Developers get dressed up for Liverpool party

Developers in Liverpool are being asked to dress their buildings with artwork leading up to and during the city's European Capital of Culture year in 2008.

Among the first property companies to agree to support the marketing project are Bruntwood, Grosvenor, Downing and Iliad.

A themed series of designs reflecting the history and culture of Liverpool have been drawn up by Liverpool Culture Company to help transform the city and hide eyesore sites.

The artwork will be used to dress hoardings and wrap around scaffolding, as well as being carried on 3,000 lamp-posts.

Downing is considering the artwork for the historic Port of Liverpool Building at the Pier Head, which is currently partly covered by scaffolding while it undergoes refurbishment, due to complete in 2009.

Ian Orton, director of Downing, said: "It seems crucial to us that the public and private sectors work together in this way to ensure that we are collectively managing the appearance and feel of the city during 2008.

"The Port of Liverpool Building is obviously a landmark and we are working closely with the Capital of Culture organisers to make the most of this opportunity."

English Partnerships and Iliad will use the artwork to dress the empty shops outside Lime Street Station and will include the designs on the screening that will be erected once work starts on the new Lime Street Gateway.

Liverpool advertising agency Finch produced the designs and will work with developers who want to use the artwork in order to adapt it to their needs.