On 21 July 2010 Jonathan Edwards CBE, gold medallist, triple jump world record holder and Athlete Representative for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), joined Loyd Grossman OBE FSA, Chair of the Heritage Alliance, at the Houses of Parliament, a world heritage site, to launch the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Discovering Places campaign. [Images from this event are available to download here]. Discovering Places will use the power of the Games to inspire communities across the UK to celebrate and discover the hidden gems on their doorstep, from historic castles to contemporary townscapes, woodland trails and local wildlife. Over the launch weekend of 23-25 July 2010, more than 100 exciting, free Discovering Places events will take place throughout the entire UK. Most of the events will be run on a voluntary basis and all will be free to anyone interested in discovering more about their local environment. During their visit to the Palace of Westminster Jonathan and Loyd were given a guided tour of Westminster Hall, the oldest building within the Houses of Parliament. The tour is one of a series of guided tours of Parliament open to the public on Friday 23 July as part of the Discovering Places Cultural Olympiad weekend. Available tours include Westminster Hall, Crypt Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, The Contemporary Portrait Collection tour and the Victoria Tower. For more information on how to book limited availability tickets for these tours, go to http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/cultural-olympiad/discovering-places/ Some of the other exciting Discovering Places events planned across the country include guided walks, a Mad Hatterz Tea Party, a timed Mini-Bio Blitz, Geo Caching, archaeological excavations, mass picnics, treasure hunts, wildlife exploration and event a night time bat detection! Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture said: ‘With just two years to go until the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Cultural Olympiad is already show-casing the diversity of culture the UK has to offer. ‘Nowhere is this more marked than in the sheer range of our built, natural and historic environments. From the world famous to the unfamiliar, palaces to pubs and from castles to church crypts, Discovering Places will tell this country’s story through our surroundings – our wealth of buildings of striking appearance and those with a fascinating tale to tell, in a variety of unrivalled landscapes. ‘I hope that local people and visitors alike will enjoy this opportunity to explore some of the most attractive and unique locations in the UK.’ Jonathan Edwards CBE, LOCOG Board Member (Athlete Representative) and Deputy Chair of the London 2012 Nations and Regions Group said: ‘The Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games, designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012. ‘It’s great that this campaign is encouraging communities across the UK to celebrate and discover the hidden gems on their doorstep over Open Weekend. ‘These tours at the Houses of Parliament are a really exciting opportunity for people to discover this iconic World Heritage Site, and this is just one of many exciting Discovering Places events taking place this weekend across the UK.’ Loyd Grossman OBE FSA, Chair of the Heritage Alliance said: ‘With so many of us now leading busy lives our familiar environments often get overlooked. What Discovering Places challenges us to do is to take a brief pause and spend some time uncovering the unusual in the everyday. You may be surprised to find a whole new world on your doorstep!’ Dame Janet Paraskeva, Chair of the Olympic Lottery Distributor said: ‘It is important that local communities have the opportunity to discover and explore their local environment. As a major funder of the Cultural Olympiad we are delighted that National Lottery funding is supporting communities to do just that across the UK.’ The Discovering Places campaign launches on the London 2012 Open Weekend supported by BP - a weekend of sporting, arts and cultural challenges set up across the UK to share in the nation’s two year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now in its third year, Open Weekend enables everyone across the UK to share in the excitement of the Games and actively celebrate the two year countdown by challenging themselves to trying something new or taking an interest to a further level. Full listings can be found at http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/upcoming-events/index.php Discovering Places is principally funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor and delivered in partnership between The Heritage Alliance and London 2012. – Ends – For information on Discovering Places contact: Claire Horan, Project Manager Email: C.Horan@theheritagealliance.org.uk Tel: 07450 976708 For London 2012 Cultural Olympiad information please contact Paul Woodmansey in the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 461, paul.woodmansey@london2012.com, or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com or follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012team |
