Creative campuses

Thirteen universities in the south east of England have joined forces in support of the Cultural Olympiad to create a programme of cultural events inspired by the different Olympic and Paralympic sports. The first phase of the Creative Campus Initiative, which is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE), is presenting over 100 projects and generating artistic work, critical debate, learning materials and research-based creative innovation. Artists are being engaged to collaborate with students, academics and local communities, and 300 new partnerships have been established with schools, further education colleges, arts organisations, community groups, disability organisations, local authorities, foundations and development agencies. The initiative specifically aims to open up and share the cultural resources of campuses in the UK to provide greater access to practice-based research in the arts. The first phase will culminate in a series of commissions, exhibitions, performances, research and debate across the participating universities during the summer of 2010. A second phase of cultural events will be delivered as a precursor to the London 2012 opening ceremony, and an online showcase of artworks and performances will enable artists, performers and creative professionals to respond to the Games.