United by Inclusion – Live from Liverpool

Working with Liverpool City Council to support with the Eurovision Song Contest.

An introduction from Ariel Chapman – Senior Inclusion & Diversity Consultant at Inclusive Employers.

When we first announced our exciting partnership with Liverpool City Council, I reflected on what the contest means to me. You can have a look at the blog here.

The more the team at Inclusive Employers reflected on the contest, the more we realised that we all came to it from a diverse range of experiences. For some of us it’s all about the fun party element, for others it’s about how it brings us all together, and others love the diversity in music and language. We all found that we are united by the contest in the same way that we are united by inclusion.

The theme for this year’s contest is ‘United By Music’ demonstrating the ‘unique partnership between the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Host City Liverpool to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to audiences across the globe and the incredible power of music to bring communities together’. There is nothing quite like the Eurovision Song Contest in bringing so many people together to celebrate diversity.

At first glance, it may not be obvious why Inclusive Employers would be part of this ground-breaking initiative with Liverpool City Council at the Eurovision Song Contest. But inclusion is at the core of the contest- an opportunity to bring together people from across the world for a week-long celebration of musical diversity. This year when Liverpool are hosting on behalf of Ukraine, that unity is more important than ever. 

We are a team united by our drive for inclusion. United for more welcoming, equitable and kinder workplaces. Since we started back in 2011 we have grown to more than 450 member organisations across every sector imaginable and each member brings with them their commitment to inclusive workplaces. A commitment reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2022, 40% of Eurovision entries featured a language other than English, with 16 different languages heard across the participating songs. We will talk about language diversity in a blog later this week, but as throughout the past 67 years, Eurovision has showcased minority and regional languages too, from Crimean Tartar through to Breton and Aramaic. The first artists to use sign language were back in 2005, and it has featured in performances since, with the latest being for France in 2019.  

“I love that I have the chance to hear songs in multiple languages and see the pride people get from performing for their country.”

Emily Pattinson, Senior Inclusion and Diversity Consultant

Aside from language, the contest continues to showcase female artists in comparison to the male-dominated music industry as a whole. In 2022 43% of acts were all female compared to 23% represented on streaming platforms. The contest has always stood for an ‘open, tolerant and united Europe’ and even more so in its platforming of LGBTQ+ icons such as Dana International (Israel, 1998), Conchita Wurst (Austria, 2014) and Duncan Lawrence (Netherlands, 2019). Look out for a blog later this week celebrating the LGBTQ+ icons of Eurovision!

“I love the unapologetic joy of the contest. It’s the epitome of camp to me: incredible staging, music and so much effort going into the show, all the while with a lightness and humour where it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I love the earnest entries and the silly ones, and the diverse range of performers, music and languages. The more I think about it the more I realise how inclusive it is in its spirit!”

Addison Barnett, Director of Impact and Major Programmes

It struck me, whilst writing this blog post that it’s easy to talk about being united by inclusion but sometimes more difficult in practice. It often means we need to have courageous conversations to challenge long-held biases. Sometimes biases we didn’t even think we had, or things we didn’t even consider to be biased thinking at all. That can be tough, and we won’t always get it right the first time.

Part of being united by inclusion is always reflecting and trying to improve. Listening to voices when they tell us something (and I mean truly listening to their concerns with empathy). It sometimes means having to change the way we’ve always done things because there is a better and more inclusive way of doing it.

Our free resources for businesses in Liverpool have guidance on this, particularly around customer experience. What do we do if someone walks into our restaurant or shop, and we aren’t sure how to greet them? What if we’re worried about saying the wrong thing so stay silent instead? What if they’re from a culture or country that we have biased thinking about? This is when being united by inclusion really matters, when we need to hold inclusion and kindness in our heart to overcome some of those barriers, we may not have even realised we had. The Eurovision Song Contest is a great opportunity to see diversity and inclusion in action on a world stage. For a few nights a year we can unite to watch the TV show, dance along in the arena or listen on the radio and celebrate the amazing diversity our world has to offer. It helps us to see the human beings behind the flag of a country, to enjoy their culture and to open our minds to something different.

“It’s my friends birthday mid-May, so we always end up getting together for some kind of social event (aka a party) on Eurovision. It’s become a bit of a tradition. I’ve just called them my friends, but they are in fact my family. Last year we watched the whole event while playing Eurovision bingo, everyone got involved from the little kids to the supposedly grown adults, it was a lot of silly fun. On reflection it was so lovely to look around that room and see all the different generations getting excited, arguing about the quality of the acts, having different opinions and rooting for different countries. For me its about having a good time with people you choose to be around.”

Sharon Cooper, Head of Organisational Development

For lots of us, we unite around the TV, or in a venue to watch the show together. Bringing together all generations and all backgrounds to enjoy the show. If we are in a venue, it’s so important that the customer-facing staff understand their diverse customers’ needs. It could be the bar staff needing to know a bit more about pronouns or making sure the venue is accessible for people with visible and non-visible disabilities.

Our free inclusion toolkits for business’ in Liverpool have helped hundreds of local organisations plan for this. If we understand the needs of our customers better, then we can serve them better and we’re more likely to have repeat custom. Personally, I know I will return to a café or shop that has made me feel welcome and safe.

Across our team we began to realise that our values as an organisation align perfectly with the values of the Eurovision Song Contest and Liverpool City Council’s aim to provide the warmest of welcomes to visitors to the city. At Inclusive Employers, that inclusive spirit lives on in our continued work, supporting our members in the UK and beyond. Whilst we’re all busily celebrating the contest this week it has given us further confirmation that providing an inclusive welcome and an inclusive work environment always matters. Between us, Liverpool City Council and the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 we are truly united by inclusion.

“For me, the Eurovision song contest is like Spring bursting through those winter months. It’s vibrant, full of colour, sometimes warming, sometimes not. It brings new energy to the world! Everyone needs a bit of Eurovision in their lives!”

Cheryl Carty, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant