bluecoat and old china

By Catherine Jones on Jul 12, 07 10:21 AM

I took a trip across town to the 'opposition' yesterday.
It was the topping out ceremony of the Bluecoat Arts Centre and slightly bizarrely it was being hosted at the Beeb's new building in Hanover Street.
Why aren't we AT the Bluecoat I asked their communications department?
Turns out the place is still a hard-hat-and-two-hour-safety-briefing building site and it was easier to get the great, the good and me on to the Beeb's balcony to watch proceedings from a slight but safe distance - with a glass of something fizzy in our hands.

Since I spent a couple of hours in a hard hat and steel toed boots clambering all over the Bluecoat last November I wasn't too disappointed - plus I'd arranged for our photographer Tracey to climb up the building with Warren Bradley et all.
Those doing the topping out signed their names on a joist which is being placed in the new roof.
As Cllr Bradley said to me afterwards: "a century from now someone will be up there and will say 'Warren Bradley'....."
I couldn't help myself, and we quipped almost in unison: "Who's he?"
Incidently, Warren is just back from a trip to Liverpool's twin city Shanghai and bursting with enthusiasm over the links between the two.
Turns out he met not just the Mayor of Shanghai but also the party secretary - something he pointed out with some glee that even former PM Tony Blair (remember him?) didn't manage.
Apparently although there won't be a high level delegation from the Chinese city coming to Liverpool for the birthday celebrations, the new Chinese Ambassador is coming up from London.
Obviously the entente cordiale is back on track after China got all upset when the Dalai Lama wwas invited to lunch at the Town Hall a couple of years back.
Anyway, the usual suspects from Liverpool's arts world and the culture company were at yesterday's ceremony where we heard the arts centre was dropping just that, "Arts Centre", from its name.
When it reopens at the beginning of next year it will be known simply as "The Bluecoat". I didn't really gather why, but I suppose since most people call it that anyway it's no great upheaval and it looks snappier and more modern on the merchandise!
As long as the product - the art - is good enough I suppose you can call it anything you please.