Liverpool reflects on Eurovision success with free event this week at ACC Liverpool

A day dedicated to exploring what is being hailed as one of the most successful Eurovision host city programmes ever is taking place in Liverpool next month.

On 26 October Liverpool Calling will take over ACC Liverpool, bringing together for the first time many of the teams that curated and delivered Eurovision in May.

The free event will see the exclusive reveal of the initial Eurovision impact figures – including:

The amount of money generated for the city
Official visitor figures
The numbers Involved in all elements of the host city programme – from the Eurovison Village right through to the community and engagement programmes
Cultural diplomacy – how did it make people feel about Liverpool and the UK.

Headline speakers in the morning will include: Culture Liverpool Director Claire McColgan, CBE; the BBC’s Company Secretary and Chief of Staff Phil Harrold; and Professor Matt Ashton, Liverpool’s Director of Public Health.

The afternoon will be dedicated to hearing first-hand from some of the key figures behind the entire host city programme – the biggest of its kind – gaining an insight into the complexities of staging a global event on behalf of a country at war, in just a matter of months.

Headline speakers for the afternoon will include: Managing Director Eurovision 2023 Martin Green, CBE; CEO of Visit Britain Patricia Yates; Editor in Chief at StandOut Magazine Caroline Clift; Music Marketing Lead at Tik Tok Europe, Africa and Middle East Maria Panayi; and Board Director at CIPR, Hayley James.

Breakout sessions will focus on different aspects of Liverpool’s Eurovision experience and evaluation including:

Operational delivery
Public health and wellbeing impact
Cultural programming and diplomacy
Education and community impact
Funding
Visitor Economy
The Impact of Major Events on Cities
PR and communications

And of course, there will be a touch of that Eurovision sparkle throughout the event with music performances.

Liverpool Calling is aimed at everyone – those interested in finding out more about staging major events – whether they’re students or already in the industry, professionals who want to hear best practice examples relating to their specialty, organisations who want tips on how to fund or access funding for events, volunteers who played a part in the two weeks, and maybe even Eurovision fans who want a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how unique showcase continuously grabbed the headlines.

The day is separated in to two parts – the morning will focus on impact and evaluation, and the afternoon will shine a spotlight on the expert panel sessions. Those interested can attend the full day, or just choose the morning or afternoon timeslots.

For full details to register head to https://www.cultureliverpool.co.uk/liverpool-calling-and-the-results-are-in/

The evaluation and research reports have been independently collated by the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Hull, with consultants from the University of Brighton, the University of Southampton, Royal Holloway (University of London), Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Amion Consulting.

Liverpool Calling is supported by Liverpool City Council, Liverpool BID Company and The ACC Liverpool Group.

Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, said:

“Despite Eurovision taking place more than four months ago, I don’t think a day goes by when someone doesn’t raise the subject with me.

“It was undoubtedly a milestone moment for the city and ‘Liverpool Calling’ is the chance to find out what it really meant to the city in terms of its impact. We are expecting big numbers – it exceeded all our expectations and we know we have unapologetically set the bar incredibly high for future Eurovisions.

“It will also be amazing to see most of Team Eurovision reunited for the first time since May and actually hear in person people’s experiences. It’s an opportune chance for us to learn as we always should in this industry – what can we do better or differently – and bring that learning to future events. It promises to be a fascinating day and I can’t wait to relive this city’s unique, bonkers, wonderful Eurovision journey.”

Eurovision. Credit: Liverpool City Council

Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company, said:

“One of the messages we’ve had from businesses throughout the city is that the impact of Eurovision hasn’t just been in the two weeks around the final, but that it’s ripples have spread further into the future.

“We have seen both increased footfall and an increase in hotel stays over the summer which have shown that the raising of Liverpool’s profile is being both seen and felt.

One key legacy we would like to see is the continuation of partners working together. Eurovision showed our capability and capacity for collaboration which shows that when we all come together with a shared purpose we are unstoppable.”