Southern Culture
Did You Know?
Carnival
The Isle Of Wight has 7 carnivals, a carnival officer and offers an NVQ in Carnival
Be Inspired!
In a way that has never happened at any previous Olympic Games or Paralympic Games, the London 2012 culture programme has been opened up for all the communities of the UK to join in. It’s part of a commitment to make London 2012 “Everyone’s Games” and to put culture at the heart of the 2012 Games.
The Cultural Olympiad is a four-year cultural celebration across the UK running from September 2008 until the end of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will comprise a raft of local and regional projects and events including the large-scale “signature” projects which were part of the London 2012 bid, and the mandatory ceremonies. It launches over the weekend of 26-28 September. The launch will promote the start of four years of cultural celebrations and announce the “signature” creative projects – it is at this point that you will get detail of some of Cultural Olympiad programme content as well as a timeline. There will also be events to mark the Olympic Handover on the afternoon of August 24 and the Paralympic Handover on the afternoon of September 17. Everyone is encouraged to take part in or organise an event for one or all of these key dates.
The attached document has the most up to date information on the Cultural Olympiad, you will notice a number of significant changes since June 07’s Culture Update document. There is also further information on the Cultural Olympiad in the South East here
The Inspire mark
From 11 March 2008 projects wishing to be considered for inclusion in the Cultural Olympiad can submit an application for the Inspire mark through their regional Creative Programmer; in the South East this is Caterina Loriggio.
Caterina’s role is to encourage and support the development of project and event ideas from the region which could be part of the Cultural Olympiad. She will recommend which projects should be selected, based on regional/ local knowledge and expertise and on the London 2012 criteria. Anyone in the South East wanting to put in an application needs to talk to Caterina first but before contacting her they should read the information on what is required at www.london2012.com/beinspired.
This is an innovative new venture so Caterina will be starting with just a few carefully selected projects. Once the process has bedded down, the aim is to expand its remit more widely over the four year programme.
The process
What you’re applying for
You’re applying to be part of the Cultural Olympiad. If you’re successful, your project will be awarded the non-commercial brand, the Inspire mark. This is a first for any Olympic or Paralympic Games and it’s for non-commercial projects and events across culture, sport, education, environment, volunteering and business. The Inspire mark operates under licence, and there are very strict criteria for using it. If your project is selected, it will be included in Cultural Olympiad national publicity.
There is no funding associated with the Inspire mark and applicants are expected to have their full (or as good as) budget in place before submitting an application.
How projects will be selected
Please look at www.london2012.com/beinspired for more detailed information on the selection criteria. London 2012 is looking for inspirational ideas from all sorts of people across the UK – really special projects which are both new and innovative or, have taken bold new steps forward. The project needs to be primarily cultural and of course, be inspired by London 2012. The selection process will take a broad view of what ‘culture’ is or could be.
You’ll see from the website that there are various criteria that your project has to meet in order for it to be considered for inclusion in the Cultural Olympiad. The Creative Programmers will assess all the applications they receive according to those criteria. These projects will be part of a national programme and London 2012 will need to make sure that there is a balance of projects across the country.
How long it will take
You will have a decision 7 weeks after submitting your application form but due to licensing processes and marketing sign off you are encouraged to apply at least 14 weeks ahead of your project start date. For example, if you are applying for an Inspire mark for a project to take place on the Cultural Olympiad launch weekend, you need to apply by June 13. Projects can not carry the Inspire mark until the launch weekend.
You’ll find more information to help you decide whether to put your project forward for the Inspire mark and what to do next, at www.london2012.com/beinspired.
You will be sent more information shortly on the launch of the Cultural Olympiad 26-28 September 2008. Between times, please contact Caterina if you plan do organise something for either August 24 or September 17. You can email her on c.loriggio@culturesoutheast.org.uk – please be patient with her she is expecting a lot of emails and please do not ‘phone in the first instance.