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Senior Arts World Figures Pledge Support For A Cultural Olympics

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Leading figures from culture, creativity and the arts have pledged their support to the development of a national cultural programme leading up to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At the first meeting of the Government's new Culture and Creativity Advisory Forum for the Cultural Olympiad, held on 25 July, members made clear that they believe that the 2012 Olympics in London are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the very best of Britain's arts, culture and creativity to a world-wide audience and to encourage excellence and greater participation by children, young people and communities across the country. 


But they warned the Government that action is needed now to ensure the success of the Cultural Olympiad and called for a coherent national vision and a framework within which the cultural programme can be developed.


Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate, said:


"The 2012 Olympics will provide a unique opportunity for the arts, culture and creativity in Britain.  We will be able to show the world the very best that we have to offer and reflect the World in Britain. We can use the cultural programme to take the Olympic message and values to people throughout the country, create new opportunities for children, young people and communities to enjoy and participate in cultural and creative activities and leave a lasting cultural legacy. 


But we need to start planning for this now.  The Government must take the lead in developing a vision of what the cultural programme will be and what it will aim to achieve, and setting a framework within which we can all work to make the 2012 Cultural Olympiad the best ever."


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Culture Minister David Lammy, who chairs the Forum, said:

"The Cultural Olympiad for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a fantastic opportunity to encourage more people and communities to take part in cultural activities, to celebrate the Olympic values and the diversity of modern Britain – and to showcase the best of British art, culture and creativity.  Across the country, people are enthusiastically embracing this opportunity and wanting to get involved. 

We recognise the need to start preparing now, and we do not under-estimate the challenges ahead if we are to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Over the coming months we will work with the London

Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, the GLA and Mayor of London's Office, and people from across the cultural and creative sectors to develop a vision and a framework for the Cultural Olympiad.  This Forum will help us to do that."

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Notes for Editors

The Culture and Creativity Advisory Forum was announced by Tessa Jowell on 6 April.

The role of the Forum is to advise and support the Government in developing the cultural programme for the 2012 Olympics and ensuring a lasting cultural legacy.


The members of the Forum are:
David Lammy MP (Chair)
Chris Smith (Clore Programme/London Cultural Consortium)
Jude Kelly (South Bank Centre)
Nick Serota (Tate)
David Adjaye (Adjaye Associates)
Sonita Alleyne (Somethin' Else)
Sir Howard Bernstein (Manchester City Council)
James Bidwell (Visit London)
Tim Bryan (Culture West Midlands)
Christina Coker (Youth Music)
Sandie Dawe (VisitBritain)
Trudi Elliott (Government Office for the West Midlands)
Ekow Eshun (ICA)
Jason Harborow (Liverpool Culture Company)
Tony Hall (Royal Opera House)
Jane Henderson (South West Regional Development Agency)
Charlotte Jones (Independent Theatres Council)
Nicholas Kenyon (BBC)
Keith Khan (Rich Mix)
Michael Lynch (South Bank Centre)
Colin McDowell (Sunday Times)
Neil McGregor (British Museum)
Anthony Minghella (British Film Institute)
Bill Morris (London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games)
Alex Poots (Manchester International Festival)
Cilla Snowball (AMV BBDO)
Carole Souter (Heritage Lottery Fund)
Kenneth Tharp (Independent choreographer)
Caroline Thomson (BBC)
Sarah Weir (Arts Council England)
Sue Wilkinson (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council)
John Woodward (UK Film Council)
Jude Woodward (Mayor of London's Office)

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