Culture

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are about more than just sport! London 2012 is also staging a Cultural Olympiad - a series of events to showcase the UK's arts and culture to the rest of the world.

ALDEBURGH WORLD ORCHESTRA

The Aldeburgh World Orchestra project brings emerging professional musicians from all over the world to Suffolk; to inspire, engage and perform; raising ambition and celebrating talent on a local to international level, as part of the London 2012 Festival – www.aldeburgh.co.uk/bpp/awo.

ALDEBURGH MUSIC EXCHANGING WORLDS PROJECT

Exchanging Worlds is a multi dimensional project that connects the Aldeburgh World Orchestra to Suffolk and the region, through an online platform, an installation and the creation of an elite performance ensemble of under 18’s - www.aldeburgh.co.uk/bpp/awo.

CRASH OF THE ELYSIUM

The Crash of The Elysium is unlike anything else you have ever experienced in the world of Doctor Who. This is your story, your mission, you are the hero. Everything depends on you. If you don't turn up, the world does not get saved – www.crash.co.uk.

BIG DANCE

Get involved in the UK’s biggest ever celebration of dance – www.bigdance2012.com

ON LANDGUARD POINT

Led by Suffolk artist Robert Pacitti, On Landguard Point is a project about the places we call home: what we think of as home, and what it means to host others in our home. On Landguard Point was specially commissioned for Artists taking the lead – a project at the heart of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad funded by Arts Council England – www.onlandguardpoint.com.

SUFFOLK CELEBRATES

Suffolk County Council has launched a small grants programme to enable town and parish councils and community groups to organise events to celebrate London 2012. The County Council has launched the grants programme under the banner of Suffolk Celebrates.

It is specifically aimed at supporting town and parish councils, community groups and groups of individuals across Suffolk to organise events linked to either the Olympic Torch Relay, whilst it is in the county, Big Dance or the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Torch Relay will bring the Olympic flame within 30 minutes of everybody in the county as it visits 16 Suffolk towns and villages between 5- 7 July 2012. It will be greeted by celebrations as each community has its moment to shine.

Big Dance is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of dance and is a key part of the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad. Suffolk Celebrates grants are aimed at encouraging groups to organise their own dance events during Big Dance Week (7-15 July 2012). Events can feature any dance style, for any age, anywhere in the county.

On the 27 July the London 2012 Opening Ceremony will be taking place. Suffolk Celebrates grants aims to support events that bring communities together to share in and celebrate this momentous occasion.

Suffolk Celebrates aims to build on the success of the last two years when small grants were offered for events marking the start of the 2 year and 1 year countdown to the Games.  In total over 100 community events were supported involving an estimated 40,000 people and 2,000 volunteers.

Application forms are available for download below or by emailing denise.king@suffolk.gov.uk.