Paul Kaynes has been appointed by Culture minister Margaret Hodge to be ‘Creative Programmer’ for the West Midlands. Paul will be one of eight Creative Programmers across England, and will take forward Government plans for an inspiring Cultural Olympiad in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Based within the Regional Cultural Consortium, Culture West Midlands, he will:
• Encourage and enable arts and cultural bodies to get involved, and create opportunities for ordinary people to take part,
• Become a dynamic link between the regions and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
• Assess whether local projects meet the criteria to become part of the Cultural Olympiad, and
• Ensure that each region’s heritage is as well represented as its 21st century technology.
Accepting the post, Paul Kaynes said:
“The Cultural Olympiad is a truly unique opportunity for the West Midlands to showcase to the rest of the world what we have to offer. A once in a lifetime opportunity, the Olympiad is a chance to celebrate the region’s diverse cultural life while inspiring a whole new generation to take part. Our region already has strong links to the Olympic movement through Much Wenlock’s annual Olympiad Games and I am thrilled to be involved in developing a programme that will motivate, engage and offer a real legacy for the region”.
Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge said
“The Cultural Olympiad in the run up to 2012 gives us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the culture and creativity of our country. Thanks to the appointment of Creative Programmers in the Regions, our vision to put on a UK-wide celebration of the UK's cultural life as part of the Cultural Olympiad is now a step closer.
“The Creative Programmers will bring about a package of innovative regional activity, helping to make a real and lasting difference. They will bring a wealth of experience and energy to making this a unique celebration of cultural life across the UK.”
Olivia Grant, Chair of Chairs for the Regional Cultural Consortiums said:
"London won the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games in part because of its promise to deliver an event that would be of benefit to the whole of UK. The four year Cultural Olympiad will play a crucial role in turning that vision into a reality, offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for the whole country to celebrate its rich and diverse cultural heritage.
“Hosted by and working closely with the Regional Cultural Consortiums in each English region, the Creative Programmers will deliver a comprehensive cultural programme for each region that will inspire and motivate a whole new generation. As well as promoting the cultural life of each region locally, nationally and internationally, this important work will be critical in ensuring that the 2012 Olympics creates a lasting legacy that is experienced the length and breadth of the country."
London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed the new appointments:
“The Cultural Olympiad is a vital component of our vision for the Games – and, given it starts after the closing ceremony in Beijing, the first tangible sign that the Games will be coming to London in 2012. We welcome our new creative programmers to the 2012 family – their role will be vital in shaping the Cultural Olympiad and making it vibrant, exciting and relevant to everyone across the UK. I know our Culture, Ceremonies and Education team here at London 2012 are looking forward to working with them in the years ahead.”
Bill Morris, Director of Culture, Ceremonies and Education outlined how the Creative Programmers will work with the team:
“We welcome the creative programmers to the team. One of the most important aspects of the Cultural Olympiad is the fact that it can happen in many shapes and forms and across the length and breadth of the UK. The Creative Programmers will be able to help us shape events and initiatives across the country – crucially they can bring with them local knowledge and help create a programme that will genuinely celebrate the whole of the UK and its diverse cultures.”
Northern Ireland has appointed a Cultural Programmer. Wales have appointed an interim Creative Programmer, and Scotland is currently considering what arrangements would best fit their plans to participate in the Cultural Olympiad. London is looking to put in place a framework for developing the Cultural Olympiad on a city-wide basis.
Notes to editors
1. Paul Kaynes has been the Chief Executive of Audiences Central, the West Midlands' regional audience development agency for arts and culture since 1997. Before that he worked at mac, Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre, Warwick Arts Centre and the RSC. He co-founded and directed Birmingham’s large scale audience development festival, ArtsFest, from 1998 to 2004. He's also an experienced trainer, and is chair of Leamington-based Motionhouse Dance Theatre's board.
He is chair of the West Midlands’ regional development agency’s theme group on festivals and events, and chair of the steering group for Cultural Research in the West Midlands. He is a member of Visit Britain’s Culture and Heritage Sector Club and of the board of Network, the association of UK audience development agencies.
His specialisms include strategic audience development, cultural marketing research, festivals and their role in cultural development, cultural tourism and dance.
2. DCMS are working closely with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the Greater London Authority on plans for the Cultural Olympiad.
3. The Regional Cultural Consortiums are the DCMS’s strategic cultural development agencies in the eight English regions.
4. The regional funders of this post are: Culture West Midlands, ACE West Midlands, English Heritage West Midlands, Museums Libraries and Archives West Midlands, Museums Hub West Midlands, Screen West Midlands and Play England West Midlands.
5. There are three main elements to the Cultural Olympiad:
- Tier 1: The Mandatory Ceremonies: including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games; the Medal Ceremonies; the Torch Relay and the welcome of the athletes to the Olympic Village
- Tier 2: Major Projects: These are projects which were included in the Bid document and include such things as Live Sites around the country, a World Cultural Festival, the International Shakespeare Festival, and an international Museums Exhibition
- Tier 3: UK-wide Cultural Festival: A cultural festival is planned to build up to and run alongside the Games. The aim is that projects involved in the festival should be drawn from grass-roots community projects; engage local communities; and increase participation.
