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Culture: Poole

Volume 463: debated on Monday 23 July 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what events will be held in Poole as part of the Cultural Olympiad in 2012; and which of these events were planned before London secured the 2012 games. (151584)

The intention of the Cultural Olympiad has always been for a UK wide programme that engages local communities. This remains the commitment.

The major projects set out in the London 2012 bid included Film and Video Nation, International Shakespeare Festival, Live Sites, International Exhibitions Programme, 2012 Sounds! Olympic Proms, Artists Taking the Lead, World Cultural Festival, World Festival of Youth Culture, 2012 Carnival and Celebration of Disability Arts and Sport. All these projects featured in LOCOG’s briefing of 21 June. Most of these projects will offer the opportunity for people around the UK to become involved.

In addition to these programmes, there will be a four-year UK-wide Cultural Festival including grass-roots community projects starting in the summer of 2008. Supported and led by a network of Regional Creative Programmers, this Festival will encompass thousands of national, local and regional events as part of the nationwide celebrations to mark the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The role of the Regional Creative Programmers will be to co-ordinate the delivery of cultural events in all the regions and will act as the first point of contact for people in the regions, giving information and advice on how to join in with the Cultural Olympiad. It is too early to say what events will be held in Poole but the Creative Programmer for the South West will work with regional partners and stakeholders to help produce joint events, projects and activities.