Post by Kev on May 28, 2004 6:42:48 GMT -5
LIVERPOOL has been formally named as European Capital of Culture for 2008.
The decision by EU ministers meeting in Brussels last night triggers the start of work on a project estimated to boost the city's tourism investment by £2bn and create 14,000 jobs.
Media and Heritage Minister Lord McIntosh said: "I am delighted that my EU colleagues have now formally named Liverpool as European Capital of Culture for 2008.
"The success of Liverpool, and the exciting bids put forward by the other UK cities that competed, all demonstrate the importance of culture and creativity in British urban life.
"Liverpool is a city for today, a city for 2008, and, as the UK's current nomination for World Heritage Site status, I believe that it will also be named one of the great cities of yesterday."
City Council chief executive David Henshaw said: "This is the formal confirmation from Europe that Liverpool will be Capital of Culture in 2008.
"It marks the end of a tremendous year for the city but this is only the start for Liverpool.
"In the coming months and years we are going to be working hard to make Britain proud of Liverpool as a Capital of Culture and to ensure the city's massive regeneration gathers pace."
Chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company programme. Sir Bob Scott, said: "Liverpool has gained the confidence of the European Union in its ability to deliver an excellent Capital of Culture programme. We will capture the imagination of the whole of Europe.
"We can now look forward to the on-going preparations for hosting Capital of Culture in 2008 - preparations which will change the face of the city forever."
In the countdown to 2008, each year will be given a theme marked by a series of festivals in Liverpool.
