Community grants for the Cultural Olympiad
A grant scheme has been established to support the community in developing and delivering high-quality cultural events and projects within the borough as part of the Cultural Olympiad.
The projects must meet the values and themes of the Cultural Olympiad, which can be found via the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad associated link.
Applications closed on 22 August 2008 and the successfull projects were:
'A Song for Croydon'
As part of the London Mozart Players' "So you want to be a composer?" programme for children, a group of musicians and a singer/songwriter worked with pupils from Shirley High School on a song inspired by the dreams of Olympic achievement.
On 5 November, the young composers and 600 primary students from Croydon took to the stage at the Fairfield Halls to perform the world premiere of "A Song for Croydon".
An annual competition has been established offering young songwriters the chance to add verses to the song, which will be sung by students in the build up to the 2012 Games.
London Sitar Ensemble
London Sitar Ensemble has been awarded a grant to develop an arts project involving young people and local artists that looks at the development of Indian music and dance in the borough from the Olympic Games in 1948 to the present day. It will involve workshops and oral history interviews and aims to raise awareness of the Cultural Olympiad and the diversity within the borough.
Barbados Overseas Women's Link (BOWL)
BOWL has received a grant to develop a project involving young people aged 8 - 16. It consists of three cultural activities:
- Callenda, a Caribbean game using bamboo sticks
- Quadrill, a folk dance
- Warri, a board game.
The activities will be taught by older artists who are expert in these activities.
Age Concern Croydon
Age Concern Croydon will be hosting a festival event targeted at older people, which will celebrate positive aging and the Cultural Olympiad. Those attending will be able to participate in activities including Tai Chi, crafts, massage and cooking.
Children will also be invited to work with older people to develop an Olympic Memory Wall, drawing on experiences past and present. A collage based on the five Olympic rings will showcase aspects of life in Croydon.
Croydon Supplementary Education Project (CSEP)
CESP will create a mini Team GB within Croydon made up of kids attending the supplementary school. Those participating in the project will take part in sessions over three months, focusing on the Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence.
During these sessions participants will take part in soft sports such as table tennis and running. There will also be Olympic mastermind events aimed at improving participants' knowledge and understanding of the Games and their values.
The National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society will be providing an African drumming performance and workshop and an arts and craft workshop for young people with autism spectrum disorder. The project will research West African countries that take part in the Games.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM)
SLAM will be providing sports coaching sessions for service users at the hospital. The sessions will give those involved a chance to particpate in sports they haven’t tried before such as cycling, basketball and indoor hockey, as well as developing skills in sports currently provided such as swimming and badminton.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in the Bethlem Royal Hospital Olympic Games.
2012 Games Cultural Skills Fund
The fund was established by the London Development Agency to help people gain and develop skills in the arts and creative sectors. It is aimed particularly at small organisations and community groups that want to contribute to the range of cultural activities taking place during the Cultural Olympiad.
A total of £1.2m is available for grants of between £25,000 and £50,000.
The prospectus explaining the fund and the application process can
be found via the Prospectus (Cultural Skills
Fund) associated link.
To apply for funding you will need to go through an elgibility check, which
you can do via the Compete For - eligibility
check associated link. Please read the prospectus before
completing the eligibility check.
The deadline for pre-qualification registration was 7 November 2008. Further rounds will open on 19 January and 8 June 2009.
Activities must be completed by 31 March 2010.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Ed McDermott
- Job title
- Olympics Officer
- Department
- Community Services
- Telephone
- 020 8726 6000 x62228
- edward.mcdermott@croydon.gov.uk
- Address
- 10th Floor
Taberner House
Croydon
CR9 3BT
