| Description | The Keith Hackett collection covers the time Hackett spent in Liverpool between 1982 and 2005, recording the emergence of several creative industries in Liverpool in detail and their role as a cultural, economic and social force in the city at the time, containing working papers, published studies, correspondence, videos, and other records related to Hackett's involvmenet with these cultural projects and organisations.
Arts projects and organisational records include those relating to: Hackett's involvment in the establishment of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), containing background reports cited as evidence for the project, trans-European initiatives, and details of private sector fundraising; North West regional and local projects including SNIP Third Sector Technology Centre, Framework for Change, Toxteth TV, Penny Lane Development Trust, A Foundation with Jayne Casey, MMA with Pete Fulwell, and other projects, some of which overlap with other archival collections related to popular culture and counterculture; Banking on Culture and subsequent Financial Instruments research with ACE, which was the pluralisation of investment funds projects which Hackett initiated and worked on subsequently to LIPA; the Employing Creativity Project funded by NWDA and run through the North West Arts Board which Hackett resigned from part way through due to the project's failures.
The collection also contains Hackett's personal and political and other papers from his time in Liverpool, beginning with his time as Director of the St Helens Play Council, and including New Games Merseyside, Playeducation, Mersesyide Play Work Project, General Arts Officer in Merseyside Arts and then forward into the City Council and beyond as member of NWDA Board, among other roles. This also includes many of his published articles in Stage Newspaper alongside articles from Liverpool Echo, Sunday Times, and more from his time on the City Council, in addition to other press coverage material, the Man From the Pru publicity audit, and a Visionfest brochure from Hackett's time as Joint-Chair of Visionfest.
Notably the collection includes digital format material on 5.25 inch disks containing records related to LIPA. This includes: a video recording of a speech by Paul McCartney at the Brussels Lunch, a trans-European meeting held as part of LIPA's EU development role, which was a turning point for creative industries development and EU support for this; two from LIPA's original recruitment of students and one from the project Act Now in 1986 which was the pre-runner for the Hope Street Project; and various membership cards, councillor IDs, election posters leaflets, and photos from LIPA-related events.
Other notable items include:
The original sketch for a mural which was on Belle Vale Shopping Centre by Gill Hopley, including a scene of New Games being played in Netherley.
A poster for the Asti Teatro 15 festival which Hackett spoke at as one of the trans-national activities led by LIPA as part of LIPA's EU development role. Although there were many other festivals, this is the only one with a recorded poster.
A letter from Paul McCartney thanking Keith Hackett for his work on LIPA's behalf, in addition to photographs of participants in two trans-European meetings. |
| AdminHistory | Born in London in 1954, Keith Hackett’s past jobs include: laboratory technician, bar work, food processing, adventure play-worker, building work and trade union banner making.
Hackett attended Manchester University between 1972 and 1975, studying Geology. In 1979, Keith Hackett's file at Longsight Employment Exchange in Manchester, where he was signing-on, stated simply “this man will never get a job”. This assessment proved accurate and Keith moved through various temporary jobs and unemployment – relocating to Merseyside for work in 1981 (against the prevailing economic tide of the time) to lead the St Helens Play Council.
In 1986, Keith became a registered sole trader, working as ‘a consultant’ – although his business cards later used the term “Expert”. Specialising in employment-related research, strategic planning and project financing, Keith worked with cultural organisations and enterprises, higher education institutions, community organisations, governmental bodies and industry consortia throughout Europe.
Keith Hackett is best known for his detailed knowledge of utilising public and private finances in Europe to grow jobs and generate employment in the less traditional industrial sectors. He also authors and speaks regularly on these topics. Keith Hackett has been various elected representatives and was, from 1987 to 1995, an elected City Councillor in Liverpool for the Abercromby ward.
Keith Hackett moved to Liverpool in 1982, following a decade of political and community activity in Manchester. His move to Liverpool was intentional – motivated by his conscious desire to understand the nature of Europe’s first post-industrial city and participate in its redefinition and remaking. From the moment of his arrival in 1982, Keith threw himself into the cultural, community and political life of the city. |