Notes to editors: The following Discovering Places events will take place throughout the UK over the weekend of 23-25 July. Full listings can be found at http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/upcoming-events/index.php East of England - Tours of Basildon Bell Tower St Martins Church, Basildon, Essex - bell ringing introduction;
- Hockley Woods Walk, Rochford District Council, Essex - everyone is invited to join in a walk around the historic Hockley Woods;
- Holkham Beach clean and recycled art event, Natural England & Holkham NNR, Norfolk - help clean up the spectacular Holkham National Nature reserve, a fragile home for important wildlife species;
- 10th Birthday Celebration Festival, The Friends of Kirton Church, Suffolk - a free event open to all stressing the historical and environmental importance of this Domesday Church and Churchyard;
- Family fun cycling treasure hunt, Beccles Cycle Strategy, Suffolk - a local cycle ride for familes to find clues, discover facts and win a prize;
- A Moment in Time in Martlesham, Martlesham in Bloom, Suffolk - an opportunity for artists and photographers;
- Blythburgh Open Weekend, Natural England, Norfolk, - boat trips, guided walks, a children's activity and information display to discover more about the Parish and Suffolk Coast NNR;
- Cedars Park Archaeological Dig, Broxbourne Borough Council, Hertfordshire - Enfield Archaeological Society will be opening up a trench and excavating on the site of historic Theobalds Palace in Cedars Park;
- Living well with the Salvation Army, The Salvation Army, Essex - a time line from when the Founder of the Salvation Army purchased the land at Hadleigh through the years to today up to the 2012 Olympics;
- Picnic in the Park, Broads Authority, Norfolk - Picnic in the Park launches National Parks Week with the chance to celebrate the Broads special landscape and wildlife;
- Arts in the Nature Reserve, stART/SCDC/MVC/Melbourn Parish Council, Hertfordshire - free arts and poetry activities in an 'artavan' run by professional artist Jo Chapman as part of a year long public art project in Melbourn village's nature reserve;
- Riverside Meanderings' exhibition - free launch day St. Neots Museum, Cambridgeshire - exhibition and activities exploring the history and wildlife of St. Neots Great Ouse riverside area;
- Eynesbury's Green Roots - Guided Walk, St. Neots Museum, Cambridgeshire -guided walk exploring the history and wildlife of Eynesbury's riverside meadows;
- Norwich 12 Challenge, Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART), Norwich - take the Norwich 12 challenge and discover 1,000 years of Norwich's history while getting some exercise!;
- Shape East Devil's Dyke podcast challenge, Shape East, Cambridgeshire - a downloadable podcast walking Tour of the Devil's Dyke in Cambridgeshire;
- Search Room Tours of the Essex Record Office and Exhibition by Karen Jones and Khaver Idress, Essex Record Office, Essex - unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of the Essex Record Office and launch of the new gallery space with an exhibition of local artists Karen Jones and Khaver Idress;
- High Woods Country Park Wild Walk, Colchester Borough Council, Essex - join the Park Rangers on a pleasant stroll through the Country Park taking a closer look at all the wildlife;
- Memories and Mysteries of Campsea Ashe, St John the Baptist Church, Suffolk - a unique opportunity to view archive resources of Campsea Ashe and to talk about your memories of the village;
- The Rat Trail at Hollytrees Museum, Colchester and Ipswich Museums – Essex, help us find all the rats in Hollytrees and enter into our draw to win some fantastic prizes;
- Walk Around Mersea Island, Peldon Village Hall, Essex - 14 mile walk around Mersea Island;
- You can take part in Art Challenge, Hertford Town Council, Hertfordshire - discover your artistic talent;
- Welcome to Bury Park, Luton Cultural Services Trust, Luton - a free guided walk with Safraz Mansoor which people can take photographs and write about;
- Vote With Your Feet: Walk Route Consultation, City of London, Essex - help us to allow more people to explore Epping Forest without getting lost!
