Wirral Borough of Culture 2024: Birkenhead Park to host arts events

Birkenhead Park is on a list put forward by the UK government for Unesco World Heritage status

An historical park will host arts and community events as part of Wirral's Borough of Culture next year.

About £147,000 will be given out to local organisations to deliver events and activities of all kinds. Wirral Council said.

Birkenhead Park will be "front and centre" of the authority's plans.

An arts festival will be held in New Brighton and libraries, the Floral Pavilion and Williamson Art Gallery are also planning to host events.

Wirral Council said there would be a "clear geographical spread" in events as it prepared to be Liverpool City Region's Borough of Culture in 2024.

'Social impact'

It followed concerns there could be a focus on eastern Wirral for the programme, which will cost £800,000 in local and central government funding.

Councillors have urged that the events should assist the local economy.

Jane Morgan, from Wirral Council, said local arts groups' involvement would "boost social impact".

As senior manager of the council's culture strategy, she added: "We have tried to embed arts and community groups in the programme and I think that will result in some really strong outcomes around social impact."

Birkenhead Park, which is on a list put forward by the UK government for Unesco World Heritage status due to its history in pioneering public parks, will be "front and centre" in the council's plans for the year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service. said.

Due to a £620,000 cut in Wirral Council's 2021 budget, event management and production costs for the programme will be outsourced and those who receive grants are being encouraged to get extra funding.

Council officials said they were working to "make things more sustainable" so the events' legacy would continue into 2025 and beyond.

Wirral last held the Borough of Culture title in 2019.

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