The Mayor of Liverpool has hit back at critics of a grant scheme launched to encourage communities to engage with Eurovision.
Liverpool Council has launched the next part of its song contest engagement programme with the chance for communities to bring their own projects to life. Following on from EuroFest, the two-week cultural festival, and the education programme EuroLearn, EuroStreet will ensure that communities across the city can be a part of the continent wide event and its legacy.
EuroStreet will focus events on four areas including Festival of Europe, celebrating the culture and heritage of the Eurovision nations. Songs for Europe will feature live participatory performances touring residential care settings while food, music and crafts will feature at solidarity disco banquets.
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Chess for Everyone will also be launched to recognise the popularity of the game in Ukraine. A full programme is to be confirmed.
Alongside that, grants of £2,000 are also to be made available to get community Eurovision ideas off the ground. This money is to be provided in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Taking to Twitter, Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson hit back at critics of the programme and sought to set the record straight. She said: “There seems to be a lot of confusion, so let me clarify.
“This opportunity is funded through The National Heritage Lottery, DCMS and Spirit of 2012 - i.e. of NO cost to the council / residents. Now, can we get back to actually celebrating something positive for the city?”
Community organisations and groups as well as schools from across the city region are now invited to apply to fund projects which will take place in May or June. Projects should use Eurovision as their inspiration, focusing on local cultures, memories and the heritage of the region’s communities.
Applications from not-for-profit organisations will take precedence and projects and events should be free or low cost to attend. Applications for grants of up to £2,000 must be received by 5pm on Wednesday March 29.
Culture Liverpool will be joined by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in deciding which projects are successful with decisions being made by the end of the first week of April.
Last year the local authority confirmed it would put up £2m to fund the hosting of Eurovision, which was match funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Last month the UK Government confirmed it would provide £10m for the series of events to be held across the first two weeks of May.
The countdown has officially started. Join our Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool Facebook group
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