6. The establishment of this network of Creative Programmers will contribute to the delivery of cultural events in these regions in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games. These events will span the UK.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6272
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
Internet: http://www.culture.gov.uk
Based within the Regional Cultural Consortium, Culture West Midlands, he will:
• Encourage and enable arts and cultural bodies to get involved, and create opportunities for ordinary people to take part,
• Become a dynamic link between the regions and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
• Assess whether local projects meet the criteria to become part of the Cultural Olympiad, and
• Ensure that each region’s heritage is as well represented as its 21st century technology.
Accepting the post, Paul Kaynes said:
“The Cultural Olympiad is a truly unique opportunity for the West Midlands to showcase to the rest of the world what we have to offer. A once in a lifetime opportunity, the Olympiad is a chance to celebrate the region’s diverse cultural life while inspiring a whole new generation to take part. Our region already has strong links to the Olympic movement through Much Wenlock’s annual Olympiad Games and I am thrilled to be involved in developing a programme that will motivate, engage and offer a real legacy for the region”.
Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge said
“The Cultural Olympiad in the run up to 2012 gives us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the culture and creativity of our country. Thanks to the appointment of Creative Programmers in the Regions, our vision to put on a UK-wide celebration of the UK's cultural life as part of the Cultural Olympiad is now a step closer.
“The Creative Programmers will bring about a package of innovative regional activity, helping to make a real and lasting difference. They will bring a wealth of experience and energy to making this a unique celebration of cultural life across the UK.”
Olivia Grant, Chair of Chairs for the Regional Cultural Consortiums said:
"London won the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games in part because of its promise to deliver an event that would be of benefit to the whole of UK. The four year Cultural Olympiad will play a crucial role in turning that vision into a reality, offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for the whole country to celebrate its rich and diverse cultural heritage.
“Hosted by and working closely with the Regional Cultural Consortiums in each English region, the Creative Programmers will deliver a comprehensive cultural programme for each region that will inspire and motivate a whole new generation. As well as promoting the cultural life of each region locally, nationally and internationally, this important work will be critical in ensuring that the 2012 Olympics creates a lasting legacy that is experienced the length and breadth of the country."
London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed the new appointments:
“The Cultural Olympiad is a vital component of our vision for the Games – and, given it starts after the closing ceremony in Beijing, the first tangible sign that the Games will be coming to London in 2012. We welcome our new creative programmers to the 2012 family – their role will be vital in shaping the Cultural Olympiad and making it vibrant, exciting and relevant to everyone across the UK. I know our Culture, Ceremonies and Education team here at London 2012 are looking forward to working with them in the years ahead.”
Bill Morris, Director of Culture, Ceremonies and Education outlined how the Creative Programmers will work with the team:
“We welcome the creative programmers to the team. One of the most important aspects of the Cultural Olympiad is the fact that it can happen in many shapes and forms and across the length and breadth of the UK. The Creative Programmers will be able to help us shape events and initiatives across the country – crucially they can bring with them local knowledge and help create a programme that will genuinely celebrate the whole of the UK and its diverse cultures.”
Northern Ireland has appointed a Cultural Programmer. Wales have appointed an interim Creative Programmer, and Scotland is currently considering what arrangements would best fit their plans to participate in the Cultural Olympiad. London is looking to put in place a framework for developing the Cultural Olympiad on a city-wide basis.
Notes to editors
1. Paul Kaynes has been the Chief Executive of Audiences Central, the West Midlands' regional audience development agency for arts and culture since 1997. Before that he worked at mac, Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre, Warwick Arts Centre and the RSC. He co-founded and directed Birmingham’s large scale audience development festival, ArtsFest, from 1998 to 2004. He's also an experienced trainer, and is chair of Leamington-based Motionhouse Dance Theatre's board.
He is chair of the West Midlands’ regional development agency’s theme group on festivals and events, and chair of the steering group for Cultural Research in the West Midlands. He is a member of Visit Britain’s Culture and Heritage Sector Club and of the board of Network, the association of UK audience development agencies.
His specialisms include strategic audience development, cultural marketing research, festivals and their role in cultural development, cultural tourism and dance.
2. DCMS are working closely with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the Greater London Authority on plans for the Cultural Olympiad.
3. The Regional Cultural Consortiums are the DCMS’s strategic cultural development agencies in the eight English regions.
4. The regional funders of this post are: Culture West Midlands, ACE West Midlands, English Heritage West Midlands, Museums Libraries and Archives West Midlands, Museums Hub West Midlands, Screen West Midlands and Play England West Midlands.
5. There are three main elements to the Cultural Olympiad:
- Tier 1: The Mandatory Ceremonies: including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games; the Medal Ceremonies; the Torch Relay and the welcome of the athletes to the Olympic Village
- Tier 2: Major Projects: These are projects which were included in the Bid document and include such things as Live Sites around the country, a World Cultural Festival, the International Shakespeare Festival, and an international Museums Exhibition
- Tier 3: UK-wide Cultural Festival: A cultural festival is planned to build up to and run alongside the Games. The aim is that projects involved in the festival should be drawn from grass-roots community projects; engage local communities; and increase participation.
6. The establishment of this network of Creative Programmers will contribute to the delivery of cultural events in these regions in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games. These events will span the UK.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6272
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
Internet: http://www.culture.gov.uk
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