Calls have been made for greater focus to be made on developing Southport’s arts and culture potential.
This year has seen a number of new cultural events taking place led by Sefton Council and Culture Liverpool, such as Books Alive, the Big Top Festival and Lightport.
Last year saw the return of the Southport Arts Festival, organised by Tony Wynne and his team.
Southport councillor John Pugh would like to see more done to market Southport’s art and cultural potential.
He said: “The strategy that goes back 30 years is fundamentally right, but it’s not something that a council can deliver by itself.
“Events beyond its control like the closure of Broadhurst’s bookshop can undermine progress – just as other commercial developments can support it.
“The paradox is that Southport has a really big ‘arts and craft’ base and history, but this project has struggled for some while – sometimes because events, activities and craft shops pop up scattered all over the place.
“There is though a known commercial benefit in clustering and a craft shop that is hanging on in a side street can prosper when similar businesses trade side by side and an area acquires an identity, becomes a quarter.
“Getting that to happen is down to marketing – successful marketing of Southport’s Market (Arts) Quarter – explaining the idea and hoping those in the community respond – particularly those who combine artistic aspiration with business know-how.
“Whether Market St becomes the new Montmartre or a mini one isn’t something a council can make happen. Art and culture belong to the people, not the Town Hall.
“There have been commendable attempts to mount an annual Southport Arts Festival but that’s not the same as having a sustainable marketplace and focus for arts and crafts.”
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