Alastair Upton, Chief Executive at the Bluecoat.Before the year has even started (or even finished being planned) the leaders from the larger arts organisations in Liverpool have just spent a couple of days discussing life after ’08. Legacy planning it’s been dubbed and it’s crucial.

’08 must not just be an expedient festival, useful for attracting attention and money into the city before moving on to the next new thing. Liverpool must press on to be a city of culture not for a year and not even for a decade but for the century ahead. A creative city in which the artists that lurks in every citizen has been realised. That is the sort of City that is vibrant; a place to live and a place to visit.

The arts organisations must lead on this. Already we collaborate more successfully in Liverpool than anywhere I know of. In the last week alone the Bluecoat has been working with the National Museums Liverpool to buy a new art work for the City; shown first in our opening exhibition it will then join the permanent collection of the Museums. We also reviewed the 2007 Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival. Growing rapidly this project, technically led by the Bluecoat, is a partnership of many arts and community groups. The festival promotes understanding and appreciation between people, cultures and communities. This is the highest of goals.

Alastair Upton, Chief Executive at the Bluecoat.