East Midlands - Rutland Treasure Trail, Rutland County Council, Rutland - Treasure Trail with prize draw;
- Discovering the Dale, Natural England, Derbyshire - representing the landscape and wildlife of the area;
- Find out more about the Forest, Friends of the Forest, Nottingham - talks, walks and observation to discover more about the park's history, neighbourhood development, trees, flora, geology, and physical extent;
- Animal Masks, Natural England, Lincolnshire - a fun family activity amongst the wildlife on a National Nature Reserve;
- Big Braunston Picnic, Braunston Playing Fields Association, Northamptonshire - a mass picnic and celebration of Braunston's Playing Fields;
- Breath of Fresh Air Open Weekend at Rosliston Forestry Centre, South Derbyshire District Council, Derbyshire - a weekend of evening exploration, promenade Shakespeare, drop in gardening, poetry trails and block printing;
- Help in the Community Tree Nursery , Irchester Country Park, Northamptonshire - the Community Tree Nursery is growing native trees and shrubs from seeds and cuttings collected locally. Take part in the conservation activity of the day;
- Norman Church with Guided Tours, St Mary's Church Whaplode, Lincolnshire – discover 900 years of faith.
London - Walthamstow Marshes Volunteers, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Waltham Forest - volunteer task;
- Strange discoveries in Brompton Cemetery, Friends of Brompton Cemetery, Kensington and Chelsea - an entertaining quiz, followed by a tour, to help people to discover famous sports people and others buried in Brompton Cemetery, and incidentally to 'discover' this wonderful cemetery;
- Walking Islington's Open Weekend, Islington Museum, Islington - three different routes for exploring Islington;
- Horniman Museum Nature Trail, Horniman Museum, Lewisham - explore the secret life of our Nature Trail;
- Discovering your Lewisham, Lewisham Heritage, Lewisham - Discover 10 things you never knew about your local area;
- Young Cultural Ambassadors taster day; National Maritime Museum, Greenwich - a day of free taster activities to find out more about the Young Cultural Ambassadors programme and the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, through music, dance and art workshops;
- Hackney's Gardeners Remembered, Hackney Museum, Hackney- family event at St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens - make giant flowers, meet Hackney's gardeners from the past and hear stories about their lives;
- Deptford Art Map trail, Deptford Art Map, Lewisham - a trail of galleries and artists studios in Deptford, New Cross & Greenwich;
- Discover East Greenwich, J.I.G.S.A.W story walks, Greenwich - a guided story-walk through the hidden historic and cultural corners of East Greenwich;
- Healthy Walks - Living Street, Lewisham Council, Lewisham - to explore nature with fun activities along the way;
- Explore the Almshouse, Geffrye Museum, Hackney - as part of the Open Weekend celebrations we are opening the almshouse to the public for free and providing an opportunity to discover how the 'inmates' lived in the 18th and 19th centuries;
- Cart-og-ra-phy, Rivington Place, Hackney - exploring Shoreditch with artist Dia Batal;
- Opening Doors, Sharing Spaces (Christian Science Church & Church of St Philips), Kensington and Chelsea Forum of Faiths, Kensington and Chelsea - the Borough's Places of Worship invite all to share their spaces and stories;
- Exploding Places, Stream, Greenwich - a new outdoor mobile phone game in Woolwich;
- Tutu Peace Trail, Lewisham Council, Lewisham - history of where Archbishop Desmond Tutu lived;
- Discovering Visions: Through Art, Ecology & Heritage, London Borough of Enfield - discover the rich history and heritage of Forty Hall through art.
North East - A Rocky Adventure, Natural England, Co Durham - a family event uncovering rocks, fossils, minerals and maybe even a volcano;
- Played in Tyne and Wear Challenge, English Heritage, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - find out about your sporting heritage and the games people used to play - then have a go yourself;
- Sand Sculpture, Woodhorn – Northumberland, life's a beach this summer at Woodhorn and it kicks off with an amazing sand sculpture demonstration;
- Killhope Woodland Trail, Kilhope, The North of England Lead Mining Museum, Co Durham-the event is a timed lap of the Killhope woods answering questions on the route;
- Kielder Osprey Watch , Kielder Partnership, Northumberland - after successfully nesting last year for the first time in Northumberland in 200 years, the Kielder ospreys are back!
