£1 million grant secured by University for the Creative Arts for 2012 project
The University for the Creative Arts is leading a consortium of 13 universities to deliver a series of cultural events, known as the Creative Campus Initiative, in the run up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics as part of the Cultural Olympiad.
The project has secured £1 million of funding from HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council) with £1 million additional match-funding being contributed by project partners – the largest ever regional award to a university consortium to support cultural activity.
Together, the universities will create a major touring exhibition in response to the Olympic and Paralympics values, with each institution being allocated at least ten Olympic and Paralympic sports to respond to in an artistic and creative way.
Dr Seymour Roworth-Stokes, Chair of the HE Cultural Forum Sub-Group, said: "This is excellent news for the region and will further strengthen a strong and vibrant cultural sector in the lead up to 2012. Alongside the exhibition, there will be a series of commissioned works representing the strength and diversity of creative and performing arts provision in our universities.
"We hope to involve our local communities in this project as much as possible, and in particular we will reach out to young people and disenfranchised groups through a series of workshops and educational events linked to the regions local Olympic and Paralympic history."
The 13 universities involved in the project are all based in the South East region. Alongside the exhibition, the funding will help the consortium deliver workshops with local primary and secondary schools on community history, to teach people about the Games.
Now that funding has been secured, work will begin on developing the workshops and preparing for the exhibitions which will be held at all 13 universities in summer 2010.
The University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University are both part of the Creative Campus Initiative, in addition to the University for the Creative Arts. For further information on the project please contact Uwe Derksen on uderksen@ucreative.ac.uk.
