London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: guidance for applicants in the
Northwest
The Cultural Olympiad is a four year and UK wide cultural programme which runs from
26th September 2008 to 9th September 2012 for the London2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games. If you have a project or event that you would like to be part of the
London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, you need to apply through the Inspire programme. The
application form is available from your Creative Programmer with guidance notes to help
you tell us what we need to know about your project. If your application is successful,
your organisation will have the right to use the London 2012 Inspire mark for your project
or event which signifies your association with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic
Games. Please contact Debbi.Lander@London2012.com
How we select projects to be part of the Cultural Olympiad
In order for cultural projects to become part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, they
need to show how they:
Would not have happened if the Games were not coming to the UK in 2012;
Are “like never before” – in other words, are either brand new and innovative or build
on your existing work to take bold new steps forward in the spirit of ‘personal best’;
Meet all three values of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad (see below); and
Meet at least three of the themes of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad (see below)
Programming Priorities in the Northwest
The Northwest is curating a distinctive regional programme for the London 2012 Cultural
Olympiad which is made up of three programme strands that develop and showcase its
key regional strengths to the whole of the UK. In the Northwest, the Creative
Programmer will be selecting projects that support the vision and objectives of its three
programme strands.
What we mean by ‘cultural’ projects
We take a broad view of culture. Some examples of what we could consider to be a
cultural event include, but are not limited to, the following: a carnival, concert, display,
exhibition, fete, performance, play, reading, show, workshop or other community event
(in a physical or online environment) involving any one or more of the following:
architecture, archives, carnival and street theatre, crafts, dance, design, fashion, film and
video, food, video games, museums and galleries, music, opera, photography, poetry,
science, theatre, the visual arts, books, publishing, the web and landscape.
To be part of the Cultural Olympiad your project can’t be mainly a sporting or educational
event, although a sporting or education component is fine. Please talk to your Creative
Programmer who will advise whether you should put your project forward for the Inspire
programme through a different channel.
The values of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad
You need to show us how your project:
Celebrates London and the whole of the UK welcoming the world, showing our unique
internationalism, cultural diversity, sharing and understanding;
Inspires and involves young people, for example in the design, development and
delivery of your project; and
Generates a positive legacy, for example through cultural and sports participation,
audience development, cultural skills and capacity building, urban regeneration,
tourism, social cohesion and international linkages.
The themes of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad
You also need to show us how your project does at least three of the following:
Brings together culture and sport
Encourages audiences towards active participation
Animates and humanises public spaces (e.g. street arts, public art, circus skills, live
big screen sites)
Uses culture and sport to raise issues of environmental sustainability, health and
wellbeing
Honours and shares the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Ignites cutting edge collaborations and innovation between communities and the
cultural sectors and
Enhances the learning, skills and personal development of young people by linking
with our education programmes.
The Northwest Programme Strands for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad
Northwest projects needs to support the vision and objectives of one of the following:
Body and Economy explores physical, technological and social concepts of the body.
This programme strand has a focus on igniting cutting edge collaborations between
different sectors such as film and new media, disability, Higher Education, medical
science and biotechnology. With human enhancement being one of the big themes of
the 21st century, what do we mean by fair play, respect and excellence?
Play and Space explores creativity in public and social spaces as a form of play,
dialogue and celebration. This programme strand has a focus on consolidating and
enhancing regional excellence in street arts and outdoor performance. Given the
increasing role that art and creativity plays in regeneration, community development and
social inclusion, what do we mean by taking part?
Routes and Trails connects disparate sites, locations, cultures and communities
through cultural trails. This programme strand has a focus on promoting the region’s
history, landscape and cultural attractions through connecting culture and sport/physical
activity. In a society increasingly in movement and motion, what and where is our place
on the map?