River of Light: The start of cultural collaboration in the region

When Liverpool City Council and Wirral Council joined forces to light up the city region with a spectacular waterfront firework display, it didn’t just bring a different approach to Bonfire Night but a new way of working on the area’s high profile cultural events.

Your Move looks at how ‘River of Light’ has marked the start of a more collaborative way of entertaining the Liverpool City Region, and how local authorities will learn from the event moving forward.

Words by Natasha Young

As fireworks lit the skies on Bonfire Night around 250,000 spectators are said to have packed both sides of the River Mersey’s waterfront to see this year’s headline extravaganza.

A collaboration between Liverpool City Council and Wirral Council, the 5 November ‘River of Light’ event saw the local authorities replace annual park displays with one show-stopping event in the most iconic location the city region has to offer.

Families flocked to the Wirral side of the water for that picture perfect moment of colourful pyrotechnics with Liverpool’s landmark-littered skyline as a backdrop, while Liverpool’s crowds were promised a fun-packed build-up featuring a parade of world-renowned drummers.

According to Culture Liverpool – Liverpool City Council’s cultural service – this dramatic change for 2016 was both a result of the financial challenges local authorities are facing as they look to retain free events, and a hint of the more collaborative approach which lies ahead for the city region.

Earlier this year the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced a new Cultural Partnership would be chaired by UK City of Culture head and Mersey TV founder, Professor Phil Redmond with an aim to put the region on the map as a ‘cultural and creative powerhouse’ for the North.

> Related News: Partnership to spread cultural success across city region

Among the partnership’s goals is a vision to broaden the reach and audience of cultural events and activities around the whole area.

Plus recent experience of large scale Liverpool events such as 2015’s hugely successful Three Queens celebrations on the river has opened local authorities’ eyes to the potential they hold for surrounding boroughs.

“We looked at what happened through the Three Queens and both Wirral and Sefton had a huge amount of people who went and watched it from the varying boroughs,” Claire McColgan, director of Culture Liverpool, tells Your Move.

 

 

“What the boroughs were very keen on doing was working much more closely with us so we could do a joint event, rather than for us to do the event and them be passive spectators.

“They really wanted to take a very active role in making sure they got the most out of it for the communities they serve.”

According to Claire, more collaboration between Liverpool and Wirral councils to create one single bigger and higher profile event from the outset came with additional benefits in terms of spreading the crowds of spectators to attracting additional funding support and business backing.

“We’ve had the events in the parks for as long as I can remember and it was really important for us, because 5 November was on a Saturday this year, to really try and see if we could galvanise an audience on both sides of the water,” says Claire.

“It saves both councils money as well because the private sector invested heavily in this and they don’t when it’s in the parks so it was a real test for us, but if you don’t try anything new you don’t know.”

River of Light not only attracted Arts Council contributions towards the entertainment prior to the main display but private sponsorship covered the cost of the fireworks and, with the likes of the high flying Twister Aerobatic Team adding to the spectacle, visitors were inevitably keen to take advantage of the restaurants and bars with prime positions overlooking the new waterfront location.

“We’ve had a lot of responses from businesses and that’s what’s been interesting,” adds Claire. “With the parks we always struggle with getting commercial sponsors and with the river we haven’t.

“The private sector has been really keen to support us on it but it’s still free for people to come and see.”

The River of Light event may have attracted mixed reviews from those who flocked to see it in its inaugural year, with Claire reflecting on elements that have made organisers “really proud” and others which they plan to “look at carefully moving forward,” and there’s a pledge to “build on the best bits” when it comes to putting together some sort of Bonfire Night celebration in 2017.

“What the boroughs were very keen on doing was working much more closely with us so we could do a joint event, rather than them being passive spectators.”

As for Liverpool’s wider cultural calendar though, event goers in the area can certainly expect to see more of the collaboration across local authorities that was used to create a bigger platform and aim to broaden the impact of River of Light.

Wirral Council, for one, is keen to continue working to balance the benefits of such events moving forward.

“Wirral has the fastest growing visitor economy in the Liverpool City Region,” says Juggy Landay, senior manager of visitor economy at Wirral Council’s Strategic Hub.

“It is valued at over £385 million, attracts over 8m day and short break visitors each year, and employs over 5,000 individuals.

“The River of Light over the River Mersey, delivered in partnership with Liverpool City Council and the private sector, is an example of the region’s desire to work together to achieve even more for all.”

The year 2018 in particular, which will mark 10 years since the city held its prestigious European Capital of Culture status, poses opportunities as 18 new cultural commissions are being lined up including the return of the Tall Ships and another potential visit from Royal de Luxe’s giants.

“What is great is when you see things like the Tall Ships, which we’ve announced is coming in 2018, will turn into a very big event on the river and we share the river,” says Claire as she looks forward to more collaboration across Liverpool City Region local authorities.

