The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) said it is “on track to deliver a successful finale of exhibitions and events in 2012” as part of the Cultural Olympiad through its Stories of the World project.
The scheme, launched in 2009, involves 60 museums grouped together in eight projects based in London, Edinburgh and the regions of England, taking in 35 cities.
More than 1,000 young people have subsequently curated exhibitions that will examine Britain’s place in the world. The project funders include Renaissance in the Regions and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“The programme management of Stories of the World, and the MLA’s wider 2012 programme, is likely to be taken on by Arts Council England after the MLA’s closure,” said an MLA spokeswoman.
“Monitoring the budgets of the eight projects shows there are no significant risks to their delivery, despite the squeezes affecting the museum sector.”
Other confirmed museum Cultural Olympiad events, which takes place from 21 June to 9 September 2012, include Metamorphosis: Titian 2012, a collaboration between the National Gallery and the Royal Opera House; the Tate Movie Project, whereby five- to 13-year-olds contribute to an animated film; and a new commission by Rachel Whiteread for London’s Whitechapel Gallery.
“Investment in Cultural Olympiad programmes [running from 2008-12 and including investment in the London 2012 Festival] is £83m,” said a spokesman for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog). Funders include Arts Council England and BP.
The Cultural Olympiad’s initial lack of direction was a talking point in the culture sector. Louise de Winter, director of the National Campaign for the Arts, said early last year that Locog should clarify how the project would be structured.
“Having seen the new list of events, I now feel that this is something we can get excited about,” she said. “I hope this is the start of regular updates and that more regional organisations can link into the different strands.”
