Top Royal Honour for Liverpool's Culture Director

LIVERPOOL'S Culture Chief has been awarded 1 of the highest royal honours as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Claire McColgan has been honoured with a CBE in recognition of her achievements and services to culture and arts across the country. The honour has been bestowed as part of the Queen's official birthday celebrations, this year also coinciding with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Already holding an MBE title which she was presented with in 2009 for her services to culture and arts in Liverpool, the latest accolade follows the pioneering role Claire McColgan played in the Government's Events Research Programme (ERP) and her continued contribution to the national arts and culture scene. The ERP initiative alone saw Liverpool host a ground-breaking series of events which not only helped the Region get back on track when it came to staging live events, but the rest of the country too.

Claire has worked for Liverpool City Council for 22 years and in addition to her role as Director of Culture Liverpool, she is currently also Interim Strategic Neighbourhoods Director.

Since the City's hugely successful year as European Capital of Culture in 2008, Claire has led the legacy programme in Liverpool supporting and funding 35 cultural organisations, she sits on the City Region's Cultural Partnership and the Visitor Economy Board and is a Town Centre Commissioner for the City Region and has been appointed as Vice Chair UK City of Culture board.

Claire has just recently been part of a vigorous judging process which has resulted in Bradford being named as UK City of Culture in 2025; the transformative title will see Bradford place culture at the heart of strengthening and growing their local area, following in the footsteps of Liverpool and taking key learnings from Claire on how to achieve this.

A well respected and frequently sought after national and international advisor and speaker on best practice in culture, Claire has overseen the biggest events Liverpool has ever staged including the 3 installations of the Giants, the 3 Cunard Queens on the Mersey in 2016 and the 2019 and 2022 Liverpool Football Club victory parades.

Director of Culture Liverpool and Interim Strategic Neighbourhoods Director, Claire McColgan, said:- "I am truly made up to receive the CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours and am humbled that I have been recognised nationally for the work I deliver, which has roots in this City that I love. There are always loads of people behind these awards; they are never about the individual, and I'd like to thank the Culture Liverpool team, who I truly love. They have delivered every mad idea (and stopped me from some) and made me laugh every single day. From the newest recruit to the ones who have been there with me through it all, the City is lucky to have these unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Liverpool retains its cultural crown at all times. I'd also like to thank Liverpool City Council because over the last 20 years it has given me and the brilliant creatives of this City and beyond, the chance to prove that with a long term vision, legacy is not just a nice to have, it can transform the economic prosperity of a place. As public servants, ambition and integrity is at the heart of what we do; we are not simply minding a place, we are trying to make it the best it can be and places like Liverpool, with its independent, funny and compassionate personality, are a gift for artists and creatives everywhere. So for a girl from Corby thank you for the recognition, thanks to my team but above all, thanks to the best platform in the world."

Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said:- "I've been lucky enough to work closely with Claire for over a year now and it's no surprise to me that she has been awarded this title. Claire's work ethic and that of her team is unrivalled and the roll call of events they have been responsible for just goes to show why Liverpool is always placed on a pedestal when it comes to culture. Being part of the Events Research Programme was a real landmark moment for the City, and was testament to the unsurpassable events reputation which has been forged under Claire's leadership. I'd like to congratulate Claire and the team on this well deserved honour, and here's to a Damehood next!"

Sir Phil Redmond CBE said:- "This is a very well deserved award to a person who has continually put the ingredients in the rocket fuel that has driven Liverpool since 2008."

Sarah Maxfield, North Area Director, Arts Council England, said:- "For more than a decade Claire has driven an events programme of national and international significance for Liverpool City Council, putting the City on the map as 1 of the UK's most important cultural destinations and making culture and tourism 1 of the most significant parts of the local economy. Over the past couple of years through the Pandemic she has spearheaded measures within Liverpool to keep the culture sector alive as Covid shut down venues, cancelled events and put freelancers' work on hold. Claire loves her job with a passion, loves her City and is passionate about bringing great culture and events to the people of Liverpool. It's fantastic to see her get this recognition and is so well deserved."

The ERP was used to provide key scientific data into how events for a range of audiences could be permitted to safely reopen as part of the roadmap out of lockdown; the review was crucial to how venues could operate when they reopened in the  summer of 2021.

Liverpool hosted 4 events attended by 13,258 people:-

► The Good Business Festival, on Wednesday, 28 April 2022.


► The 1st Dance nightclub event hosted by Circus which took place over 2 nights, from:- Friday, 30 April 2022 and Saturday, 1 May 2022.


► Sefton Park Music Festival with Blossoms headlining; Sunday, 2 May 2022.

Following Liverpool's pilot events, public health officials and scientists found that they did not cause any detectable spread of Covid19 across the Region.

How Brave Stories Of Suicide Could Save Young Lives

A North West based charity has launched a powerful video campaign to show how suicide can touch the lives of everyone. 10 people share personal stories of grief and loss and explain why it is so important to talk openly about suicide. PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide says the campaign To My Fellow sends out a positive message of hope.  Moving videos feature parents whose children took their own lives, bereaved siblings and those who have lost close friends to suicide.

Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of PAPYRUS, which has its head office in Warrington, said:- "These are the stories of the bereaved, those who have had thoughts of suicide, those who have tried to take their own lives and those who have supported loved ones who are struggling with life. Everyone's story is different. When you watch and listen you will be struck by the pain and devastation of lives lost to suicide. The videos illustrate that suicide doesn't discriminate. How people of:- all ages, race, gender and background, are susceptible to suicidal thought and behaviour."

To My Fellow also features videos of a faith leader, an artist, a migrant and a Counsellor, each delivering a personal message. Helen, a mother, tells how 1 of her 3 children started having suicidal thoughts at the age of 14. Thanks to the continuing support of the family, her daughter went on to University, has a professional career and is busy making a life for herself.

Ged Flynn added:- "I would like to thank everyone who agreed to take part in this campaign and bravely share their experiences of suicide. The videos emphasise the need for us all to talk about suicide, to open up and create safe places where our children and young people can share their thoughts and fears. We need to be having open and honest conversations, reassuring them that they are supported, that they don't need to struggle alone and they can reach out for help."

To My Fellow can be viewed on the PAPYRUS website.