Northern Ireland - Catherine of Enniskillen, Willow Warblers, Co Fermanagh - create a woman willow sculpture on Castle Island Enniskillen;
- Rediscovering Dunville Fountain - Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, Belfast -a series of events focusing on Dunville Fountain;
- Photography Competition, Down District Council, Co Down - be the best photographer and discover a beautiful image of Strangford Shore Line;
- A Walk Through a Sculptor's Garden' & Sculpture Trail, F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio, Co Down - sculpture trail & guided tour;
- Laganscape - Lock Keeper's Cottage opening, Lagan Valley Regional Park, Belfast - visit the Lock Keeper's cottage and see what life was like for the lock keeper and his family.
North West - Wildlife Triathlon, Tameside Countryside Service, Tameside - enter a team in the fun countryside Minibeast Olympics;
- Discover Medieval Chester, Cheshire West Museums Service, Chester - explore the fascinating Medieval heritage of the city of Chester;
- Archaeology Day at the Museum, Cheshire West Museums Service, Chester - explore the past at the Grosvenor Museum in Chester;
- Summer Moths at Gait Barrows NNR, Natural England, Cumbria - come and see the spectacular moths of the limestone pavements;
- Pathways to Your Past, Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Cheshire West and Chester - visit the archives to discover ways of finding out about the history of people and places in Cheshire.
Scotland - Folding Clouds and Hoovering Hills, Giant, Glasgow - an interactive installation designed by kids and artists for families to explore;
- Discover Dalriada 2010 - Profesor Hazelnut's Wood Lab, Dalriada Project, Argyll - a science based environmental education event for families;
- Discover Dalriada 2010 - Outdoor Art Workshops, Dalriada Project, Argyll - outdoor art workshops with Artmap Argyll artists uncover Merchant City's hidden history;
- Women Make History Merchant City Walking Tour, Glasgow Women's Library, Glasgow -, discover female stars that stud the fabric of this famous quarter;
- Music Hall Memories, Friends of Britannia Panopticon, Glasgow - traditional music hall variety show;
- Re-cycle Containers into Planters, The Hidden Gardens Trust, Glasgow - an opportunity to make your own windowsill planter for herbs or salad crops.
South East - Guided Walk of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tourist Information Centre, Kent – a one hour guided stroll through the Pantiles and the historic heart of the town;
- Discover Windsor's 1908 & 1948 Games Heritage: Cycle Tour, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Berkshire - discover some of Windsor and Eton's sporting heritage on a guided cycle tour;
- Discover Windsor's 1908 & 1948 Games Heritage: Blue Badge Guided Walking Tour, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Berkshire - Blue Badge guided tour of Windsor's 1908 & 1948 Games Heritage;
- Behind the Scenes at Surrey History Centre, Surrey Heritage, Surrey - Surrey Heritage invites you to explore behind the scenes at the Surrey History Centre, home to the county archive, archaeological unit, and Museum's development team;
- Make Your Mark, Pushing Print, Kent - a marathon monoprint event;
- Site Tour of Turner Contemporary Gallery, Turner Contemporary, Kent - the first opportunity for Thanet residents to visit the building site of the new Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate;
- Discovering Hotham Park, Community Arts Bognor Regis, W Sussex - come and discover the hidden secrets of Hotham Park;
- Voices of Past and Present - Canterbury Castle, The Word, Kent - showcase of Live Lit and Performance Arts;
- Field of flags – Dysarticulate, University of Portsmouth, various locations -Creative Campus Initiative - the audacious aim of Dysarticulate is to create tens of thousands of recycled ˜flags to be made and placed where they wish by anyone who dares to join in over Open Weekend, to create a unique new temporary public artwork all over England;
- One Day In Rother, Rother District Council, E Sussex - community comic to which everyone in Rother is invited to add a drawing to tell the story of the District over the Open Weekend;
- Four Senses, ArtSway , Hampshire - participatory walk;
- MK Cultural Decathlon, Milton Keynes Council, Milton Keynes - a fun summer event challenge for all ages solving clues and completing missions across Milton Keynes with a chance to enter a great prize draw;
- Guided historic walk of Staines Town Centre, Spelthorne Borough Council, Middlesex - discover Roman - 20th Century Staines
- A guided walk to discover Staines Moor and Church Lammas, Spelthorne Borough Council, Middlesex - a guided walk with local historian Joan Gardam
- Unveiling Swale's Hidden Heritage, Swale Borough Council, Kent - the aim of this event is to inspire young people in Swale to discover their local environment to celebrate their cultural heritage;
- Whispering Woods - Open Rehearsal, West Sussex Arts Partnership, W Sussex - open rehearsal for large-scale singing project, taking in place in woods after dark in September 2010.
