Some of the first details of plans for Liverpool's Eurovision Song Contest festivities next year have been revealed.
Six weeks ago there were celebrations across the city as Liverpool was named as the host city for May's international showpiece spectacular, edging out Glasgow in the final round.
The UK is stepping in to host next year's contest in place of this year's winners Ukraine, who are unable to play host because of the ongoing Russian invasion. Liverpool has vowed to honour the people and the spirit of Ukraine.
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Six weeks on from that day of celebrations, some early plans for the cultural festival that will take over the city in the run up to Eurovision have been revealed.
The Culture Liverpool team has begun to make its winning bid a reality by issuing a callout to artists, creatives, makers, musicians and performers for ideas towards creating an inclusive, thought-provoking, entertaining and diverse cultural festival in the lead up to May’s main event.
The festival will include a series of commissions, events and installations which will celebrate UK music, Eurovision and most importantly, act as a platform for showcasing modern Ukraine.
The commissioning callout is in three categories:
UK and Ukraine
These commissions will bring together Ukrainian and UK-based artists and producers to collaborate on creating new projects which capture the ambition and energy of modern Ukraine. Artists can come from any discipline, although there is a particular interest in large-scale outdoor works and installations.
Each commission must bring together a Ukrainian artist, creative or collective with a UK counterpart. Applications from Ukrainian nationals living in Ukraine or outside of the UK are welcome, and support will be given to match those individuals with a UK collaborator.
Music United
These commissions will celebrate the power of music to bring communities together. They will encapsulate the joy and congregation which music can bring across boundaries, ages and backgrounds.
Eurovision in Liverpool
These commissions will be a celebration of the joy, diversity of spirit, plurality of opinion and "sheer fabulousness of Eurovision" taking place in the heart of Liverpool. They may draw on the history of the competition, or look to its future, or simply revel in what it stands for.
Culture Liverpool said anyone interested must:
- Have a history of creating high quality work of scale, ambition and accessibility.
- Be willing to work in collaboration with other artists and producers.
- Deliver breath-taking work in a short timeframe.
Applications are welcome from creatives who live in the nations competing in Eurovision 2023 and in particular from artists from Ukraine and from the Liverpool City Region.
The deadline for expressions of interest is midday Monday 12 December 2022. Those successful in this first stage will be given an initial £2k funding to formally develop their proposal.
The countdown has officially started. Join our Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool Facebook group
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