The London 2012 Festival
The launch of the London 2012 Festival programme
On 4th November 2011, London 2012 launched the programme for the London 2012 Festival - a spectacular, 12 week, UK wide celebration of the world's best music, theatre, dance, design, visual arts, literature, film and fashion.
Opening on Midsummer’s day 21 June and running until 9 September 2012, the Festival will bring together leading artists from accross the world with the very best from the UK.
The London 2012 Festival is the finale of the Cultural Olympiad. Since the Cultural Olympiad started in 2008, over 16 million people from all over the UK have participated in or attended performances inspired by London 2012. In total, the festival will feature more than 1,000 events, with an estimated audience of over 7 million people. Some of the events will be ticketed, the majority will be free to attend. To find out more read the press release.
Olympic and Paralympic Posters Designed By Top British Artists
London 2012 is continuing the tradition of inviting leading artists to design the official Olympic and Paralympic posters. The designs by Fiona Banner, Michael Craig-Martin, Martin Creed, Tracey Emin, Anthea Hamilton, Howard Hodgkin, Gary Hume, Sarah Morris, Chris Ofili, Bridget Riley, Bob and Roberta Smith and Rachel Whiteread are on show at Tate Britain, where visitors can view them free of charge for the duration of London 2012 Festival.
The British Council and London 2012
The British Council sees the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a unique opportunity to make lasting connections between people from UK and around the world through sport, culture and education and is proud to be supporting the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Festival.
As the United Kingdom’s international cultural relations body, the British Council provides opportunities for British and international artists to work together and showcase their work. We are able to offer these opportunities through the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival, working with a range of outstanding artists and partner organisations in UK and from all over the world.
As part of River of Music, for example, we are working with an indigenous arts collective from Australia, linking with musicians from Wales, who share a common experience of the preservation of language and culture through music and song. As part of Unlimited, we are supporting a collaboration between artists from North East Brazil and England which celebrates northern culture and spirit through street theatre and carnival. Through the World Shakespeare Festival we are supporting a Tunisian modern day production of Macbeth, adapted and inspired by the events of the Arab Spring. Through the International Architecture and Design Showcase 2012 we are working with London’s embassies and cultural centres, co-ordinating a three month season of events during the London 2012 Festival which will provide an insight into talent from all around the world.
The British Council has created a programme that draws together our strengths in arts, education and the English language to help make the Games a truly international experience.
