Third Tier of Cultural Olympiad – UK Cultural Festival

As described in our first newsletter, it is anticipated that around 1000 events (NOT organisations) will be able to access official Cultural Olympiad branding, this access being granted around mid 2009 onwards. The official brand is expected to be launched early in the New Year, and although LOCOG continue to make it clear they have no funding available to support UK Cultural Festival Activity, gaining official recognition from LOCOG will, it is expected, strengthen Lottery funding bids.

Any successful bid will have to “fully display the first three core values and at least three [revised by London 2012 from one] of the themes”. The values are

• celebrate the UK welcoming the world
• Inspire and involve young people [involve being a key word there]
• generate a positive legacy

whilst the themes are

• bring together culture and sport
• encourage audiences to take part
• animate and humanise public spaces
• use culture and sport to raise issues of environmental sustainability, health and well being
• honour and share the values of the Games
• ignite cutting edge collaborations
• enhance learning, skills and personal development of young people

More detail on this tier, including application forms to potentially access the official London 2012 branding, is expected February/March 2008…