“We’ve got expertise on all parts that we can use together so it saves individual councils money but also you can use the best of the best as you’re working.

“It’s really important that we carry on working like that but it’s also very practical. It’s been a really great experience for both Wirral and Liverpool putting River of Light on together.”

As fireworks lit the skies on Bonfire Night around 250,000 spectators are said to have packed both sides of the River Mersey’s waterfront to see this year’s headline extravaganza.

A collaboration between Liverpool City Council and Wirral Council, the 5 November ‘River of Light’ event saw the local authorities replace annual park displays with one show-stopping event in the most iconic location the city region has to offer.

Families flocked to the Wirral side of the water for that picture perfect moment of colourful pyrotechnics with Liverpool’s landmark-littered skyline as a backdrop, while Liverpool’s crowds were promised a fun-packed build-up featuring a parade of world-renowned drummers.

According to Culture Liverpool – Liverpool City Council’s cultural service – this dramatic change for 2016 was both a result of the financial challenges local authorities are facing as they look to retain free events, and a hint of the more collaborative approach which lies ahead for the city region.

 

 

Earlier this year the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced a new Cultural Partnership would be chaired by UK City of Culture head and Mersey TV founder, Professor Phil Redmond with an aim to put the region on the map as a ‘cultural and creative powerhouse’ for the North.

Among the partnership’s goals is a vision to broaden the reach and audience of cultural events and activities around the whole area.

Plus recent experience of large scale Liverpool events such as 2015’s hugely successful Three Queens celebrations on the river has opened local authorities’ eyes to the potential they hold for surrounding boroughs.

“We looked at what happened through the Three Queens and both Wirral and Sefton had a huge amount of people who went and watched it from the varying boroughs,” Claire McColgan, director of Culture Liverpool, tells Your Move.

“What the boroughs were very keen on doing was working much more closely with us so we could do a joint event, rather than for us to do the event and them be passive spectators.

“They really wanted to take a very active role in making sure they got the most out of it for the communities they serve.”

According to Claire, more collaboration between Liverpool and Wirral councils to create one single bigger and higher profile event from the outset came with additional benefits in terms of spreading the crowds of spectators to attracting additional funding support and business backing.

“We’ve had the events in the parks for as long as I can remember and it was really important for us, because 5 November was on a Saturday this year, to really try and see if we could galvanise an audience on both sides of the water,” says Claire.

“It saves both councils money as well because the private sector invested heavily in this and they don’t when it’s in the parks so it was a real test for us, but if you don’t try anything new you don’t know.”

River of Light not only attracted Arts Council contributions towards the entertainment prior to the main display but private sponsorship covered the cost of the fireworks and, with the likes of the high flying Twister Aerobatic Team adding to the spectacle, visitors were inevitably keen to take advantage of the restaurants and bars with prime positions overlooking the new waterfront location.

“We’ve had a lot of responses from businesses and that’s what’s been interesting,” adds Claire. “With the parks we always struggle with getting commercial sponsors and with the river we haven’t.

“The private sector has been really keen to support us on it but it’s still free for people to come and see.”

“Wirral has the fastest growing visitor economy in the Liverpool City Region. River of Light, delivered in partnership with Liverpool City Council, is an example of the region’s desire to work together to achieve even more for all”

The River of Light event may have attracted mixed reviews from those who flocked to see it in its inaugural year, with Claire reflecting on elements that have made organisers “really proud” and others which they plan to “look at carefully moving forward,” and there’s a pledge to “build on the best bits” when it comes to putting together some sort of Bonfire Night celebration in 2017.

As for Liverpool’s wider cultural calendar though, event goers in the area can certainly expect to see more of the collaboration across local authorities that was used to create a bigger platform and aim to broaden the impact of River of Light.

Wirral Council, for one, is keen to continue working to balance the benefits of such events moving forward.

“Wirral has the fastest growing visitor economy in the Liverpool City Region,” says Juggy Landay, senior manager of visitor economy at Wirral Council’s Strategic Hub.

“It is valued at over £385 million, attracts over 8m day and short break visitors each year, and employs over 5,000 individuals.

“The River of Light over the River Mersey, delivered in partnership with Liverpool City Council and the private sector, is an example of the region’s desire to work together to achieve even more for all.”

The year 2018 in particular, which will mark 10 years since the city held its prestigious European Capital of Culture status, poses opportunities as 18 new cultural commissions are being lined up including the return of the Tall Ships and another potential visit from Royal de Luxe’s giants.

“What is great is when you see things like the Tall Ships, which we’ve announced is coming in 2018, will turn into a very big event on the river and we share the river,” says Claire as she looks forward to more collaboration across Liverpool City Region local authorities.

“We’ve got expertise on all parts that we can use together so it saves individual councils money but also you can use the best of the best as you’re working.

“It’s really important that we carry on working like that but it’s also very practical. It’s been a really great experience for both Wirral and Liverpool putting River of Light on together.”