Giant eggs designed by children from across the Liverpool City Region and the Ukrainian community are going on display in Liverpool as the city prepares for both Easter and Eurovision.
Inspired by the Ukrainian and Eastern European tradition of egg painting, Pysanka Eggs is a partnership between Liverpool City Council and Liverpool ONE.
The designs reflect Ukrainian culture and traditions, those of the other competing Eurovision countries and the wider Liverpool City Region communities.
The display – which will be situated in Liverpool ONE – features seven eggs, one for each city region, plus an additional egg to represent Ukraine:
- Sounds We Love by Nicola McGovern with St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School in Bootle (Sefton)
- The Murdichords Caring Owl by Caroline Daly with Murdishaw West Community Primary School in Runcorn (Halton)
- Nadiya [pronounced na-dee-ya] by MrASingh with St Paul and St Timothy’s Catholic Infant School in West Derby and Anfield Primary (Liverpool)
- Peggy by Pamela Sullivan with Castleway Primary, Leasowe Primary, Eastway Primary and Hayfield School (Wirral)
- Singing Nightingale Watch in the Meadow by Jo Eyles with St Joseph the Worker Catholic Primary School in Kirkby (Knowsley)
- Vision by Ruta Staseviciute with Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School (St Helens)
- Peaceanka by Ruta Staseviciute in partnership with Ukrainian Children’s Choir working with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain
The project is part of EuroLearn, made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund with additional support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Funding from Spirit of 2012 will also support EuroLearn, as well as the future evaluation of Eurovision’s benefit to the city region.
Led by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team, alongside a wide range of creative partners, this is the first time a host city has offered an engagement programme of this scale. The community activity was an integral part of the successful bid and one of the main reasons that Liverpool was chosen to host the song contest on behalf of Ukraine.
Alongside the display, an online artist-developed resource pack is available to download via the Culture Liverpool website, enabling not only schools, but people of any age to get involved.
Artist Pamela Sullivan said: “Every school has been incredible. The designs are beautiful and so full of love and support for the people of Ukraine, but also full of hope too. Talking to the children about their designs and why they made them has been really inspiring. The children have shown nothing but empathy and understanding for people not just from Ukraine but from all over the world who have come to our country in desperate need of our help and support.”
Jessica Barnes, Year 6 pupil from Anfield Primary School, said: “I really liked doing the project. I liked how our designs contributed to the final egg design. I’m very excited and proud that everyone will get to see the egg and that I was a part of it, as not many people got chosen to be a part of the project. The thing that surprised me the most about the egg was the size of it – I didn’t think it would be that big. The pattern was detailed and I liked that the artist was able to describe why he did certain things. I loved working with the artist because I got to work with someone who was talented at what they do.”
Claire McColgan CBE, Director of Culture Liverpool, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to see the culmination of the first EuroLearn project. It’s a special moment for children right across the region, as well as those in our Ukrainian community, to have their artwork on display in a public place which is set to welcome tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world.
“It’s been so heartening to see how the children have embraced the significant cultures and traditions of Ukraine, which are reflected in the designs, and for them to gain a greater understanding of belonging, unity and hope.”
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said: “Liverpool ONE is pleased to work with Culture Liverpool to mark Liverpool hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine with this vibrant public art display on South John Street.
“Thanks to the creativity and collaboration of schoolchildren across Liverpool City Region, members of the Ukrainian community in Liverpool, and local artists, we’ve been able to celebrate Ukrainian culture in the heart of the city with the installation of these beautifully decorated eggs inspired by the pysanka tradition.”
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic to see this part of the EuroLearn programme come to life, bringing together children, young people and artists from across the Liverpool city region to connect with and share, not only the rich heritage of Eurovision and their home city, but also the significant cultures and traditions of Ukraine. We’re delighted that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we are supporting the EuroLearn programme.”
From the archives: Liverpool ONE unveils Eurovision celebration plans.