London 2012 blog

Developing partnerships and including all the UK’s diverse communities are key to the Cultural Olympiad. I have been involved in all aspects of developing and establishing major events in London for the last 10 years, from St Patrick's day to the Mayor of London’s anti-racist festival - Rise. These events were developed and achieved success because they were rooted in strong partnerships with the communities they celebrate.

At this year's Rise festival:



Now at London 2012, as a secondee from the GLA, I have been charged with the responsibility of developing plans for festivals and carnivals which will run throughout the years of the Cultural Olympiad. For this to be successful, there has to be strong links with many different communities throughout London and the UK.

It is our vision that the Cultural Olympiad will celebrate London and the UK’s creativity and diversity. We want to achieve a unique blend of accessible festivals. Your opinions are invaluable to us. We want to know about all the local festivals and celebrations that are out there.

People need to feel that the Cultural Olympiad is meaningful and relevant to them, their plans, and their futures. They need information about what the Cultural Olympiad is and how they can take part. We want to showcase the way that will allow individuals to get involved. Attaining in-depth knowledge of people and communities is to share knowledge because communities change all the time.  Creating partnerships and involving communities opens up exciting opportunities for us and means we can create celebrations that are resonant, creative and fun for us all.