The Eurovision Song Contest is notable for bringing different nations together through music. Eurovision 2023 is a significant moment in time between the UK, Ukraine and Liverpool on an international stage.
About the opportunity
We are looking for a researcher or supplier to respond to two main research questions / areas of interest:
- Eurovision as a vehicle to developing shared values and mutual relationships during a time of conflict, developing a better understanding of Eurovision’s role (or not) in crystalising shared values.
- The role and impact of Eurovision within City Branding and Soft Power. Investigating whether Eurovision gives European nations, and cities, such as Liverpool, a reputation uplift based on the values/characteristics it embodies/showcases each year within the Europe region.
This research commission is designed and delivered in partnership with Liverpool City Council and the maximum budget is £100k inclusive of VAT.
Qualifications required
- Experience of researching / evaluating large scale international cultural events / programmes.
- Knowledge and experience of research methods around soft power and cultural relations.
- The ability to work at speed with a diverse group of partners and stakeholders.
Outputs and deadlines
By mid-June 2023
- First initial report with findings from the first focus group and a paper exploring ‘Eurovision as a vehicle to developing shared values, mutual relationships during a time of conflict’.
By January 2024 (ready for the Eurovision Host City handover to the next Host City in January 2024)
- Full findings and written report with executive summary.
- Summary slide deck including research design / methodology, sampling, and data collection methodology
- A discussion of the research conclusions that are well substantiated by the evidence and data presented and are logically connected to research findings.
Research approach
Through this research commission we propose using a combination of mixed method approaches of qualitative and quantitative research methods:
- Inception, scoping and design of the research approach ahead of Eurovision. This will involve working with partners such as DCMS, BBC, Liverpool City Council and the British Council.
- An international literature review to explore the available current evidence base around the soft power enabled effects of major / large scale cultural events.
- International focus groups over the 6 months post Eurovision 2023 to track the soft power halo effects of Eurovision 2023 across a series of targeted priority European countries (6/7 countries).
- A series of process tracking evaluation and case study interviews with organisers from across partner stakeholder organisations such as the BBC, DCMS and Liverpool City Council to explore the narrative of the UK hosting on behalf of the Ukraine and what was learnt.
- Link to and draw on other international surveys, survey questions, survey approaches such as the British Council’s G20 Survey and the British Council’s UK Ukraine Season evaluation.
About Eurovision 2023
This year Liverpool will host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. The Grand Final will take place in the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 13 May with Semi-Finals on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May.
Football, music and the city welcome are the things Liverpool is known for around the world, but in the last 15 years it is culture and major events which have been at the heart of the city’s renaissance.
Liverpool is getting ready to host Eurovision 2023 and put Ukraine at the heart of this year’s event. A cultural festival will take over the streets of the city and create a moment of collective cultural resilience with Ukraine unlike anything which has gone before.
Key application timelines
| Deadline for clarification questions (where you can ask questions about the opportunity via In-Tend) | 1 March 2023 at 5pm GMT |
| Deadline for submission of proposals by potential suppliers | 16 March 2023 at 4pm GMT |
| Contract concluded with the winning supplier | By 27 March 2023 |
How to apply
This page shows a summarised version of the brief. For a full outline of the research commission, download the Request for Proposals document.
To apply, complete a Supplier Response Form and a Pricing Approach. The Supplier Response form asks you to answer a series of questions, and the pricing approach covers your project budget. Register (if you have not already) for free on our procurement platform In-Tend to ask us any clarification questions, and to submit your application ahead of the deadline.