of the positive response from all the people of Liverpool.

To read the letter in full click below:-

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/echoletters/2007/07/16/your-letters-16th-july-2007-50061-19463074/

The Interest Just Keeps Coming

After a great deal of media and public attention The Liverpool Mural Project races past 800 hits on our website. Thank you to all who have taken the time to peruse the site and for all your support.

Ulster University Sociology Senior Lecturer gives Mural Project his support

Following the live link on radio Ulster’s Arts Extra programme with the Liverpool Mural Project (TLMP), Northern Ireland Artists and Professor Bill Rolston (Ulster University Senior Lecturer in Sociology), Bill has contacted the Liverpool Mural Project today offering his whole hearted support for our project.

Professor Rolston reiterated his strong belief that by bringing together such talented artists from the two main communities in Belfast to work together with local Liverpool residents and community organisations is truly a historical event.

"I hope this project gets the funding it deserves, it's one of the best ideas I've heard in a long, long time".

As well as his vocal support Professor Rolston has confirmed that he is willing to come to Liverpool and give a lecture in order to highlight the positive effect mural art can provide to local areas in decline or in the process of regeneration by creating community ownership.

We at TLMP feel that this is a great offer from Professor Rolston and would add to the project and is truly praise indeed from such a well respected lecturer in Northern Ireland, and widely regarded as an expert on community wall murals around the world.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Local support continues via the Liverpool Echo's Letters Page.

The Support for The Liverpool Mural Projects (TLMP) has once again brought our project to the attention of the general public. Liverpool’s main daily newspaper, The Liverpool Echo published a letter from a local resident. He extolled the work that we are trying achieve in bringing together artists from the two main communities in Belfast and allowing them to teach their unquestionable talents to local community based organisations and youth groups. This whilst at the same time allowing the people of Liverpool express what 2008 truly means to them.

To read the letter of support click on the following link:-

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/yourview/letters/tm_headline=your-letters--25th-june-2007&method=full&objectid=19353000&siteid=50061-name_page.html

Thank you to all who have openly backed this truly worthwhile project

The Liverpool Mural Project Attends Head-to-Head With Culture Company.

Our first meeting took place at the Culture Companies Head Quarters in Liverpool at 11.30 this morning. Representatives of The Liverpool Mural Project (TLMP) , Gregory Brennan and Peter Morrison spoke to representatives of the Culture Company. The meeting which lasted well over one and a half hours was felt by all at TLMP to be very productive indeed.

Ithalia Forel and Phil Taylor give a good indication of the types of schemes currently running around the city. Phil Taylor confirmed that he was attending a meeting this afternoon with an organisation that produced an exhibition of the Beatles . He felt that they would be someone to whom he felt our project would possibly be of interest.

Ithalia Forel is part of a busy team working on a scheme called City in progress. City in progress is a Liverpool Culture Company initiative that aims to create outdoor artwork on hoardings across the city. The initiative achieves this by engaging artists with the community to design public art that captures and represents the culture and development of Liverpool.

Another meeting is to be arranged in the next week and we will keep you all posted of the outcome of that when it has happened.

Mural Project debated on leading Irish Blogsite

The Liverpool Mural Project gets more than a mention on
Slugger O'Toole.com,
Northern Ireland's leading Political and Cultural blogsite


Click on Headline to see online debate

Liverpool City Council, Joe Anderson Washes His Hands of Capital of Culture Corporate Gravy Train

The leader of the opposition Labour group at Liverpool City Council, Joe

Anderson, has resigned from the Capital of Culture Board.

"Too much taxpayer's money has been wasted so far on a bloated and obscene corporate entertainment budget in which the same city faces are treated to VIP reception after VIP reception. And yet there are small community groups being turned away for funding for their modest projects.

I am concerned that after a total spend of £94 million the legacy will be one of debt and quite frankly one of missed opportunity"

To read more:-

Labour councillor quits 08 board Labour councillor quits 08 board
Labour councillor quits 08 board. The leader of the opposition Labour group at Liverpool City Council resigns from the Capital of Culture Board. ...news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/default.stm - 13 Jun 2007 -

Liverpool Mural Project Puts The Record Straight

LETTER TO ECHO letters page to read the the letter in full click on the link below:

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/yourview/letters/tm_headline=your-letters%2D-14th-june-2007%26method=full%26objectid=19296059%26siteid=50061-name_page.html