transition and recession

By Catherine Jones on Jan 8, 09 08:15 AM

In the bastardised words of Sgt Pepper...
"It was 365 days today (well almost), Redmond's "Scouse wedding" got underway."
Now here we are, no longer European Capital of Culture and with one last hurrah on the horizon.
Where did it go? Particularly those final few months which seemed to fly by in a whirl of Pink pillow fights, sports stars and King Lear in a frock.
And what happens now, while the world wallows in recession and wintery weather?

Saturday's Pier Head party is being billed as a "transition" event by Phil Redmond.
But call it what you will, most people will still see it essentially a cultural closing party, a final fling, a last chance to sing All Together Now.
For now at least.
I can, however, see what the Great Redmondo (he always reminds me of a particularly laid back magician pulling cultural rabbits from his hat and flowers from up his sleeve) means about wanting to focus attention on moving on.
We HAVE to grab the initiative of the last 12 months and forge ahead, recession or no recession.
And with money woes at the front of all our minds, it's imperative the Municipal Building mandarins don't lose their nerve and slash culture budgets.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham spoke last night about culture being a key economic driver of the future and said: "A vibrant cultural base has economic benefits - particularly for the visitor economy.
"Regeneration led by culture and cultural projects can be the most successful and durable, unlocking investment and stimulating the economy."
I suspect Andy, enthusiastic and sincere as he is about it, will find he has a fight on his hands to convince some of his Cabinet colleagues to keep pouring money into culture during these troubled times.
But Liverpool must, as it has over the last 12 months, lead from the front and do just that.
For now, there's one last brief party to enjoy.