South West - Mini-BioBlitz, Bristol Natural History Consortium, Bristol - a race against the clock to find as many species as possible living in central Bristol;
- Bat Discovery Night, South Gloucestershire Council, Gloucestershire - come and explore Wick Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve at twilight and go bat detecting
- Borders, Landance 2010 at Woodbury Castle, Landance, East Devon - contemporary community dance performances in the castle landscape;
- Minehead EYE's "Photograph and find" competition, Minehead EYE, Somerset - combined photography competition of hidden gem location's in West Somerset including instructions on how to get there from the exhibition at Minehead EYE;
- Knapp Hill Downland Discovery Day, Natural England, Wiltshire - an event for families and young children to explore Pewsey Downs National Nature Reserve and celebrate the Alton Barnes white horse;
- Wild Woodland Adventure, National Trust, Bath and North East Somerset - A day of fun and adventure in the Woodland;
- Walking Treasure Hunt, Sherborne Museum, Dorset - a leisurely walking treasure hunt around the town;
- Reserve Your Space, Natural England, Dorset - come along and find out how Stoborough Heath and Hartland Moor National Nature Reserves can become 'Your Space';
- Wild Orienteering, Natural England, Devon - get active and explore the nature reserve on this orienteering challenge!;
- Goonhilly Eco-Trail Day, Natural England, Cornwall - an eco-trail challenge uncovering the wildlife and history in the heart of the Lizard National Nature Reserve.
Wales - Gwaith Powdwr Wildlife and Art Festival, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Gwynedd - a celebration of the place of wildlife and people in the valley through theatre, dance, song and wildlife encounters;
- Cauldrons and Furnaces, Cadw, Denbighshire – a parade, music and storytelling.
West Midlands - "Making Links", Dudley MBC & Sandwell MBC , West Midlands - inspired by the values of the Cultural Olympiad and the great chain-making heritage of the Black Country;
- History in the headstones, West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, throughout the West Midlands - discovering local history stories in a landscaped setting and the official unveiling of a new heritage interpretive panel, with guided tours of the headstones by authors Jean Weston & Marlene Price;
- Artwalk2010, Come:Unity Arts, Birmingham - art, culture and heritage in Handsworth;
- Uncovering the Wyre Forest, Bewdley Museum, Worcestershire - a weekend of activities including, guided walks, flying falcons and family activities;
- Walking As One, Rhubarb-Rhubarb, Birmingham - a Photographic Participation Adventure;
- Kites on The Stiperstones, Natural England, Shropshire - learn about the Red Kites that make their home on The Stiperstones then make your own kite to fly;
- Museum on the Move, Bromsgrove District Council, Worcestershire - Museum on the Move comes to Bromsgrove.
