As Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced that it is one year to go to the opening of the London 2012 Festival; Wales has its very own unique major projects worth shouting about too.
Under the banner of Power of the Flame – led by Arts Council of Wales and funded by Legacy Trust UK, the project is a £2.85 million programme designed to use the London 2012 Games as a catalyst to inspire young people to achieve their very best in their chosen field. 46,000 young people in Wales are already involved.
We are immensely proud to be playing our part in the biggest celebration on the planet next year and we are delighted to be contributing to the following projects that will be showcased during the London 2012 Festival:
Adain AvionArtist Marc Rees and his project ADAIN AVION, the Wales winner of the £230,000 commission for Artists taking the lead, a project at the heart of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and will feature in the London 2012 Festival, the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad.
Power of the Flame
The Power of the Flame is a Wales wide project funded by the Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity creating a cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games across the UK. A generation of young Welsh people are being inspired by the Games in this project being developed for the Cultural Olympiad by the Arts Council of Wales in partnership with Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Cadw, Disability Arts Cymru, Valleys Kids and Wrexham County Borough Council. (part of Power of the Flame)
Kindling the Talent
This will be developed with Urdd Gobaith Cymru which is the largest youth organisation in Europe. The 2012 Games will encourage the development of ambitious projects which will embrace culture and sport. Days will be dedicated to sporting activities and a three year National Youth Theatre will be re-established with an emphasis on more cutting edge drama. (part of Power of the Flame)
Mzansi Cymru
This is to be delivered by Valleys Kids in association with the Lange Township in South Africa. Both areas are in the heart of old mining communities and both are distinguished by present day economic and social difficulties which have historical roots. A large scale musical theatre piece is envisaged which will be performed by communities in both South Wales and South Africa; ultimately the performances will be joined for the summer of 2012. (part of Power of the Flame)
Cauldrons and Furnaces
We are blessed with truly spectacular sites of historical and architectural significance in Wales. This project will seek to develop community projects in many of the Cadw sites situated around the country namely: Harlech, Caernarfon, Denbigh and Fflint in the North to Blaenavon, Caerphilly, Laugharne and St David’s in the West. The project will employ artists to lead children in imaginative re-tellings of the stories and histories associated with each site.(part of Power of the Flame)
Following the Flame
This will be created by the team responsible for the John Charles and the Paul Robeson exhibitions. It will be an interpretation of the history of the 20th Century and early 21st Century through the Olympic Games. A major touring exhibition will visit 7 major Welsh venues with a community exhibition planned to visit 24 smaller venues. (part of Power of the Flame)
Whose flame is it anyway?
This project takes as its inspiration the story of the Titan, Prometheus, the mortal who stole fire from the first Olympian Zeus. This project will engage with disabled young people from all over Wales. It will be managed by Disability Arts Cymru and delivered by partners such as Galeri, Ucan, Ty Newydd and others. The tale of Prometheus will serve as a starting point for literature, dance, theatre, music and arts projects. (part of Power of the Flame)
Unlimited
The UK’s largest programme celebrating arts, culture and sport by disabled and Deaf people. Wales will be represented by Chris Tally Evans and Kaite O’Reilly.
Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales said:
"Arts Council of Wales is proud to be a key partner in the delivery of the Cultural Olympiad in Wales. The aim of this ambitious programme of events and activities is to inspire and engage with the children and young people of Wales to deliver a lasting legacy beyond the Olympics themselves. The diverse range of activities happening in Wales promises to excite the whole of Wales and bring the values of the Olympics to our diverse linguistic and cultural communities."
Ruth Mackenzie, Cultural Olympiad, Director, said:
"Sign up now at www.london2012.com/festival to be the first to know about the new commissions and projects for the Festival. We would love to share the creation of the UK's largest ever festival as we work towards the October programme launch."