Open Up and Step Up for London 2012!

 

Cultural and creative practitioners across the West Midlands are being urged to ‘Open Up’ and ‘Step Up’ this summer as part of the second nationwide London 2012 Open Weekend.

 

The Open Weekend, which will mark exactly three years until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, will see hundreds of events taking place right across the UK between 24 and 26 July 2009.

 

Last year saw the first Open Weekend with the West Midlands getting right behind the celebrations with some 45 events taking place across the region the 26-28 September 2008. Events ranged from places of interest and natural habitats opening up to the public for the first time, to outdoor theatre performances, live music, a stunt bicycle display, story-telling and dance events on a mass scale.

 

This year, the themes will be ‘Open Up’ and ‘Step Up’ and we’re now looking for cultural events that will form part of the celebrations. We’re interested in any creative and cultural events that could be part of that weekend and particularly any which include an element of dance participation.

 

Information on how to apply to be part of Open Weekend 2009 will be available soon and there will be a further call for sporting and environmental events at a later date. But Paul Kaynes, the West Midlands Creative Programmer for London 2012, would like to hear from cultural organisations, partnerships or individuals with any ideas now.

 

If you’re already planning an event for that weekend – or have an idea that could be part of the fun – why not send a brief email to: culturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk and be part of the UK’s biggest celebration of cultural, environmental and sporting activity!

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

  

Chris Kirkland

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games

Staffordshire County Council

Culture and Libraries

Tipping Street

Stafford

ST16 2DH

 

Direct Line: 01785 854595
Mobile: 07773 791118
Fax: 01785 278319

 

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Chris Kirkland is running the London Marathon on 26 April 2009. In doing so he is hoping to raise lots of money for both Special Olympics Stafford and Special Olympics North Staffordshire. If you would like to sponsor him please send him your name, address and amount you wish to sponsor.

 

E: chris.kirkland@staffordshire.gov.uk