Yorkshire & Humberside - Behind the scenes at a Museum, Leeds Museum Discovery Centre, Leeds - free tours exploring the hidden world of Museums not normally seen by the public;
- Tasting the Past, Museums Sheffield, Sheffield - find out what Henry VIII ate for breakfast and what Queen Victoria liked for tea by joining in with a range of food-related activities;
- Mad Hatterz Tea Party, Beam, Wakefield - the event will have an 'Alice in Wonderland' theme with local groups of young artists, musicians, dancers, poets and performers to showcase local young talent and discover The Orangery in a new light;
- Medieval Games, Wakefield Council, Wakefield - a unique opportunity to step back in time and participate in an exciting range of medieval activities;
- Sheffield My International City, Art in the Park, Sheffield - street art and performance celebration of a local community and green space;
- Life at No.57: The Sheffield Terraced House Dig, Heeley City Farm, Sheffield - community archaeology excavation at Heeley City Farm;
- Siege Knaresborough Castle Harrogate Museums and Arts, Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire – participants will make their own weapons and attack the Castle;
- King Harald's Riccall rampage; The Battlefield Trust , East Riding of Yorkshire-dawn walk along route of King Harald's army in 1066;
- British Festival of Archaeology, Natural England, East Riding of Yorkshire - fun and interesting archaeology activities for families and individuals;
- Time travelling treasure games, Dales Countryside Museum, North Yorkshire - taste life in the past and have a go at our treasures of the Dales games;
- Geo caching at Humberhead Peatlands, Natural England, East Riding of Yorkshire - using hired GPS learn how to geo cache down on Hatfield Moors.
About Discovering Places: Discovering Places is London 2012’s campaign to inspire communities across the UK to discover their local environment – with all its hidden places, extraordinary spaces and the stories they have to tell. Through amazing events, interactive programmes and engaging education projects, Discovering Places will use the power of the Games to inspire communities across the UK to celebrate and discover the natural, built and historic environments on their doorstep and beyond. Discovering Places is principally funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor and delivered in partnership between The Heritage Alliance and London 2012. Discovering Places is working with a number of key specialist built and natural environment organisations to deliver focused projects and events around the country. Organisations include: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), English Heritage and Natural England. About Westminster Hall Westminster Hall, the oldest building within the Houses of Parliament, was first built by William II. Over the last 1,000 it has hosted coronations, trials – such as those of Charles I and William Wallace – as well as shops and stalls. Today, Westminster Hall remains an important, working building: the second chamber of the House of Commons meets here and it welcomes over 1 million visitors to Parliament each year. The Houses of Parliament’s involvement in Discovering Places is part of its [their] contribution to the Cultural Olympiad. The general public can participate in the tours of Parliament on Friday 23 July. Available tours include Westminster Hall, Crypt Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, The Contemporary Portrait Collection tour and the Victoria Tower. For more information, go to http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/cultural-olympiad/discovering-places/ About the Heritage Alliance The Heritage Alliance, established in 2002 as Heritage Link, is the biggest alliance of heritage interests in the UK and was set up to promote the central role of the non-Government movement in the heritage sector. The Heritage Alliance has 82 members; national and major regional organisations including The National Trust, the Council for British Archaeology, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) as well as many smaller and more specialised heritage groups. About The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Spread over four years, it is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people. Millions of people around the UK are already part of the Cultural Olympiad, through the Inspire programme and Open Weekend. The finale of the Cultural Olympiad will be a twelve week UK-wide Festival in the summer of 2012, bringing together leading artists from all over the world. The Cultural Olympiad has benefited from a National Lottery grant of £15.6 million from the Olympic Lottery Distributor. Other funders include Legacy Trust UK and Arts Council England. British Council will commit £3million to the international development of London 2012 Cultural Olympiad projects. BP and BT are Premier Partners of the Cultural Olympiad. Panasonic are the presenting partner of Film Nation: Shorts. For more details visit www.london2012.com/culture |
