West Midlands Cultural Olympiad

 

Below is a snapshot of all things relating to the Cultural Olympiad here in the West Midlands.

 

Latest Research

Latest research indicates that since it launched, around 800,000 people have now taken part in the Cultural Olympiad across the West Midlands. More information.

 

 

London 2012 Torch Relay

Detail of the towns that will be visited en route by the London 2012 Torch Relay will be announced on 7 November. The London 2012 Torch Relay runs from 19 May to 27 July 2012 and will include four overnight stops in the West Midlands: Worcester (24 May), Stoke-on-Trent (30 May), Birmingham (30 June) and Coventry (1 July).

http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay

 

London 2012 Festival

Further detail about the London 2012 Festival will be announced on 4 November. The Festival is the grand finale of the Cultural Olympiad and will run nationwide from 21 June 2012 until the 9 September 2012.

www.london2012.com/festival

 

Already announced for our region as part of the London 2012 Festival are: 

 

The World Shakespeare Festival

Over 70 productions in a UK-wide celebration of Shakespeare as the world’s playwright. Amongst the many exciting performances, events and exhibitions is Forests, inspired by Shakespeare’s heath and forest scenes and directed by Catalan director, Calixto Bieito. Presented by the Birmingham Rep and Barcelona Internacional Theatre in association with the RSC, the production comes to the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham 31 August-15 September 2012.

 

Weltethos
One of three concerts held on the opening night of The London 2012 Festival, the UK premiere of Birmingham-born composer Jonathan Harvey’s Weltethos will be performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Birmingham Symphony Hall on 21 June 2012.

 

Gloria
50 years after the premier of Britten’s War Requiem opened Coventry Cathedral, The CBSO will mark the cathedral’s 50th anniversary with a specially commissioned new work by James MacMillan performed on 23 June 2012 at Coventry Cathedral.

 

Dancing for the Games

Part of our Dancing for the Games programme, 2facedDance’s new triple bill, In the Dust, will be touring the UK and London this month. Dancing for the Games has so far commissioned 25 extraordinary projects aimed at getting as many people in the West Midlands taking part in or experiencing dance by 2012.  

http://dancingforthegames.co.uk/

 

Inspire Programme deadline for applications

Non-commercial projects and events inspired by London 2012 have until 1 December 2011 to apply. Some 1,700 are already signed up to the programme and can use the London 2012 Inspire Mark to demonstrate that their event/project is officially linked to London 2012. Details about the programme and how to apply can be found at:

http://www.wmfor2012.com/inspire-mark/default.aspx

 

Community Games

This summer 200 Community Games events took place across the West Midlands – bringing the total number of people who have taken part so far to 156,000. Community Games encourages local people to create their own Games events in and for their own communities. For more information and tips on how to organise your own Games, visit;

http://www.communitygames.org.uk/

 

Get Set school network – grants available

Grants of up to £8,800 are now available for schools already signed up to the London 2012 Get Set Network who would like to lead a project (be it culture related or otherwise) that will encourage other schools in their area to engage with London 2012. The closing date for applications is 4 November 2011.

Plan your 2012 grant

 

 

Paul Kaynes

West Midlands Creative Programmer, London 2012

 

http://www.wmfor2012.com/themes/culture/default.aspx