Liverpool, Culture Capital. No, Seriously.

“Liverpool has been named European Capital of Culture 2008 by UK Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell. The city beat five other hopefuls – Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Newcastle-Gateshead and Oxford – to win the coveted prize… The renewal of its waterfront, a World Heritage site, and cultural centres like Tate Liverpool strengthened its credentials. It is also home to the recently opened Film Arts and Creative Centre, FACT, the UK’s only exhibition and performance space dedicated to film, video and digital art.” The award is likely to generate some much-needed tourism dolllars for Liverpool, which is promising to mount a year-long festival of the arts.