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A WORLD-CLASS museum of popular culture should be built within the refurbished art deco Littlewoods Building in time for 2008.
But the only people who disagree are the city’s cultural decision makers.
Those are the bold views of Mr Manchester, Anthony Wilson, who believes Liverpool is the only city in the world fit to host a landmark museum celebrating popular culture.
Speaking at Downtown Liverpool in Business’ Inspiration Through Culture event, the former TV presenter called on developers Urban Splash to integrate the museum into their plans for the iconic Edge Lane building.
Heralding the former Littlewoods’ Pools headquarters as one of the world’s finest art deco buildings, he said: “There is no museum anywhere in the world which is dedicated to popular culture.
“Liverpool is the natural home for such a museum.
“Every other city in the world can see that the only place such a museum could be built is in Liverpool,” added Mr Wilson, founder of Factory Records and Manchester’s Hacienda nightclub.
“The only people who can’t see it is Liverpool.”
Mr Wilson told a 200-strong audience of businessmen and women at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts he had approached decision makers in the city on at least two occasions already.
But as with many other private businesses and individuals, he had received scant interest from those responsible for making Capital of Culture year a success.
Downtown Liverpool in Business chairman Frank McKenna said a number of his members had had similar experiences.
“Several businesses working within the Liverpool cultural scene have suggested to us that they have gone to the Culture Company looking to get involved but have been told to go away.
“They do not feel they are being engaged with and a lot of people have now started to express concerns about what is not happening as far as 2008 is concerned.
“Whether rightly or wrongly, the perception is that all the Culture Company has done so far is extend invitations to Paul McCartney and U2 to play concerts here.
“We are sure that is not the case. Perhaps, however, our expectation levels were raised a bit too high and a bit too quickly when we won.”
So rather than simply criticise the Culture Company for what may be a misconception, DLiB decided to host a series of events promoting the private sector’s ideas for possible events during 2008.
Alongside Anthony Wilson’s museum of popular culture, LIPA staged a performance of acclaimed musical Life Changes, which highlights the importance of personal development.
The musical was written by LIPA’s director of flexible learning, Ged McKenna, and Eddie Lundon, formerly of band China Crisis.
Earlier this month, plans were revealed to transform the Littlewoods building into a new hotel, apartment complex complete with a range of retail and commercial space.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency, which now owns the building, has appointed developers Urban Splash to carry out the transformation.
Note to editors
For more information, please call Chris Marritt at Mason Media on 0151 707 4514 or 07908 214950.
