WM Culture Programme: Issue 2, April 2009
Welcome to the second issue of our
newsletter with all the latest
information about plans for the
London 2012 Cultural Olympiad in
the West Midlands.
I’ve now moved to Arts Council
England West Midlands offices and
my new contact details are:
paul.kaynes@artscouncil.org.uk
REGISTRATION FOR OPEN WEEKEND
2009 NOW OPEN
________________________________
Cultural and creative practitioners
across the West Midlands are being
urged to ‘Open Up’ this summer as
part of the second nationwide
London 2012 Open Weekend. The
Open Weekend will mark three years
until the opening ceremony of the
L2012 Olympic Games and 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.
Events ranged from spaces 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 programme will include
cultural, sporting, environmental and
Images Page 1 top) young people perform as part of Big Dance at the launch of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands. Page 1 bottom, left to right) Corner
Shop by Black Country Touring/Foursight Theatre, Open Weekend 08; Motionhouse Dance; Black Voices; Walsall Art Gallery; Orchestra of The Swan.
Images Page 2 left to right) performer at Gigbeth; Routes to Health sculpture trail, Cannock, Open Weekend 08; Civic buildings in Stoke-on-Trent are lit up as part
of Open Weekend 08.
T: 0121 631 5724/ 07545 421725.
We’ve also now had more detail
through from LOCOG about the
L2012 Open Weekend 2009 and
the closing date for the first batch of
proposals for our People Dancing
programme is approaching. There is
more information about both of
these items below.
educational activities and the central
theme is ‘Open Up’ – opening up your
mind/your organisation and being
inspired by and joining in with L2012.
We’re now looking for cultural events
that will form part of those celebrations
and would like to hear from cultural
organisations, partnerships or
individuals with any ideas. We’re
interested in any creative and cultural
events that could be part of the
weekend but particularly those with an
element of dance participation.
If you have an event or idea email us at:
culturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk
and be part of the UK’s biggest
celebration of cultural, environmental
and sporting activity!
PEOPLE DANCING
________________________________
In February we launched People
Dancing - the first of four programmes
that make up the plans for the L2012
Cultural Olympiad in the West
Issue three will be out in June but in the
meantime, if you have any comments,
keep in touch at
culturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk.
Paul Kaynes, WM Creative
Programmer, London 2012
Midlands. The programme is
aimed at getting people across
the West Midlands moving for
themselves and we want to
inspire people of all ages, skills
and abilities to make dance part
of their everyday lives.
Throughout February and March,
over 200 people attended four
events designed to help people
find out more about People
Dancing. There has already been
significant interest in the
programme and it is anticipated
that organisations and individuals
from a variety of sectors including
sport, art, culture, health and
education, will be submitting bids
in the first round of commissions.
Anyone interested in submitting a
bid in this first round is invited to
do so by 8 May. Further
information is available here or
you can email:
peopledancing@artscounci.org.uk
Artists Taking the Lead The West Midlands Cultural
launches Programme

The first of the London 2012 Artists can submit their ideas In addition to national projects International programme
Cultural Olympiad Major online until the 29 May 2009 at with particular resonance in ‘Connections’.
Projects was launched www.artiststakingthelead.org.uk this region (The World A 6-9 month festival in
recently by Arts Council Shakespeare Festival, Film 2011 celebrating our
England and the London The submitted ideas will be Nation and Unlimited), the region’s international links
Organising Committee for the judged by panels in each of the West Midlands will celebrate both here and abroad.
Olympic and Paralympic nations and regions made up of the Cultural Olympiad with its
Games recently (LOCOG). artists, the Creative own regional programme of Some funding for the
Programmers and an Arts activity. Our regional plans regional programme has
‘Artists taking the lead’ is one Council England representative. focus on three selected been sourced but there is
of ten national Major Projects programmes of activity: no central funding.
that will form the centrepiece The Cultural Olympiad is the Additional funding is likely
of the L2012 Cultural official UK-wide cultural People Dancing. to come from a number of
Olympiad to be launched programme for the London 2012 People Dancing is a different sources including
between now and 2012. The Games that will see celebrations programme of activity aimed lottery distributors, local
programme is inviting artists of culture and creativity taking at getting people right across authorities and
of all kinds from across the place in every corner of the UK in the West Midlands dancing commercial sponsorship.
UK to use the nation as a the run up to 2012. There are and having fun!
blank canvas for 12 three main parts to the Cultural Information about People
inspirational commissions Olympiad – mandatory Community Games. Dancing is available here
that will showcase our ceremonies; major national Inspired by William Penny and information about the
creativity to the world. 12 projects; regional programmes Brookes and the Wenlock plans for our other
commissions of up to and Inspire Mark projects. Olympian Games, we want programmes be available
£500,000 will be awarded to people in communities across online soon. In the
create a work of art in each of For further information about the the region to stage their own meantime, click here to
the nine English regions and L2012 Cultural Olympiad visit: Games including sport and email us with any
in Scotland, Wales and www.london2012.com/culture culture. comments and queries
Northern Ireland.

