Liverpool Giants set to return to the city

Joe Anderson, explained that the giants would form part of a year-long programme of 18 major cultural events, marking 10 years since Liverpool was awarded the ‘European Capital of Culture’ status. It will also be themed around the end of World War One.

French puppeteers Royal De Luxe and their 25ft (7.5m) tall marionettes made their debut in Liverpool in 2012 and visited again in 2014. In July 2014 they were part of a display commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of World War One.

The Grandmother at the Liverpool Giants event in 2014

The mayor explained that the 2018 celebration would be organised in collaboration with Wirral Council. One million people came to view the spectacular event in 2014 and more than £46m was generated for the Merseyside economy. The mayor said that the 2018 event is aiming to attract around five million people to the city and generate £50m for the local economy. He also said that “the last four years alone have seen major events generate £177m for the local economy”.

He said the event will “push Liverpool to the top of the ‘must-visit’ cities in 2018” and that the events of 2018 will be “internationally significant events, exhibitions, seasons and performances”.

The Sea Odyssey

Mayor Anderson also said: “We want everything we do in 2018 to build on the wonderful work which has taken place in the city since 2008. 2018 will be the next watershed year in the history of Liverpool and one which will make everyone who lives here proud, and everyone that doesn’t live here wonder why they don’t.

“Our official culture year quite rightly gets huge public and media recognition, but it is the years that followed which I am most proud of, the years which have seen us build on that success.”

The year, named ‘Eighteen for 18’, is intended to tie in with other anniversaries in 2018. This includes the 30th birthday of Tate Liverpool, the 20th anniversary of Liverpool Biennial and ten years of ACC Liverpool and Liverpool ONE .

The full 2018 programme is due to be announced in the autumn.