St George’s Hall Liverpool, one of Britain’s most beloved buildings, is to become the city’s focal point for remembering the Covid-19 pandemic.
To commemorate five years since the pandemic began, a national Covid-19 Day of Reflection will take place on Sunday, 9 March.
In Liverpool, the Great Hall in St George’s Hall will be transformed into a special space for people to visit, remember those we lost, acknowledge and celebrate all the acts of kindness that took place across our communities and reflect on the profound impact of the pandemic on our everyday lives.
The stunning venue will be beautifully illuminated by paper lanterns, representing the challenges people lived with throughout the pandemic – whether that be the loss of a loved one, isolation, economic hardship or mental health struggles, but also acknowledging the tremendous resilience shown throughout.
A gentle and poignant soundscape will play, creating an ambience for quiet contemplation, and a Book of Commemoration will allow people to leave a message of reflection if they wish to do so.
Members of the public are invited to reflect on their experiences and memories within the Grade I listed neo-classical masterpiece, situated off Lime Street, which will be open from 10am-4pm for this unique event.
The event has been organised by Liverpool City Council and the lanterns will be supplied by local arts organisation, the Lantern Company.
Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, Matthew Ashton, said:
“Every single one of us has been affected by Covid. The intensity of our shared experience should never be underestimated – along with the disease itself, we had to juggle not being able to see our family and friends, social distancing, wearing face coverings, working from home, home schooling – all of which have impacted on our individual mental health and wellbeing, and on the health and economic prosperity of our city overall.
“Thankfully we are well into our recovery journey, and one of the most important lessons we have learnt, is the power of strong communities and partnerships. Throughout, stakeholders from across the city have worked closely with health professionals to ensure the best outcomes for our communities, and although the pandemic may be over, these partnerships will continue to provide support in this recovery phase.
“Liverpool’s event is a way for us to process what has happened over the past five years and I encourage people to take some time out of their day, honour those we lost and celebrate all of our remarkable achievements during this unprecedented period.”
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