The shortlist of 59 proposals was made from an initial 2,163 submissions. It includes cloud sculptures generated from disused chimney stacks across Scotland and imaginary worlds created on London Underground stations and carriages.
A final 12 projects will be selected in October - one in each of the nine English regions and in the nations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They will be awarded grants totalling £5.4 million to create a landmark work of art inspired by London 2012.
Other ideas on the shortlist include:
Members of the public are being invited to give their views on the shortlisted ideas - available at www.artiststakingthelead.org.uk
London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe said: ‘I’m thrilled with the calibre of this shortlist. We want the Cultural Olympiad to bring art and sport together, inspiring and unlocking creativity and talent all round the country, and these projects do exactly that.’
Moira Sinclair, Executive Director of Arts Council England, London, said on behalf of the UK Arts Councils: ‘It’s been a really tough job for our panels of artists to choose just a few of the many exceptional ideas that were submitted, but I’m wowed by the shortlist we’ve arrived at – it offers an exciting overview of our nation’s creativity, and is bringing great art to some very unexpected places.
‘What’s clear is that artists really want to engage with the public, whether leading creative events to celebrate London 2012, or debating key issues such as climate change. I hope people will get involved with the projects, and tell us what they think of them.’
