Culture capital opportunities must be seized; IN ASSOCIATION WITH Rensburg Sheppards.

Byline: Matt Johnson

SO HERE we are. Liverpool IS European Capital of Culture.

It's been a long time coming, almost five years since the prize was awarded, but we're up and running now with one of the greatest opportunities we have enjoyed in recent years arising all around us.

The official kick-off may not take place until the weekend after next, but for many, and crucially for many outside Merseyside, Liverpool's year in the spotlight started before Christmas with the Turner Prize, the Royal Variety Performance and the Liverpool Nativity securing massive television audiences.

That's proved to be a winning line-up for starters.

Look ahead to the full programme of events which will follow next week's opening ceremonies, and throughout 2008 we are going to find ourselves more in the spotlight than out of it.

So what does it all mean for businesses (large and small) in Merseyside?

The answer, surely, must be a lot.

Throughout the five years since Liverpool won this title, there has been a heady mix of controversy and condemnation surrounding the city's plans for its big year.

Negative perceptions which can do so much damage to people's confidence have, it has to be said, been reinforced by some of the fights and fall-outs.

Forget all that and look to the future and the unique opportunity we can all share.

Sharing the chance costs nothing, but we'll all pay a price for squandering it. No other city in the world has the designation Liverpool enjoys this year. Few other cities could produce a programme of events and activities quite like the Liverpool 2008 Cultural Programme; ask yourself where else the Nativity story could be given that sort of treatment to such widespread critical acclaim?

And ask yourself when Liverpool last demonstrated such a collective spring in its step, when it displayed its confidence to the outside world in such a way. This confidence is critical. The scale and scope of investment and regeneration taking place in this region reflects a new confidence among investors and developers. And it's an invaluable commodity whose stock is surely going to rise still further.

WE'VE never had a better reason to talk this city up, and nor have we regularly had such a receptive audience ready to see for themselves that we are open for business.

So, if it's not too late for New Year resolutions, how about making sure everyone in your business does their bit by sharing the excitement and opportunity of our year as European Capital of Culture.

The stage is set. Let's get on and make it a show to remember.

MATT JOHNSON is chairman of Mando Group

CAPTION(S):

Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger, right, receives his award from Dennis Hopper