Capital of Culture Row

This article appeared in the Guardian on Wednesday January 09 2008 on p7 of the Society news & features section. It was last updated at 23:48 on January 08 2008.

Preparations for Liverpool's year as the cultural hub of the continent have been marred by in-fighting, claims of plots and cancellations. In the Tate gallery in Liverpool's Docklands stands a giant sign formed from plastic light bulbs. The installation, by Turner-prize nominee Nathan

Coley, reads: "There will be no miracles here."

As Liverpool kicks off its year as European Capital of Culture on Friday without an artistic director, its culture company chief executive awaiting a reported £250,000 payoff and two of its most senior politicians under investigation, the fact that the event is taking place at all challenges the artist's statement.

Since Liverpool won the bid to host the event in June 2003, preparations have been marred by furious political in-fighting, resignations of senior figures, alleged conspiracy plots and cancellations.

According to Mark Featherstone-Witty, chief executive of Liverpool's Institute of Performing Arts (Lipa), many of the problems stemmed from an inability to separate the cultural programme from local politics. The Liverpool Culture Company (LCC) was formed, but with around 65% of its funding and most of its staff coming from the local authority, independence was always unlikely. "The city council produced the chimera of separateness, but that's all it was. That was the first fundamental mistake," says Featherstone-Witty.

A bitter feud between the then leader of the council, Mike Storey, and the council's chief executive, Sir David Henshaw, resulted in the resignation of both men.

There were also grumbles about the appointment of Australian cabaret singer and festival director Robyn Archer as creative director of the LCC, the body charged with organising the year. "We thought, is there no one capable of doing the job in Liverpool? No one in England? . . .

It was all rather damaging," says Featherstone-Witty. Though appointed in 2004, Archer only came to work full-time in Liverpool in April 2006 after troubles obtaining a work visa. Four months later she had quit with a reported £125,000 payoff.

Two executive producers, Claire McColgan and Fiona Gasper, took control of the programme, working closely with the heads of the city's main arts organisations.

There was further controversy last year when the popular Mathew Street festival had to be cancelled at the last minute because of health and safety fears, says Liam Fogarty, a local journalist and head of the campaign amayorforliverpool.org. "It symbolised the seat-of-the-pants approach to decision-making in Liverpool," he argues.

In the latest political row, the former council leader Storey and the current chief, Warren Bradley, are to be investigated by the local government watchdog, the Standards Board for England. They are accused of holding a secret meeting in December with the council's former event manager, Lee Forde, at which they allegedly conspired to remove the current LCC chief executive, Jason Harborrow. Harborrow, who has spent much of the past few months on sick leave, is reportedly to receive a £250,000 payoff.

Bradley admits the political brawls risk detracting from Liverpool's big year. "Sadly, it does [overshadow] things," he says. Refusing to be drawn on whether Archer's appointment was a mistake ("I wouldn't like to comment on that") or the situation with Harbarrow ("As far as I know, Jason is on sick leave"), Bradley says the opportunity to change how the rest of the world sees Liverpool must not be missed. "This cannot but be a success for the people of this city. We cannot fail," he says.

But even success comes at a cost. The city council has identified a budget gap of about £20m for the next year: a result of hosting the capital of culture. With council tax increases capped at 5%, the council will be forced to borrow money, sell off council land, refinance assets, or use up most of its financial reserves to raise the funds.

Do Liverpudlians have a right to feel aggrieved about the inevitable council tax hikes, seeing as payoffs to senior executives have been costly? "The people of Liverpool want to make sure we deliver a superb capital of culture. If we really put Liverpool on the map - that's what is important," says Bradley.

The 12-month cultural celebration - featuring a concert at Anfield football ground, an exhibition of Gustav Klimt's work, Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Berlin Philharmonic, and hundreds of smaller events - has that potential.

Can the year be a success despite the maelstrom that has surrounded it? "Absolutely," says Elliott. "It's a regret that these issues are still around, but you can feel the excitement ... 2008 will be a fabulous celebration of Liverpool's quality, its edginess and quirkiness. And knowing the people of Liverpool, it will be quite a party."

This article appeared in the Guardian on Wednesday January 09 2008 on p7 of the Society news & features section. It was last updated at 23:48 on January 08 2008.