Creative Communities > Culture and Devolution > Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Culture and Devolution

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Culture and Devolution

Culture Devolution:

In the Liverpool City Region Devolution Deal, the Government commits to working with Liverpool City Region to support a place-based strategy and the city region’s plans for a Local Cultural Partnership (LCP). The Liverpool City Region will engage with the Government to explore options around a sustainable and viable business model for National Museums Liverpool, ensuring they continues to make a strong and sustainable contribution to the city region’s cultural infrastructure and visitor economy offer. The Government notes that Liverpool city region will work to realise Liverpool’s ambition to develop a National Migration Museum to reflect its international heritage and contemporary future. Recognising Liverpool’s status as the UK’s European Capital of Culture 2008 and the work undertaken to harness that legacy, the Government welcomes Liverpool’s move to develop this legacy further and share its learning.

Autumn 2024 Budget:

The Government is implementing an integrated settlement for Liverpool City Region from the start of the 2026-27 financial year. The Government has confirmed investment in the Liverpool Central Docks to deliver up to 2,000 homes and transform the waterfront. The Government is also increasing the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, which are funding projects such as Liverpool’s Baltic Railway Station. The government is extending 100% business rates retention arrangements for Liverpool City Region for 2025-26.

Culture Strategy:

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority outline their commitment to Culture and Creativity via their Culture and Creativity hub, where they commit to supporting a vibrant Liverpool City Region that’s a great place to live, work and visit and where creative talent can flourish.

Current Culture Projects:

  • One Percent for Culture:Liverpool City Region has committed to spending the equivalent of 1% of its annual £30 million devolution funding from government to support cultural activities.
  • Mayor Steve Rotheram announced plans to ‘remix the music sector’ by embracing AI and VR to future-proof music tourism, recording and education, through four interlinked projects with a multi-million-pound economic impact. Proposals are expected to be funded by private sector sources with Government support, with Universal expressing commitment. Draft business cases, funded by monies received from DCMS, will be presented to Government in coming weeks with detailed plans announced in 2025. The four projects are:
    • The Music Futures Lab – this R&D lab facility will bring together music businesses and musicians from across the creative and digital sectors.
    • MusicFutures Cluster – a mix of academic and private sector bodies creating the talent and training pipeline to make the most of the facilities which the music lab will offer. A Creative Cluster has already been established to kickstart this R&D in bringing together the music and creative industries.
    • Immersive Liverpool– audio and visual visitor attraction with a rotating set of experience ‘residencies’. Liverpool City Council is undergoing a site selection process and is in partnership with industry leaders to help develop the scheme.
    • Recording and Rehearsal space – this space would become a new rehearsal home for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a leading national facility for emerging and established artists.
  • LCRCA has been appointed by Arts Council England to lead a new regional Music Hub providing high-quality music education for children and young people from September 2024. It will receive £2m to coordinate music education and a further £663,000 to invest in new musical instruments, equipment and technology, including for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The new Hub will work with the Liverpool City Region Music Board.
  • LCR Production Fund: This City Is Ours, a new BBC crime drama from the award-winning creators of The Crown, is the latest project to receive investment from the Liverpool City Region Production Fund. LCR Production Fund was launched by Mayor Steve Rotheram, supported by £3m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The fund has already led to 402 full time equivalent jobs and provided opportunities for local crew and over 34 trainees.
  • A further £17m has been committed to developing The Depot – two 22,000 sq ft film and TV studios now open off Liverpool’s Edge Lane – and larger studios in the adjacent Littlewoods building. 

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