Liverpool to host pre-Eurovision cultural festival

Liverpool will host a cultural festival in the lead up to next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in May.

Culture Liverpool has put out a call for 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”.

Liverpool is hosting next year’s Eurovision in place of Ukraine which won last year’s competition but is unable to host due to Russia’s ongoing invasion.

The lead-up festival will “act as a platform for modern Ukraine,” Culture Liverpool has said.

Prospective commissions should either look to bring together UK and Ukrainian artists to showcase modern Ukrainian culture, celebrate the power of music to bring communities together, or draw on the history of Eurovision and its relationship with Liverpool.

Up to £125,000 is available for large scale projects and up to £25,000 for medium scale projects.

Those interested in being involved in the festival are being asked to submit expressions of interest by 12 December, with further information available on Culture Liverpool’s website.