Liverpool offers 'free' culture

Liverpool is offering its residents 300,000 free arts tickets

Liverpool's residents are set to receive free theatre, music and arts tickets worth more than £250,000 on Monday.

Liverpool City Council has joined forces with the Liverpool Cultural Company to offer what they regard as the UK's largest "cultural giveaway".

More than 30,000 2-for-1 tickets - valid at eight cultural centres - will be enclosed in council tax letters.

Organisers say they hope to bring new audiences to the city's attractions.

Cllr Mike Storey, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: "It's a testament to the city's cultural prowess that it can offer such a high quality cocktail of culture for free.

"No city in Britain has delivered a package on this scale before - and very few could match our offer.

"Artists constantly say how knowledgeable and lively our audiences are. That is a reputation we want to foster."

"Thank you"

Since Liverpool won the right to be European Capital of Culture in 2008, its attractions have recorded a high increase in attendances.

The city's collection of museums and galleries alone witnessed a 29% rise in visitor figures last year.

Cllr Warren Bradley, executive member for Leisure and Culture, said: "This offer shows that the judges chose Liverpool to be the European Capital of Culture in 2008 for good reason.

"Yes, we have exciting plans but culturally Liverpool is a centre of excellence now.

"And crucially it was the people of Liverpool who clinched it for us. So this is our way of saying thank you - and enjoy!"

Venues included in the "cultural giveaway" include tickets for the Tate Liverpool, the Everyman Theatre and a chance to hear the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Ravi Shankar.