People across the West Midlands are being urged to ‘challenge themselves’ and try something new as part of this year’s London 2012 Open Weekend (23-25 July 2010). There are currently over 50 events registered across the West Midlands as part of the London 2012 Open Weekend, with events and performances taking place in every corner of the region throughout the weekend.
From becoming an archaeologist for the day to bell ringing, learning to ‘vogue’ and canoeing, there’s literally something for everyone – whatever their age, ability or background. The weekend is part of nationwide celebrations to mark the two year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games.
London 2012 Open Weekend is the UK’s largest celebration of cultural, sporting and artistic activity – and this year’s theme is ‘challenge yourself’, with all participating events involving some sort of challenge for the public to try something new or take an existing interest to the next level. Open Weekend is a nationwide event that was launched in 2008 and will run in July each year up until and including 2012 when the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be staged in London.
London 2012 Open Weekend enables everyone to share in the excitement of the Games, be inspired, get involved, unleash creativity and try something new. Join the celebrations across the West Midlands and plan your weekend by visiting www.london2012.com/openweekend or www.wmfor2012.com/openweekend to find out what’s on near you, or follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/WM_OpenWeekend. All London 2012 Open Weekend Events taking place in the West Midlands are listed, county-by-county, below. Examples include:
In Staffordshire, join members of staff from the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in a torchlit Saxon storytelling session and discuss the latest theories about the Staffordshire Hoard – the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. Also in Staffordshire, Get knitting as part of Away Pitch and help create a large scale knitting installation celebrating local talent in sport and art.
Become an archeologist for the day in Herefordshire, get your face painted like a Celtic Warrior and create some Celtic inspired art as part of Digging up the Celts.
Also in Herefordshire, take up the ultimate challenge and find out what it’s like to play blind football. Once you’ve had a shot at goal blindfolded add yourself to the Focus Here exhibition to celebrate the Blind Football World Cub.
Hop, skip, jump, wheel or amble across Centenary Square in Birmingham and then spot yourself walking along as part of a huge image installation on the side of the New Library of Birmingham hoarding.
Or unleash your inner diva as part of ‘Come on, Vogue’ – and get inspired by one of several open workshops hosted by professional Vogue-ers. The workshops will be held alongside a high-low fashion show and participants can strut their stuff on a catwalk outside the Hippodrome in Birmingham.
Also in Birmingham, have a go at one of the oldest forms of exercise in the country and ring the bells of one of Birmingham’s iconic buildings in Aston – or enjoy the sights, sounds and sensations of South Asia - and join dancers from internationally renowned South Asian dance company, Sampad, and learn a dance routine and perform it in the space of an hour at a summer arts mela held in Cannon Hill Park.
In Warwickshire, challenge yourself to try new sports from football and tennis to bowls and volley ball at Caldecott Park. Or take a tour of the historic Rugby school and museum or learn how to make your own prehistoric tools as part of a flintmaking workshop in Rugby.
In Burton-upon-Trent, take part in a fun filled Community Games day inspired by the Wenlock Olympian Games. Participants can ride a Rodo bull and take part in a knitting competition, alongside more traditional sporting pursuits!
Strike a pose in The New Art Gallery Walsall’s unique self-portrait booth and have a go at making medals out of modelling clay in Walsall. And take part in a photography workshop and win a professional family portrait at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Uncover the Wyre Forest and take part in walks and watch the falcons fly at Bewdley Museum in Shropshire. Or enjoy a variety of 'Amusements and Distractions' on the Village Green in Blists Hill in Ironbridge. Showcasing a range of traditional theatrical performance styles the day of family fun will give visitors a taste of what a Victorian audience may have enjoyed.
Also in Shropshire, enjoy sport, music, dance, the creative arts and challenge yourself to take part in a 2 mile Let’s Get Physical Fun Run as part of CultureFest 2010.
Go wild in Worcestershire and have a go at climbing, canoeing, kit flying, archery and orienteering at Worcester Woods Country Park. Or take part in a 10-minute dance challenge in Worcester City Centre.
David Moorcroft, Chair of the West Midlands Leadership Group for 2012, said: “This year’s Open Weekend promises to build on the success of last year’s weekend which around 50,000 people across the West Midlands taking part in creative, sporting and educational activities. London 2012 Open Weekend is a fantastic opportunity for the whole country to get right behind the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and we’re delighted to see that once again such a huge range of organisations have signed up to be part of the country’s biggest celebration of culture, sport and creativity.”