Arts chiefs call for immediate action over 2012 Olympics

Published Tuesday 1 August 2006 at 16:40 by Nuala Calvi

Leading figures from the arts world have warned that action is needed now to ensure the success of the cultural programme for the 2012 Olympics.

Members of the new Culture and Creativity Advisory Forum for the Cultural Olympiad, including Royal Opera House chief executive Tony Hall, British Film Institute chair Anthony Minghella and South Bank Centre artistic director Jude Kelly, called for the government to set out a “clear national vision” for the programme.

At the group’s first meeting, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota said: “The 2012 Olympics will provide a unique opportunity for the arts, culture and creativity in Britain. We will be able to show the world the very best that we have to offer and reflect the World in Britain.

“But we need to start planning for this now. The Government must take the lead in developing a vision of what the cultural programme will be and what it will aim to achieve and setting a framework within which we can all work to make the 2012 Cultural Olympiad the best ever.”