| Norwich - not Liverpool - is the UK’s Cultural Capital Wednesday 16th January 2008 |
 Norwich may have launched an unsuccessful bid to be the European Capital of Culture in 2008, but it seems the judges were wrong. The East Anglian city has more cultural activity than anywhere else in the UK relative to population size, according to new research by local information website locallife.co.uk. Norwich has 10.96 art galleries, bookshops, museums, theatres, dance and drama schools, film venues, music studios, opera, ballet, arts and crafts shops and musical instrument retailers for every 10,000 residents. |
 At the same time, Liverpool - the current Capital of Culture since 11 January - ranked 124th in the UK, with a mere 2.97 cultural pursuits per 10,000 Liverpudlians.Tony Martin, chairman of locallife.co.uk says: “It seems Norwich has been wrongly overlooked for European Capital of Culture status. The city has a wealth of cultural events and venues for its people to enjoy, yet its bid failed to even make the shortlist for the 2008 title. Liverpool is a wonderfully vibrant city renowned, in particular, for its pop music, The Beatles and The Cavern. When it comes to the blend of music, dance, theatre, film and literature however, Norwich is streets ahead of anywhere.” At the other end of the table, the people of the Isle of Man are most starved of culture. The island has only 0.27 cultural venues, businesses and activities for every 10,000 Manx. Knowsley in Merseyside, just outside the 2008 European Capital of Culture, is the UK’s second most culturally destitute place (0.47 cultural highlights relative to population size), while West Bromwich is the third bottom town. Tony Martin comments: “Despite a thriving music scene, the Isle of Man has fared badly in the cultural stakes. While the folk music festival Yn Çhruinnaght is buzzing, perhaps unsurprisingly, pursuits such as opera are less popular on the island.” Only one of the top ten towns, Bristol, made it onto the official shortlist for the 2008 UK nomination. Fifth-placed Brighton and top city Norwich both put bids forwards, but failed to make the final shortlist. The only previous UK winner of the European Capital of Culture title, Glasgow in 1990, came in 66th place with 3.87 galleries, museums, theatres and other cultural features for every 10,000 Glaswegians. |
