Liverpool built on its 2008 European Capital of Culture success to pull off hosting a “supersized” and “incredible” Eurovision Song Contest, according to the Director of Culture at Liverpool City Council Claire McColgan.
The competition came to a conclusion on Saturday night, May 13, with Sweden's Loreen being crowned winner at a packed out M&S Bank Arena. It also rounded off a near two week long cultural programme which saw a range of art installations and performances take place across the city, many of which were held at the hugely popular Eurovision Village at the Pier Head.
Writing for the city council before “the numbers regarding economic impact and the crunching of figures come out”, the culture chief, who has overseen the city’s preparations and wider programming for Eurovision, touched on what many have viewed as a resounding success for Liverpool. Earlier this week Eurovision Song Contest's directing supervisor, Martin Österdahl, praised Liverpool for doing a "spectacular" job in hosting the showpiece event.
READ MORE: Eurovision in Liverpool - a beautiful, brilliant, bonkers dream
Ms McColgan said: “Over the last two weeks in Liverpool we have shown the UK and the rest of the world that if you invest in culture properly, if you have the right people with the right attitude, magic can - and will - happen.
“If councils across the country are looking at Liverpool now they will see the power of investing in culture over the long term. Because this city learnt how to do this in 2008 and built on that success with great thought, great passion and great commitment through a sometimes stormy backdrop.”
Many view the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008 as a defining moment in the city’s rebirth as a centre for tourism after working to overturn decades of stagnation and hardship. Speaking to the ECHO earlier this week the Director of Culture said Eurovision was “more impactful” than the celebrations 15 years earlier as the city now had a strong track record for events and was no longer in a position of “still trying to prove ourselves”.
Outlining for the City Council what added to the party atmosphere and made Eurovision such a good fit for the city, Ms McColgan added: “Liverpool is different, Liverpool is complex. And that’s why I love it. It has highs and lows like nowhere else.
“It has a big outspoken heart and an opinion for basically everything. It is contrary and confrontational. Kind and emotional. And it loves to party.
“That’s why Eurovision has supersized here. Everything that is brilliant about Eurovision, especially this special year that we are hosting it on behalf of Ukraine, fits with Liverpool.
“The bonkers-ness, the brashness, the heart and the authenticity, everything we have done has had Ukraine in the centre of it, because that is who we are.”
Order your 48-page Eurovision souvenir guide from our online shop
READ NEXT:
Eurovision hosts Rylan Clark and Scott Mills rescued by emergency services
Live updates as Liverpool celebrates Eurovision final in city and EuroVillage
Courier caught with £250k of cocaine previously organised million pound cannabis plot
Eurovision's Graham Norton flooded with support as he issues apology to Liverpool
George at Asda shoppers love 'cute' pink denim shacket that's 'worth the money'
