The Cultural Olympiad is a four-year celebration of arts and culture. Artists and young people speak about what it means to them.
Martin Creed, artist: It's
healthy to keep moving, not just physically but mentally, and when I
see people making the most of themselves like an athlete does it makes
me want to make the most of myself.
Anish Kapoor, artist: [The]
Cultural Olympiad is complicated. It's rather nebulous, which is good.
It will form its self from a whole myriad of events big and small,
across the country.
Lara Masters, television presenter: The
Cultural Olympiad: the next four years are very important because they
will bring a lot more opportunity to young people to get involved with
culture.
Jenny Sealey, theatre: I think to have arts culture involved in 2012 is just crucial. The arts culture is a fundamental part of being human.
Lara Masters: Culture of course means finding your identity, and expressing yourself and also being part of a community.
Anish Kapoor: Creative
people have their most compelling ideas when they are young. One would
hope that some of the energy can be brought out, and brought forward by
[the] Cultural Olympiad.
Akram Khan, dancer: I
think what young people find in an activity like dance is a voice to
express you anger, to express your love and then on top of that to feel
part of a group, a family. You form a oneness with everyone through
arts or through sports and, that's what is wonderful about it and I
think it's crucial today, especially for the young generation.
Kathryn Tickell, musician: Particularly
with young people, the more people you get in your peer group that are
playing, then the whole thing becomes more self perpetuating. I think
the social side of it helps to keep it going in a way.
Nicola Benedetti, violinist:
Six-year-old children in a class - they've all been given some
instrument and they're all doing very, very simple things but they have
some kind of feeling we're created something.
Russell Pritchard, The Zutons: If
you can get a child into something like music or anything that is sort
of creative, I think that opens the mind to everything. I think there
are people out there who try and do positive things to get kids into
things.
Martin Creed: Everything everyone does is creative. I learn from heroes and people I see.
Sean Payne, The Zutons: With
Liverpool and say the Beatles as an obvious example, for us it's like
they're only from down the road. They can do it, why can't we do it.
Russell Pritchard: I don't think it will change over night but it's important to keep it moving otherwise it will stop.
Anish Kapoor: Legacy's
possible if it is met at every level by ambition. What one wants is to
set the ground, building momentum and keeping it going.
Nicola Benedetti: It needs constant activity, things going on all the time not what's already there because it's obviously not quite enough.
Russell Pritchard: We've got to seize the chance while the spotlight is on the country.
Martin Creed: If you can make a good decision now it will last.
Akram Khan: If you focus on the present the legacy will happen.
Anish Kapoor: What's there to lose?
Young female performer: I'm excited because I love performing. I love the rush that I get when I'm performing.
Young female performer: If I've got a talent I may as well show it and use it.
Young male performer: It's basically helped me open my eyes to see that I can make something out of my life.
