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WM Culture Programme:
Issue 2, April 2009
Welcome to the second issue of ournewsletter with all the latestinformation about plans for theLondon 2012 Cultural Olympiad inthe West Midlands.I’ve now moved to Arts CouncilEngland West Midlands offices andmy new contact details are:paul.kaynes@artscouncil.org.uk 
 
T: 0121 631 5724/ 07545 421725.We’ve also now had more detailthrough from LOCOG about theL2012 Open Weekend 2009 andthe closing date for the first batch ofproposals for our People Dancingprogramme is approaching. There ismore information about both ofthese items below.Issue three will be out in June but in themeantime, if you have any comments,keep in touch atculturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk.
Paul Kaynes, WM CreativeProgrammer, London 2012REGISTRATION FOR OPEN WEEKEND2009 NOW OPEN________________________________
 
Cultural and creative practitionersacross the West Midlands are beingurged to ‘Open Up’ this summer aspart of the second nationwideLondon 2012 Open Weekend.
 
TheOpen Weekend will mark three yearsuntil the opening ceremony of theL2012 Olympic Games and will seehundreds of events taking place rightacross the UK between 24 and 26July 2009.
 
Last year saw the first OpenWeekend with the West Midlandsgetting right behind the celebrations.Events ranged from spaces andnatural habitats opening up to thepublic for the first time, to outdoortheatre performances, live music, astunt bicycle display, story-telling anddance events on a mass scale.This year the programme will includecultural, sporting, environmental andeducational activities and the centraltheme is ‘Open Up’ – opening up yourmind/your organisation and beinginspired by and joining in with L2012.We’re now looking for cultural eventsthat will form part of those celebrationsand would like to hear from culturalorganisations, partnerships orindividuals with any ideas. We’reinterested in any creative and culturalevents that could be part of theweekend but particularly those with anelement of dance participation.If you have an event or idea email us at:culturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk and be part of the UK’s biggestcelebration of cultural, environmentaland sporting activity!
PEOPLE DANCING________________________________
In February we launched PeopleDancing - the first of four programmesthat make up the plans for the L2012Cultural Olympiad in the WestMidlands. The programme isaimed at getting people acrossthe West Midlands moving forthemselves and we want toinspire people of all ages, skillsand abilities to make dance partof their everyday lives.Throughout February and March,over 200 people attended fourevents designed to help peoplefind out more about PeopleDancing. There has already beensignificant interest in theprogramme and it is anticipatedthat organisations and individualsfrom a variety of sectors includingsport, art, culture, health andeducation, will be submitting bidsin the first round of commissions.Anyone interested in submitting abid in this first round is invited todo so by 8 May. Furtherinformation is availablehereoryou can email:peopledancing@artscounci.org.uk 
Images Page 1
 
top)
young
 
people perform as part of Big Dance at the launch of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands.
Page 1 bottom, left to right)
CornerShop by Black Country Touring/Foursight Theatre, Open Weekend 08; Motionhouse Dance; Black Voices; Walsall Art Gallery; Orchestra of The Swan.
Images Page 2
 
left to right)
performer at Gigbeth; Routes to Health sculpture trail, Cannock, Open Weekend 08; Civic buildings in Stoke-on-Trent are lit up as partof Open Weekend 08.
 
Artists Taking the Leadlaunches
The first of the London 2012Cultural Olympiad MajorProjects was launchedrecently by Arts CouncilEngland and the LondonOrganising Committee for theOlympic and ParalympicGames recently (LOCOG).‘Artists taking the lead’ is oneof ten national Major Projectsthat will form the centrepieceof the L2012 CulturalOlympiad to be launchedbetween now and 2012. Theprogramme is inviting artistsof all kinds from across theUK to use the nation as ablank canvas for 12inspirational commissionsthat will showcase ourcreativity to the world. 12commissions of up to £500,000 will be awarded tocreate a work of art in each ofthe nine English regions andin Scotland, Wales andNorthern Ireland.Artists can submit their ideasonline until the 29 May 2009 atwww.artiststakingthelead.org.uk The submitted ideas will beudged by panels in each of thenations and regions made up ofartists, the CreativeProgrammers and an ArtsCouncil England representative.The Cultural Olympiad is theofficial UK-wide culturalprogramme for the London 2012Games that will see celebrationsof culture and creativity takingplace in every corner of the UK inthe run up to 2012. There arethree main parts to the CulturalOlympiad – mandatoryceremonies; major nationalprojects; regional programmesand Inspire Mark projects.For further information about theL2012 Cultural Olympiad visit:www.london2012.com/culture 
The West Midlands CulturalProgramme
In addition to national projectswith particular resonance inthis region (The WorldShakespeare Festival,FilmNationandUnlimited
 
), theWest Midlands will celebratethe Cultural Olympiad with itsown regional programme ofactivity. Our regional plansfocus on three selectedprogrammes of activity:
 
People Dancing. People Dancing is aprogramme of activity aimedat getting people right acrossthe West Midlands dancingand having fun!Community Games. Inspired by William PennyBrookes and the WenlockOlympian Games, we wantpeople in communities acrossthe region to stage their ownGames including sport andculture.International programme‘Connections’.A 6-9 month festival in2011 celebrating ourregion’s international linksboth here and abroad.Some funding for theregional programme hasbeen sourced but there isno central funding.Additional funding is likelyto come from a number ofdifferent sources includinglottery distributors, localauthorities andcommercial sponsorship.Information about PeopleDancing is availablehere and information about theplans for our otherprogrammes be availableonline soon. In themeantime,click heretoemail us with anycomments and queries
Keeping up to date
A Cultural Olympiad on this scale has not been attempted before and developments are taking place all the time. For the mostup to date information visit:www.london2012.com Alternatively if you have a specific query, email us atculturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk 
If you would like to be added to or removed from the mailing list,click heremarking your email ‘add me’ or ‘remove me’
 
 
Dates for the diary, 2009May
8 May Deadline for first round of bids for People Dancing programme.29 May Deadline for Glastonbury short and feature films.
June
23 June Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend 2009 listings go ‘live’ atwww.london2012.com 
July
24 July Nations and Regions day (launch of West Midlands regional plan for the 2012 Games).24-26 July Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend 2009.27 July Three years until Opening Ceremony of the L2012 Olympic Games.
August
12 August Three years until Closing Ceremony of the L2012 Olympic Games.29 August Three years until the Opening Ceremony of the L2012 Paralympic Games.
September
27 September Bandstand Marathon
November
6 November Deadline for second round of proposals for People Dancing programme
Ways to Get Involved
There are four main ways of getting involved in the CulturalOlympiad whether you are a practitioner, organisation or amember of the general public.
Open Up
 Make sure that your project or event is part of the 2009Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend. Dates for OpenWeekend have just been confirmed as the 24-26 July. We’llkeep you up to date in this newsletter on how your projectcan apply to be part of the celebrations in the WestMidlands and further information will be available atwww.london2012.com/culture 
Be Inspired
Click hereto read about the Inspire Mark and if you thinkyour project or initiative meets the criteria, talk to yourregional Creative Programmer (Paul Kaynes in the WestMidlands) about making an application.
Connect
 If your project or organisation has something that you think itcould contribute to the regional plans for the CulturalOlympiad talk to Paul about your idea. Alternatively, join us atone of the special workshops for People Dancing and see howyou can get involved.
Get Active
 As a member of the public, keep an eye on the 2012 websitefor information about activity in your region. The next majordates to look out for will be the 2009 Open Weekend, 24-26July 2009.www.london2012.com/culture
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