The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is a four-year celebration of culture designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012.  It aims to inspire creativity across all forms of culture, in particular, among young people. 

The London 2012 Festival is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad - a 12-week, UK-wide festival that will run from 21 June – 9 September 2012. A programme of over 1000 events will feature some of the finest artists in the world, ranging from pop to film, from visual arts and fashion to theatre, from circus to carnival, from opera to digital innovation. Those already commissioned include Cate Blanchett, Toni Morrison, Olafur Eliasson, David Hockney, Mike Leigh, Jude Law and Damon Albarn, Rufus Norris and Jamie Hewlett. 

 
Highlights include:

David Hockney - one of the 20th century’s most influential artists is working with London’s Royal Academy of Arts on a special commission for the London 2012 Festival.  

Peace one day - Jude Law is helping to stage the ‘Peace one day’ concert in Northern Ireland’s Derry, which will be UK Capital of Culture in 2013.

River of Music - a weekend of free performances for over 500,000 people by musicians from all 205 Olympic and Paralympic nations at landmark sites along London’s River Thames.

World Shakespeare Festival - celebrating William Shakespeare as the world’s playwright, the World Shakespeare Festival will run from 23 April (which is Shakespeare’s birthday) to 9 September 2012, and celebrate how the world performs, teaches and engages with Shakespeare. 

As with the Torch Relay, events in the Festival not only provide visitors with a reason to come and enjoy your hospitality during the summer of 2012, but also send out an advertisement to the world that Britain is the place to experience the very best arts and culture in the world.

For more information visit the London 2012 Festival website.