Cultural Olympiad

= Latest additions/updates

Click here for the official page
Click here for the 2012 Festival

'Discovering Places' Torch Relay

For 70 days from 19 May to 27 July 2012 the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will travel the length and breadth of the UK, bringing the excitement of the Games to local places. At all times the torch will be within a one hour journey time of 95 per cent of the population and thousands of people will be coming out each day to see the torch travel through their town, village or city.

This provides a unique opportunity for organisations and communities to show off the best of the historic environment and attract new audiences to those hidden spaces, places and stories that make unique locations on or around the torch relay route.

The Heritage Alliance’s Cultural Olympiad project Discovering Places (DP) will be helping heritage organisations and potential audiences to get the most out of the Torch Relay by dedicating its popular blog to highlighting interesting stories, local sites, activities and events taking place along or near to the route. The blog launched in August 2011 and has already built up a steady following thanks to the stimulating content provided by contributors from across the historic and natural environment sectors.

DP now needs organisations and individuals to send information about sites and events along the route for promotion to blog readers. Blog posts will run three days in advance of Torch Relay stops to help audiences plan their day out and inspire people to discover more of their local historic environment. If you know of a unique heritage site, place or event that DP should include in the blog, or a place that has a special Olympic connection, then get in touch with DP at admin@discoveringplaces.co.uk.

Jurassic Coast Earth Festival 2012

Dates: 4 May-21 June and 21 June-9 September. Second festival ties in with the Olympics and Paralympics. Information on plans for the 2012 Olympics in Dorset and being part of the 2012 effort may be found at www.teamdorset.org.uk.

Diocesan Events

23 June-16 September: Olympics 2012
Ben Dearnley’s Avenue of Champions at Salisbury Cathedral
Coincides with the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. Bronze and marble sculptures in the cathedral cloisters focus on the ‘power zones’ of twelve of the UK’s past and present Olympic and Paralympic champions. http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/news.php?id=655

Sunday 1 July: Olympics 2012
Launch of 'Seeking Gold': details to follow