It was more than appropriate that the Get Set Network should have been launched in Kent because this county has the most sign-ups to Get Set in the whole of the UK - with more than 500 schools and two education 'Inspire marks' between Kent and Medway.
After the presentation Bill Morris, Head of Culture, Ceremonies and Education for London 2012, met Danny O'Donovan from Kent County Council and Paul Carney from Christchurch College Canterbury to hear about the 20 in 12 scheme which is working with Get Set in schools across the county on the Olympic and Paralympic values.
Sticking to the education theme, Bill also met Seymour Rowarth-Stokes and Tim Eastop from The Creative Campus Initiative. This project, led by the University for the Creative Arts, is working with a consortium of 13 South East universities to deliver a series of cultural events in the run up to the 2012 Games.
The project has secured £1 million of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE), with £1 million additional match-funding being contributed by regional project partners - the largest ever regional award to a university consortium to support cultural activity. Together, the universities will commission work, create a major touring exhibition in response to Olympic and Paralympic sports and run a community learning programme.
The South East is famous for its outdoor arts and, while in the region, Bill met some of Kent's finest.
The World Famous - amazing pyrotechnicians - talked about their aspirations for 2012 in producing more sustainable firework events and more thrilling close-up fire effects.
Strange Cargo showed us images and talked through their recent Charivari Day carnival project which was recognised by the London 2012 Inspire programme.
Gavin Carver from the University of Kent gave us a tour of COPOR (Celebratory and Outdoor Performance Online Resource). This excellent website is a source of information, archive and production support for the Outdoor Performance sector. It will support the work of creative professionals by providing a sophisticated archive, network, forum and database, and the work of community, voluntary and not for profit organisations through information, advice and a 'helpdesk'. Why not register your event, your company, yourself or just have a look at what projects you might get involved in.
Finally Bill met the people behind the South East's legacy trust programme, Accentuate. Accentuate is a £4 million programme, inspired by the story of Paralympics which were founded in the region at Stoke Mandeville. The programme aims to offer a step change in the opportunities available to deaf and disabled people in the region through artistic festivals, community celebrations, more accessible tourism, heritage projects, youth screen, elite sport and through the creation of an archive for Stoke Mandeville stadium.
