Cultural countdown
Creating a city of culture is at the heart of the regeneration
plans for Medway
The London 2012 Games provide the perfect opportunity to make
the most of Medway's cultural and artistic scene.
From the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games until the
start of the London 2012 Games, the UK is holding a four-year
cultural celebration, known as the Cultural Olympiad.
This will include a series of nationwide projects and festivals,
culminating in the London 2012 Festival, as well as a series of
community events in Medway as we look to 2012 and beyond.
Get the latest news on
the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival.
Medway's Year of Celebration
The Medway Cultural Strategy sets out Medway's cultural plans
and ambitions for the next five years.
The draft strategy includes plans for a year of celebrations in
2012 to mark the Cultural Olympiad and:
- the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee;
- Dickens' bi-centenary;
- the 200th anniversary of the Royal Engineers in Medway;
- the British Transplant Games in Medway;
These celebrations will be in addition to Medway's existing
thriving cultural programme, including the
Fuse Festival and
Castle Concerts.
Find out more about
Medway's Cultural Strategy.
Cultural countdown in Medway so far
Medway's 2012 campaign launch in 2007 included the unveiling of
a commemorative countdown clock.
The clock, which is now positioned outside Medway Park in
Gillingham, was created by Medway metal artist Paula
Groves.
It features a clock showing the number of days remaining until
the start of the 2012 Games.
Medway also played its part in launching the national Cultural
Olympiad.
Thousands of people gathered in the grounds of Rochester Castle
for a film and firework spectacular that included the projection of
the Welcome to
Medway film onto the side of the Norman castle.
In recognition of the ancient Olympic tradition of awarding
medals for culture as well as sport, Medway also launched the
Medway Culture and Design Awards.
These
awards, first held in 2008, celebrate the thriving cultural scene
in Medway. Inaugural winners included fashion designer Zandra
Rhodes.
Medway supports the national London 2012 Open Weekend, marking
the annual countdown to the start of the London Games, by staging a
programme of cultural and sporting events.
Medway is also playing its part in an official London 2012
Cultural Olympiad project. The Medway Champion 'Sparky' made his
first appearance at the 2009 Fuse Festival and also completed the
Medway Mile. He will grow over the years leading up to the
2012 Games, travelling from event to event and telling the story of
the Cultural Olympiad. Find out more about
Sparky.
Medway's universities are also part of a major Cultural Olympiad
project involving eight South East universities.
The University of Kent and the University for the Creative Arts
are both part of the the Creative Campus
Initiative, which is creating a programme of innovative and
dynamic cultural events inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic
Games in 2012.
Visit What's On to find out
more about Medway's schedule of events, outdoor activities,
festivals and performances.