London 2012 blog

Here at LOCOG I have been developing work on why the Cultural Olympiad is important to people in the UK and what it should do next in order to reach those people. For me the definition of culture is broad. It encompasses food, sport, art, gardening, film, music and more. I think it is so deeply part of what makes us human that the 2012 Games embracing culture is fantastic and a real chance to bring people together in celebration all across the world.

The Cultural Olympiad is a great opportunity to bring art to wider audiences, both through its use of technology and making content more relevant to London’s diverse communities.  The definition of being from the UK is in flux, and as a Sri Lankan British I am very interested in how the Cultural Olympiad can redefine what UK culture is.

I have been working in public arts for the last 7 years specialising in Media art and Asian arts. I have found that there needs to be more opportunities for people of different backgrounds to share their individual creative voices and at the same time be unified. Can the Cultural Olympiad help achieve this? 

It's important for new creatives to come through and work with the Cultural Olympiad to produce the next generation of cultural events that can really contribute to a shared experience.

The Cultural Olympiad can strengthen the impact of the Games.  By working with the cultural and creative industry and communities it provides a shared inspiration and goal in its 4-year build up as well as afterwards, making the Games more relevant to those very people who live here. It can set in motion initiatives that really last and make a difference to all of our lives in the long-term.

As the UK gears up to welcome the world I believe our cultural richness should be on show as much as our athletes and our city. London is a totally unique place to live and work.  It reflects the world.