Whilst many regard music as the lifeblood of Liverpool, and the city was even designated as a UNESCO city of music, its cultural contributions go beyond this. The arts boost Liverpool’s local economy, with the music industry alone being worth more than £100m and supporting over 2000 jobs.
What exactly are Liverpool’s other cultural contributions? Read on to find out.
Music
To not start with music would be to do a disservice to the city. Music played a vital role in securing Liverpool’s place on the world’s cultural map. The Guinness Book of Hit Singles recognised it for producing more number one hits than anywhere else. Music takes place all over the city, up and coming artists can host intimate evenings in the same room that saw the Beatles first gigs. The city also plays host to international superstars performing at the Arena.
Obviously, the biggest band to come out of Liverpool is also arguably the biggest band in the world: The Beatles. There are other bands that it may surprise you to learn are actually scousers! Elvis Costello, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Echo & the Bunnymen and Flock of Seagulls, to name but a few, all went on to world renown. Liverpool remains a dream destination for many British musicians who want to catch their big break. The city is kind to aspiring artists with many opportunities available to them, such as Pirate’s Liverpool recording studio. Pirate is an excellent resource for emerging artists who struggle with getting studio time as they offer discounted day rates to make it more accessible for those just starting.
Theatre
The city boasts many theatres to nurture and inspire the local creative talents. There is the Empire Theatre which regularly welcomes the best of the West End touring productions, or the Royal Court, which puts on several home-grown comedies every year to showcase local emerging talent. The Everyman and Playhouse theatres have built a reputation upon staging bold productions of both original and classic plays.
The theatres themselves are also steeped in history. The Empire Theatre, in its current iteration, is almost a century old, though there was a previous theatre built on the same spot in the 1800s. The Playhouse is the oldest repertory theatre in England. The everyman has been a crucible for a truly astonishing range of theatrical talent. Despite many buildings around it perishing, the Royal Court survived the blitz.
Art & History
The art in Liverpool is not simply relegated to its galleries and museums; it is also on the streets. Liverpool is the home to the Biennial Festival of Contemporary Art – a description of fictional worlds showcased across the city from galleries to public spaces and disused buildings to online. This sort of all-encompassing approach to art is indicative of Liverpool’s progressive culture. This blend of ideas is reflected in the vast collection at the Walker Art Gallery, which has pieces from the Renaissance right up to the present day.
The Tate’s national collection of modern art in the north boasts many cutting-edge contemporary artworks by artists such as Tracey Emin and Jackson Pollock. The choice of galleries is vast. The Open Eye Gallery houses an impressive collection of photography dating back almost a century. Or the Bluecoat, which blends visual art, music, dance and literature and many interactive opportunities. There is even FACT which is the UK’s leading media arts centre.
Film & TV
In the last year, Liverpool hosted 212 productions and 670 days of filming; this boosted the economy by almost £14m and helped to support almost 500 jobs. These figures were down from previous years due to the pandemic. Liverpool is a well known and popular location for directors. Highlights from the last year (2020) include the Channel 4 breakout series it’s a sin, Warner Brothers latest instalment of the Batman franchise aptly named The Batman, and the acclaimed BBC drama Time.
In addition to the work of the Liverpool Film Office, independent production companies such as Lime productions – which produces the popular soap Hollyoaks – are also flourishing. FACT and the Liverpool Biennial showcase the best of home-grown and international film, visual arts and digital media. The film and television industry in Liverpool is going from strength to strength.
Digital
Liverpool’s digital and creative sector has seen significant growth in the last decade. This sector boasts award-winning gaming studios and immersive tech specialists, and software experts. With their developments in this area, Liverpool is tipped to become an international centre for creative and digital business.
In Conclusion
The Beatles will likely always be Liverpool’s biggest export, but the city has several other significant cultural contributions to acknowledge. Music is woven into the daily life of the city. It boasts the biggest number of museums and galleries outside the nation’s capital. Liverpool is a cultural hub for Britain.
