UK cultural organisations are being invited to submit projects that will form part of the Cultural Olympiad.
The aim is to create a UK-wide festival that will celebrate cultural diversity. Organisations, including museums and galleries, can send ideas to one of the 13 creative programmers that represent every region in England and the devolved nations.
The successful ideas will be able to use the new "Inspire mark", which forms part of the London 2012 brand.
These initiatives will be in addition to the 10 major projects that are being organised by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and partners such as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
Hedley Swain, the MLA's Cultural Olympiad programme director, said: "The Inspire mark is a big breakthrough for the organisers, as the Olympic brand is jealously guarded [by the International Olympic Committee]. This is the first time there has been the chance to have a sub-brand."
The MLA continues to develop the International Exhibitions Programme (IEP), which is one of the 10 major projects. It is seeking museums and galleries to help in its consultation with young people to identify core themes for the IEP.
Meanwhile, the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has announced a £1.4m fund for organisations to develop new cultural projects in the lead-up to 2012.
The fund has been created by the London Development Agency and will be delivered in partnership with Arts Council England. The fund will initially be on offer for 18 months, although more money will be made available if the initiative is a success.
"We are waiting for the overall structure to be set up and the funding guidance to be made available, but we obviously hope that museums, libraries and archives will benefit," said MLA London chief executive Graham Fisher.
The £1.4m fund was announced at the same time as the mayor's publication of London - A Cultural Audit. London fared well in the comparison of the city's cultural offering with that of New York, Paris, Toyko and Shanghai (see box).
More details about the Cultural Olympiad and how to get involved can be found at www.london2012.com
The aim is to create a UK-wide festival that will celebrate cultural diversity. Organisations, including museums and galleries, can send ideas to one of the 13 creative programmers that represent every region in England and the devolved nations.
The successful ideas will be able to use the new "Inspire mark", which forms part of the London 2012 brand.
These initiatives will be in addition to the 10 major projects that are being organised by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and partners such as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
Hedley Swain, the MLA's Cultural Olympiad programme director, said: "The Inspire mark is a big breakthrough for the organisers, as the Olympic brand is jealously guarded [by the International Olympic Committee]. This is the first time there has been the chance to have a sub-brand."
The MLA continues to develop the International Exhibitions Programme (IEP), which is one of the 10 major projects. It is seeking museums and galleries to help in its consultation with young people to identify core themes for the IEP.
Meanwhile, the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has announced a £1.4m fund for organisations to develop new cultural projects in the lead-up to 2012.
The fund has been created by the London Development Agency and will be delivered in partnership with Arts Council England. The fund will initially be on offer for 18 months, although more money will be made available if the initiative is a success.
"We are waiting for the overall structure to be set up and the funding guidance to be made available, but we obviously hope that museums, libraries and archives will benefit," said MLA London chief executive Graham Fisher.
The £1.4m fund was announced at the same time as the mayor's publication of London - A Cultural Audit. London fared well in the comparison of the city's cultural offering with that of New York, Paris, Toyko and Shanghai (see box).
More details about the Cultural Olympiad and how to get involved can be found at www.london2012.com
How London compares with other major cities
London
Population: 7.6m
Museums: 22 (National); 162 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 92
New York
Population: 8.3m
Museums: 16 (National); 85 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: N/A
Paris
Population: 2.2m
Museums: 19 (National); 138 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 59
Shanghai
Population: 9.8m
Museums: 6 (National); 100 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 6
Tokyo
Population: 8.5m
Museums: 8 (National); 71 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 40
London
Population: 7.6m
Museums: 22 (National); 162 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 92
New York
Population: 8.3m
Museums: 16 (National); 85 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: N/A
Paris
Population: 2.2m
Museums: 19 (National); 138 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 59
Shanghai
Population: 9.8m
Museums: 6 (National); 100 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 6
Tokyo
Population: 8.5m
Museums: 8 (National); 71 (Other)
Pubilc art galleries: 40