Keeping up to date

A Cultural Olympiad on this scale has not been attempted before and developments are taking place all the time. For the most
up to date information visit:
www.london2012.com

Alternatively if you have a specific query, email us at culturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk

If you would like to be added to or removed from the mailing list, click here marking your email ‘add me’ or ‘remove me’
 Dates for the diary, 2009
May
8 May Deadline for first round of bids for People Dancing programme.
29 May Deadline for Glastonbury short and feature films.
June
23 June Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend 2009 listings go ‘live’ at www.london2012.com
July
24 July Nations and Regions day (launch of West Midlands regional plan for the 2012 Games).
24-26 July Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend 2009.
27 July Three years until Opening Ceremony of the L2012 Olympic Games.
August
12 August Three years until Closing Ceremony of the L2012 Olympic Games.
29 August Three years until the Opening Ceremony of the L2012 Paralympic Games.
September
27 September Bandstand Marathon
November
6 November Deadline for second round of proposals for People Dancing programme

Ways to Get Involved

There are four main ways of getting involved in the Cultural
Olympiad whether you are a practitioner, organisation or a
member of the general public.
Open Up
Make sure that your project or event is part of the 2009
Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend. Dates for Open
Weekend have just been confirmed as the 24-26 July. We’ll
keep you up to date in this newsletter on how your project
can apply to be part of the celebrations in the West
Midlands and further information will be available at
www.london2012.com/culture
Be Inspired
Click here to read about the Inspire Mark and if you think
your project or initiative meets the criteria, talk to your   www.london2012.com/culture
regional Creative Programmer (Paul Kaynes in the West
Midlands) about making an application.
Connect
If your project or organisation has something that you think it
could contribute to the regional plans for the Cultural
Olympiad talk to Paul about your idea. Alternatively, join us at
one of the special workshops for People Dancing and see how
you can get involved.
Get Active
As a member of the public, keep an eye on the 2012 website
for information about activity in your region. The next major
dates to look out for will be the 2009 Open Weekend, 24-26
July 2009.
 In brief
Business planning
------------------------------------------------------
The Cultural Olympiad
business plan is being
finalised, leading to an
application to Advantage West
Midlands. An outline
application will be submitted
within a few weeks and an
outcome expected shortly
thereafter.
Inspire Mark
-------------------------------------------------------
Last year three projects from
the West Midlands region were
granted the Inspire Mark. The
L2012 Inspire Mark is granted
to exciting, inspiring and brand
new cultural projects inspired
Focus on...
In each issue, we will focus on a particular project that has obtained the Inspire Mark or an event that forms part of regional plans
for the Cultural Olympiad. In this issue we take a closer look at an amazing event which took place in Coventry last September.
Extraordinary Cycles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extraordinary Cycles is a four year project
in association with Hybrid:arts and
Coventry Transport Museum, which
kicked off in September 2008 as part of
the nationwide launch of the L2012
Cultural Olympiad.
The modern bicycle was invented in
Coventry and the Starley Safety Bicycle
produced in Coventry by Rover in 1886,
was the first bicycle to include modern
features such as a chain driven rear
wheel with equal-sized wheels on the
front and rear.
Celebrating the invention of the modern
cycle in Coventry, Extraordinary Cycles is
an innovative artistic response to the
city’s heritage and its capacity to
innovate and create. It was launched as
part of the L2012 Cultural Olympiad
Images Page 3 left to right) Nina Nannar introduces Paul Manning (Olympic Gold Medallist for cycling) at the launch of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands; dancer at
Birmingham Carnival; Asian jewellery.
Images Page): young people perform as part of Big Dance at the launch of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands.
Large or small, we are looking apply for the Inspire Mark. Click place on Sunday 27
for inspirational ideas from all here to find out more . September. The idea is that
sorts of people - surprising, branstands across the region
outstanding and stimulating We expect a number of will host brass and silver band
brand-new projects, events or applications from the region in on one afternoon as part of
activities to be part of the UK- the coming months but if you the Cultural Olympiad
wide Cultural Olympiad would like to put an idea forward, celebrations.
programme. Chosen projects contact the West Midlands
will be granted the right to use Creative Programmer, Paul The cost is around £500 per
the Inspire mark (subject to Kaynes, with an outline of your bandstand and bookings,
LOCOG’s standard license idea. Good luck! publicity, licensing and
agreement being signed and equipment hire will all be
approval processes being Bandstand Marathon managed externally.
followed.) _________________________________________________________________
Last year a ‘Bandstand If you know of any bandstands
There are some criteria your Marathon’ took place across the that could be included, please
proposed project or event has South West of England as part of email us as soon as possible
to meet in order to be eligible Open Weekend. This year, the at
for selection. For example, only scheme is being extended across culturalolympiadwm@artscou
not-for-profit organisations can the UK and will take ncil.org.uk
Open Weekend 2008 and combined Stella Carr, Executive Director of
creative cycling, live projection, music Hybrid:arts said:
and audience participation.
“By having the Inspire Mark attached to
On 27 September 2008, Flatland BMX our project we are demonstrating how
rider, Keelan Phillips and a stunt cycle people can get involved in the 2012
group, performed a cycling routine to a experience right here in Coventry. We’re
backdrop of light, sound and film also extremely excited about the idea of
projections at The Transport Museum in bringing sport and art together in such a
Coventry. Before the performance, the new and exciting way – something that
audience was invited to take part in an sits right at the heart of the Olympic and
‘ideas forum’ to share ideas about Paralympic values.
developing the project over the next four
years. “As well as working with local young
people to develop new skills, we are
Extraordinary Cycles was one of three creating a spectacle that celebrates our
projects in the West Midlands region to region’s unique cultural, sporting,
be granted the Inspire Mark in the engineering and creative heritage, in a
Autumn of 2008. For the organisers, completely fresh and unexpected way”.
gaining the Inspire Mark was important www.hybridarts.co.uk
for a number of reasons. www.transport-museum.com