Vox pop

“Despite the promises of ‘making £13bn’ from David Cameron, and Ken Livingstone’s assurances of these being the ‘Regeneration Games’, the picture for London museums over summer 2012 was always going to be bleak.

Even a cursory glance at the impact the Olympics had elsewhere shows that a host city in effect closes down, not only during the games themselves, but also in the adjacent months.

Astute London museums accustomed to being lied to by politicians will have budgeted to factor in a massive drop in visitors, and planned accordingly.

The Florence Nightingale Museum’s summer activities were specifically designed to broaden our audiences, and we increased our spend on marketing for games time, but this was damage limitation. Roll on autumn.”


“Ordinarily we do not associate the Olympics with culture but how Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony changed that. It had panache, style, wit, slickness, laughter, tears, emotion and a compelling narrative – all elements that make high, low and popular culture work.

It was more than the stretching of limbs before the sporting contests. It placed British culture at the epicentre of a global audience and I would argue, because of its positive impact, set Team GB on its way with their hearts and confidence pumped up.

While British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan asks the coalition for more money for sport in schools (increased sport investment equals 23 golds and counting...), let us ask for more investment in culture for young people.”


“London 2012 has provided a heady glimpse into the huge potential that exists to increase cultural participation in the UK.

The opening and closing ceremonies, the Cultural Olympiad, the 2012 Festival, and the games themselves have captured the imagination of the rest of the world – and die-hard sceptics in the UK – because they have been created and presented by our finest creative professionals with the active participation of audiences and volunteers. Culture has gone popular in the truest and best sense of the word.

Let’s hope the cultural sector can continue to take the risks and raise the money needed to continue in this vein. In a time of austerity, the rewards to the UK, in terms of confidence, wellbeing and economic prosperity, could be incalculable.”


“Yes. Inspired by the Olympic values of excellence and friendship, we have just held the largest ever international arts festival the UK has ever seen, the London 2012 Festival. This has reached 10 million people and involved 25,000 artists.

These impressive numbers are because of the impressive culture on offer. Thousands of thrilling moments: ballet in lidos, opera on canals, world-class exhibitions and a witty, dazzling opening ceremony.

The Olympic Park is a new, architecturally confident, part of the city. Public and private money has enabled partnerships and ideas to flourish.

We should allow ourselves to stop being cynical for a moment and celebrate the fact that we hosted one of the greatest sports and cultural festivals, not just for Britain, but the world. ”