Make Your Own Liverpool

I recently developed a short project for National Museums Liverpool, exploring the nature of Liverpool from the point of view of young people seeking asylum. Their experience of what Liverpool is differs greatly from the 'official' Liverpool (which itself has been distilled down to 4 or five marketing motifs - the Cathedrals, Liver Building, Radio City tower and SuperLambBananas). Together in the first session we developed a model, and whilst there was a Lamb Banana and also a Cathedral, there was no Liver Building.

What we learned was that their model of Liverpool existed beyond the city centre - Smithdown Road way was important, the Polish Food shop on Picton road was mentioned too. More significantly though, in the City Centre, it was places like McDonalds, Primark, Home Bargain, and the Liverpool One shopping district that were most important. In short, commercial spaces make up Liverpool for young people in general, and perhaps for these young people in particular. For one young person, the Apple Store was very important as it was exactly the same as the one in her home country, and so reminded her of home. McDonalds again has this quality, plus it is cheap and a good social space.