Eight innovative projects across the West Midlands have been awarded the Inspire Mark which recognises innovative and exceptional projects directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Projects include:
Community Games toolkit designed to support communities in organising their own Community Games providing information on how to get started; how to get other people involved; running an event; and ideas for activities to run.
Away Pitch at Burton on Trent, Open Weekend 2010, combining art and sport in a touring exhibition across Staffordshire.
BE Festival: a new festival of European theatre happening in Birmingham in June/July 2010. http://www.befestival.org
Open Weekend in the Black Country at New Art Gallery and Wolverhampton Art Gallery with activities for families from photography workshops to making your own medals.
Shropshire Olympian Festival 1864. This is a re-enactment of a major, large scale sporting and cultural event which took place in Shrewsbury in 1864, when William Penny Brookes, having founded the Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850, mounted his Shropshire Olympian Festival in Quarry Park.
Creative Futures which uses dance and music activities to engage with young people from some of the most deprived areas of Coventry leading to a celebratory event at the end of the project, in March 2011. The young people will be responsible for the creation of the show/work including writing music, creating the designs and costumes, and marketing the event.
Godiva Carnival Procession an annual celebration of the heritage and culture of Coventry City which forms part of Godiva Festival. For London’s Cultural Olympiad, each procession between 2008-12 will have a section of the parade dedicated to London 2012 and how this links in with activity in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Dance Alive, a number of UK based and international dance companies visiting rural and remote West Shropshire (the towns of Much Wenlock, Bishop Castle and Whitchurch) to run workshops with young people, and perform. Over the course of July 2010 – July 2011, 150 workshops will run with 12 performances by a range of companies. The event will culminate in a ‘Big Dance’ style event in Much Wenlock in July 2011.
Paul Kaynes, West Midlands Creative Programmer said: “The London 2012 Inspire Programme is an opportunity for individual and organisations across the UK to be part of the London 2012 Games right now. The number and quality of Inspire Marks awarded in the last two months illustrates the number of cultural organisations and projects across our region that are being inspired by London 2012 and looking for ways in which people can get involved.”
Cultural organisations interested in applying for the Inspire Mark should contact Paul Kaynes the West Midlands Creative Programme for London 2012 to find out more. Email paul.kaynes@artscouncil.org.uk or visit http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/inspire-programme/index.php for more information.
For an initial conversation about your project contact Helen Knott at Helen.Knott@artscouncil.org.uk