Artists taking the lead: London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Date uploaded: November 21, 2011
Artists taking the lead is the UK Arts Councils' flagship project for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Twelve extraordinary public art commissions are being created across the country, one in each nation and region of the UK, to help celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The winning commissions were selected by independent panels of artists and producers, and are funded by Arts Council England in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland and the Arts Council of Wales.
The project is being developed by Arts Council England, in partnership with London 2012 and the arts councils of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The commissions are:
East region
On Landguard Point, Pacitti Company
A mass public research around notions of home. A series of large-scale participatory, outdoor events will accumulate to become a community feature film. The events will take place across the Eastern region and explore key themes of trade, defence and migration.
East Midlands
Lionheart, Shauna Richardson
Three 30ft lions will be hand crocheted and displayed in a huge taxidermy style case, in Nottingham. Taking its inspiration from Richard the Lionheart and the region’s textile industry, Lionheart will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the East Midlands.
London
Bus-Tops, Alfie Dennen and Paula Le Dieu
LED panels on the roofs of bus stops will provide Londoners with a unique canvas on which to talk to each other, display their creativity and express what is special about their London.
North East
FLOW, The Owl Project and Ed Carter
An environmentally sustainable watermill will be created to float on the River Tyne, forming an interactive arts space full of fantastical mechanical devices.
North West
Projected Column, Anthony McCall
A monumental spinning column of cloud and light will rise as far as the eye can see from Birkenhead’s disused Morpeth dock, directly opposite the city of Liverpool.
Northern Ireland
The Nest, Brian Irvine and John McIlduff
A warehouse installation made from donated personal possessions will inspire a new musical composition for the largest, most inclusive chorus ever assembled in Northern Ireland.
Scotland
Forest Pitch, Craig Coulthard
A full size football pitch will be created within woodland to the south of Edinburgh. The pitch will host two football matches made up of amateurs from around Scotland. Once the matches are over, the pitch will be left to return to nature, creating a new environment within the forest.
South East
The Boat Project, Lone Twin
The people of the South East will be asked to donate wooden objects of personal significance to help create a beautiful sea-faring boat. Once complete, the boat will sail the South East coast and become the focus of celebratory arts events.
South West
nowhereisland, Alex Hartley
Alex Hartley will bring an island he discovered in the High Arctic in 2004 to the South West of England. The island will navigate the coast accompanied by a travelling embassy, exploring issues of climate change and land ownership.
Wales
Adain Avion, Marc Rees
A travelling wingless silver bird, recycled from an abandoned DC9 aeroplane, will ‘nest’ in locations across Wales, and be transformed and animated by the local communities who take ownership of it.
West Midlands
Godiva Awakes, Imagineer Productions
Coventry icon Lady Godiva will be recreated as a gigantic human puppet and lead a cast of thousands in a spectacular processional performance, before making her epic journey to London.
Yorkshire
Leeds Canvas, Leeds Canvas
An unprecedented collaboration between the city’s artists, arts organisations, and internationally renowned Quay Brothers, will use the buildings, streets, and people of Leeds as the ‘canvas’ for a month long series of interventions.
