South West England celebrates the start of the Cultural Olympiad
The weekend of 26-28 September 2008 saw the South West celebrate the start of the four year Cultural Olympiad. There were plenty of opportunities for people to visit great places and spaces and to get involved in new and imaginative thought-provoking, creative activities. As Guy Lavender, South West England Director for the 2012 Games said: "The London 2012 Games are not just about sport - they celebrate people, cultures and languages. We have just celebrated the handovers from Beijing to London of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and now we are joining in this weekend with over 40 events across South West England. This will truly show our compelling and diverse culture and will be a great start for the next four years. " The Open weekend included art exhibitions in Salisbury, Lyme Regis and Trowbridge, dance acts in Swindon, Plymouth and St Ives as well as music performances in Weymouth, Bristol and Bath. Full details can be found on the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad pages.

The following key pieces of information offer narrative on the Cultural Olympiad in the South West. They answer many of your questions and help you see a way forward in your engagement with it.

Marking Handover
This document is aimed at Local Authorities and key regional organisations and explains what HANDOVER and LAUNCH are all about and how to participate on the day/s.  This is the most important document – in terms of timescales – of the three.  Please ensure senior cultural officers (and more) in Local Authorities across the region are aware, and to use your networks to inform other key organisations (RFOs etc).

The Extra Mile - The Journey of a Lifetime
This document outlines the themes (or vision, if you like) for the Cultural Olympiad in the South West.  It is key for anyone wanting to propose a project for inclusion under the Cultural Olympiad umbrella and access to the “Inspired by Brand”.

The Extra Mile - Guidelines for Engagement
The guidelines explain the preliminary steps organisations wanting to propose a project and get the brand, should go through.

If you are planning an event at the time of Handover or Launch, there is also an Event Form that you can fill in and send back to richard.crowe@culturesouthwest.org.uk.

The Cultural Olympiad Background Briefing
This document produced by LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) explains the context of what the Olympiad is about and  the “Inspired By Brand”.

For more information on the Cultural Olympiad in the SW contact

Richard Crowe
2012 Creative Programmer
Culture South West
Sterling House
Dix's Field
Exeter
EX1 1QA
t:  07956 050756
e: richard.crowe@culturesouthwest.org.uk

Open Skies, interim guidance on engaging with the Cultural Olympiad, can be downloaded from www.culturesouthwest.org.uk