Culture

The SuperLambBanana sculpture relates to Liverpool's long history of imports (bananas) and exports (sheep) www.superlambbanana.com

Liverpool has been a European capital of culture for around 200 years.

But it was still a thrill that Liverpool should be chosen to be the official European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The award came from the European Union. It has since decided that there should be two capitals of culture in 2008: one representing EU member states - Liverpool - and another representing European countries not members of the EU.

Congratulations to Stavanger, in Norway. www.stavanger2008.no

But for extensive information on theatres, music and art galleries in Liverpool, click on the yellow buttons at the top of this page.

WHY has Liverpool been a capital of culture for 200 years?

ANSWER: As Liverpool grew in the 19th century to become Britain's second city, it attracted people from far and wide, but most notably Ireland, Wales, Scotland and mainland Europe.

The result was a population with a wide array of talents and skills, plus tales to tell. It was a rich cultural mix.

And many men were making vast fortunes and showering money on the flourishing arts scene in Liverpool. For example, St George's Hall, described by Queen Victoria as worthy of ancient Athens, opened in 1854. Charles Dickens, a frequent visitor to Liverpool, performed many readings there.

At the same time, Liverpool became known as a tough place, with many people living in grinding poverty. Some relied on lobscouse, a stew introduced to the city by Scandinavian sailors who would put in the pot anything they could find.

Some how, the words Scouser and Scouse began to be used to describe people from Liverpool and their accent.

Scousers are seen by many English people as almost a different race. Perhaps it is something to do with being located on the edge of England, very close to Wales and near Ireland, but Liverpool is the least English city in England, and the most fascinating (read our history page).

Note that in 2004, parts of the Liverpool waterfront and city centre were given World Heritage Status. This places Liverpool on a par with the Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon, Great Wall of China and Blaenavon Industrial Landscape. To understand why, see the UNESCO website http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=1150

Liverpool has three twin, or sister, cities. It has partnered Koln (Cologne) since 1952; Dublin since 1997; and Shanghai, 1999.

In 2004 Liverpool twinned with Memphis for the year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of rock 'n roll. Elvis cut his first record in Memphis in 1954 and had a big impact on The Beatles. Regards the future of Liverpool, see www.downtownliverpool.org which is the website of a radical think-tank.