2012 Olympics cultural funding set to be unveiled
The London Development Agency is expected to announce the first phase of funding for cultural activity in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics next week, ahead of its ‘cultural-sector supplier engagement event’ later this summer.
Details of awards for the LDA’s 2012 Games Cultural Skills Fund will be announced next week, while a new phase of bidding will be opened and other opportunities highlighted at the event, says an LDA spokesman.
The Cultural Skills Fund, to support the delivery of the four-year Cultural Olympiad, is expected to drive cultural activity linked to the theme of the games, according to the spokesman.
The aim is to ‘provide specific skills training, which does not need to be accredited, to enable beneficiaries to meet identified skills shortages in the creative and cultural industries’, according to an LDA bid document.
The ‘cultural-sector supplier engagement event’ – aimed at highlighting opportunities around the Olympics to creative businesses, small- to medium-sized enterprises and small arts organisations in the capital – is expected to comprise two workshops and a ‘larger-scale event’ with capacity for an audience of 200.
The Greater London Authority, London 2012, the Olympic Development Authority, the Arts Council and the LDA will be among the organisations outlining their upcoming programmes.
The spokesman adds, ‘There will also be advice about accessing Compete For, an electronic service to bid for Olympics-related contracts. The LDA will be publicising opportunities from the 2012 Games London Cultural Skills Fund which require pre-registration on Compete For.’
The LDA has abandoned its original plans to search for a consultancy to help it deliver the event – it put out a public tender earlier this year (DW 11 March) – and is now delivering the event itself with its ‘marketing panel members’, according to the spokesman.
This has been done to avoid the complex procurement process, he says.
Details of the main event, including date and location, have yet to be arranged, while the LDA has still not confirmed how it intends to engage with creative businesses, SMEs and small arts organisations, and whether attendance will be through invitation or an open application process.
If the event is deemed worthwhile and demand is high, there will be potential to extend its reach, says the spokesman.
LDA cultural Supplier Engagement Event
• Announcement of next phase 2012 Cultural Skills Fund bids
• Guidance on online tendering service Compete For
• Key Olympics organisers to outline upcoming programmes highlighting opportunities for creatives
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Great idea to go direct without the consultancy costs and logistics of the ‘middle-man’. It is a pity though that the LDA (whilst clearly following a regional brief) is unable to spread its search beyond London and welcome the input from around the UK – London may be the venue but it is ultimately a celebration of UK culture and creativity – certainly so from an international perspective.