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Young people across the UK, working with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008, today laid down a challenge for their generation to explore and celebrate the impact that their cultural roots have had on their values and sense of identity.
‘Portrait of a Nation’ is a year-long programme of events and online activity that marks the first time that teenagers and young people in 18 cities* across the UK, from Inverness to Brighton have been asked to discuss and share where they come from, who they are, and what it means for their future.
From local dialects to fashion, the places they like to hang out or the music they listen to, young people’s lives are shaped by the cultures, places and people in their home town as much as what’s going on in the rest of the country. Portrait of a Nation will ask the teens and young people living in our cities what makes their home town different and special. What is it about their town that Liverpool youngsters value compared with those in Bristol or Belfast? And what do they all have in common?
Throughout the year teenagers will be staging celebratory events to show what makes their city unique through a range of art, performance and heritage projects. They will also be kick-starting the conversation online at www.portraitofanation.net , posting blogs, pictures and films, and inviting MPs, celebrities and members of the public to get involved by adding favourite cultural ‘hot spots’ in their home town.
The activity will culminate in December with a finale event at St George’s Hall, Liverpool, where young representatives from each city will come together to put on performances and exhibitions to celebrate what makes their own city special. This showcase will be one of the final events of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture 2008 celebrations.
Dil Lewington, 17, from the Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008 Youth Advisory Group said; ‘Portrait of a Nation is a celebration of what it means to be a young person in the United Kingdom sharing their culture and identity with others nationally.
‘I love my City, and its culture, history and character is as vibrant as the people sharing it. Culture is ever changing and growing and the young people of Liverpool celebrate the chance to share this wealth with other young people throughout the UK.’
Liz Forgan, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund commented; ‘From the Prime Minister downwards questions about our culture and identity are being debated widely. We worry about what values, what sense of identity, we shall be transmitting to future generations to bind them together into a proud and coherent nation. But how often do we ask young people themselves what they make of these issues?
‘Portrait of a Nation will be a vision of what makes the heritage of our cities special, created entirely by that young generation. It may surprise or even shock their parents. It may give us all great encouragement for the future. It will certainly tell us something fresh and important about our country.’
Bryan Gray, Chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company, added; ‘Liverpool was the UK’s nomination for European Capital of Culture so it is particularly fitting that Portrait of a Nation will give young people from across the country the chance to play their part in the 2008 celebrations.
‘As one of the last milestones in Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year, the finale event for Portrait of a Nation in December promises to be an extremely exciting addition to our programme.’
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, added:
"Our cities all have distinct personalities that are reflected in the people that live and work in them. Coming from a family of generations of Evertonians, I am fiercely proud of my Liverpool roots. We all have a hunger to know where we came from and what has made us what we are. So it's great that young people across the UK will be exploring the local values, traditions and cultures that matter to them."
Preview events in Bristol and Inverness have proved extremely successful, with Bristol launching an illustrated history of the city for this year’s ‘Great Reading Adventure’, (which particularly targets schools), and Inverness previewed a newly commissioned piece of music that uses the Gaelic language to explore the Highlands cultural roots in a modern context.
Images of the Liverpool teenagers 'unveiling' Portrait of a Nation are available on request.
To watch a short film about what Liverpool teens have to say about ‘Portrait of a Nation’ go to YouTube:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL2uBzoPoMo
Notes to Editors:
Cities running local Portrait of a Nation events include:-
Belfast
Birmingham
Bradford
Brighton & Hove
Bristol
Canterbury
Cardiff
Derby
Leicester
Leeds
Liverpool
Newham (London)
Manchester
NewcastleGateshead
Norwich
Nottingham
Oxford
Inverness (Highlands and Islands)
The Heritage Lottery Fund enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and countryside or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy. We have awarded grants totalling more than £4 billion to more than 26,000 projects.
The Liverpool Culture Company was established by Liverpool City Council in 2000, to lead the city’s bid to be European Capital of Culture 2008. In June 2003, following a two-year nationwide competition featuring 12 cities, Liverpool was chosen as the UK’s representative for 2008. The programme for 2008 includes more than 350 events and festivals – many of which are free – delivered in collaboration with major cultural institutions, artists, performers and venues throughout Liverpool and beyond.