A Ukrainian artist who came to Liverpool after fleeing war has had her work featured on a landmark city centre building.
Mariana Potetenko fled her home in Kyiv in June last year with her two daughters and the family dog to begin a new life in the city. She answered the call out to artists for Eurovision-themed shop window art with an image featuring the 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra and UK runner-up Sam Ryder.
The Liverpool BID Company, who launched the scheme to decorate shop fronts, were so impressed with the stunning artwork that they displayed it on the hoarding outside the Lyceum building on Bold Street. Mariana enrolled on a digital design-themed Skills Bootcamp funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority after moving to Liverpool last year.
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She said: “I came to Liverpool in June last year because of the war and started working as an artist and medical interpreter. The bootcamp changed everything for me because it provided me with new knowledge, skills and opportunities – I still can’t believe that I am seeing my design on such a huge scale and everybody can see it as well.
“I am a huge fan of Eurovision and it was supposed to be in Ukraine but unfortunately, due to the war, it is here, in the city where I am. I still can’t believe it. I will watch it on TV and be proud for my country.”
The skills bootcamp programme is to expand into more job sectors after securing a further £8.2m funding. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “People across our region have opened up their hearts and homes to thousands of Ukrainian refugees over the past year – and we want to ensure they feel a real sense of belonging in our community.
“By giving people like Mariana the opportunity to access training, not only are we helping people’s creativity to flourish, we are helping them to gain the knowledge and skills they need to start to build a better future for their families.” Mariana took part in the course at Square One Training in Birkenhead, covering a variety of programmes such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Premiere Pro.
Lisa Johnson, managing director, added: “We deliver Skills Bootcamps on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the one Mariana did has allowed her to learn all the key skills to create wonderful masterpieces like this. When she first came to me and told me about her life story I was full of emotion and pride that she had come to Liverpool to live – her story is truly amazing and now she is starting a new life in our wonderful city."
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