With the Eurovision Song Contest simply days away, the preparations within the stand-in host metropolis of Liverpool are effectively beneath manner.
The Eurovision Village is beneath building, and there is a distinctly Ukrainian really feel down at Pier Head.
Eurovision will happen in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host the competitors on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, which won the last contest.
Some 24 installations, 19 of them by Ukrainian artists, are in place to replicate that connection. Among them are the Soloveiko songbirds, a collaboration between UK, Ukraine and Australian primarily based artists.
Simone Chua, from artwork group Amigos & Amigos, is a part of the collective. She stated: "It's important for us to talk about what's happening over there, but to bring some positive stories about Ukraine too."
Claire McColgan is Liverpool's director of tradition and is overseeing the artwork installations and the creation of the Eurovision Village.
"There's a whole food program of Ukrainian food," she stated.
"There's also a Ukrainian village being built here to show off the culture, and there are commissions to make people think a little more deeply about exactly why the contest is here."
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It would be the first time the competitors has been held within the UK for 25 years.
There have been some considerations, primarily over ticket availability and the likelihood of a rail strike on the weekend of the ultimate.
The metropolis stays undeterred although, and its EuroFestival begins as we speak and lasts for 2 weeks.
The first semi-final will get beneath manner on 9 May, with the second on 11 May, and the ultimate on 13 May.
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