The document provided by LOCOG (Background Briefing March 2008) is essential reading to understand the structure of the Cultural Olympiad and potential opportunities.
To support the Cultural Olympiad there is a Creative Programmer for every region of England and devolved nation of the UK. You can email them using the links below:
- Scotland: Scotland Creative Programmer
- Northern Ireland: Pat Wilson
- Wales: Gwyn Williams
- North-West: Debbi Lander
- North-East: Lorna Fulton
- Yorkshire: Tessa Gordziejko
- West Midlands: Paul Kaynes
- East Midlands: Paul Brookes
- East: Liz Hughes
- South-East: Caterina Loriggio
- South-West: Richard Crowe
- London - Five Host Boroughs: Hadrian Garrard
- London - Sarah Barnwell
Key issues/thoughts raised during the Liverpool Seminar March 2008 (and in post Seminar responses):
- How to protect artistic copyright in the midst of an explosive range of new opportunities, activities and events.
- Ensuring that images of children and vulnerable young people from carnival events are not exploited through external bodies and used without appropriate permissions.
- The "edginess" of Carnival is attractive in some cases for businesses who want to offer/present an alternative to a safe, conventional image.
- There is huge discrepancy across the UK with respect to charges and policies re policing of carnival. There may be a job to be done in collating information to seek a beneficial consistency for the sector.
- Local Authority support through a blanket licensing arrangement for outdoor space was a significant contribution from Liverpool City Council to Capital of Culture and could be replicated elsewhere.
- A fantastic resource identified was the "magic" traffic light controller for processions.
- The importance of raising issues and lobbying was illustrated by the success of the Morris Movement in ensuring dance on the street did not need to be licensed.
- Help is needed to provide support in establishing formal company status for newer carnival organisations
- A UK wide database of carnival artists is needed.
- A comprehensive carnival event tool kit would be a fantastic resource available for down load through an appropriate web site
- The national carnival web site should provide a forum for experiences to be shared (from a local/community level).
- It would be valuable for more detailed information on successful mas camp facilities to be available for accessing.
- More ideas/resources and information is needed to explore and exploit new methods for marketing carnival (My Space etc).
Key thoughts and issues that were raised during the London seminar April 2008 (and in post Seminar responses)
- There is anxiety from the sector to understand how you can engage with events and activity such as the Handover celebrations. What is the route for communicating opportunities and how soon will we know how to engage. Unless information is provided soon organisations will have to plan not to engage.
- Similarly there is a need to know whether opportunities to tender to be part of the formal ceremonies will be open or not. We cannot prepare if this information is not made available.
- Organisations would like more tendering advice, especially on issues such as whether one should challenge a failed tender.
- The issue of premises was particularly pertinent to the London Carnival community. Storage especially is a major issue and further exacerbated by the cost of premises in the capital.
- Local residency bases are urgently required, especially to service larger carnivals.
- The subject of Intellectual Property and Copyright is seen as very pertinent and one that the sector would value more advice on.
- There are some organisers who would like to see a Carnival Foundation Fund to support development and delivery of the art form.
- There needs to be a national voice for Carnival Arts in the UK, a mechanism to encourage collaboration.
- It was also suggested that each region should apply what is happening in the South East, in terms of regional networking.
- The view was expressed that the sector has never had anything like the Seminar before (En Route was something different) and that this is a positive first step!
- Once again the contradictory response from Police Authorities around the country was voiced as an issue of concern. Different policies applied in different areas.
Key thoughts and issues that were raised during the Birmingham seminar April 2008 (and in post Seminar responses)
- There seem to be excellent opportunities in conjunction with Live Site developments, but where are they and where is the information about Live Site plans?
- There is concern about lack of leadership from LOCOG. Why were no representatives at the Seminar (other than Creative Programmers). Direction is needed to channel the sector’s enthusiasm and energy.
- The question of environmentalism and use of recyclable and sustainable materials was raised. Can the sector have shared advice on this and examples of best practice.
- Questions were raised about responsibilities toward disabled people at Carnival, both in terms of meeting DDA requirements and health and safety law. Some specific advice on this subject would be beneficial, especially given the profile of the Paralympics.
- Concern was expressed about the income potential lost to some street traders, who obtain County Council licenses and peddle a range of expensive souvenirs with no commission returning to carnival.
- The commercial potential of souvenir brochures and simple souvenir lines was shared and highlighted.
- The opportunity to utilise the new Carnival centre in Luton, once open, was highlighted. Sharing resources and facilities is something the sector needs to improve on.
- Collaboration and networking in the widest sense was a major feature of discussion. The sector can hugely benefit from a collaborative approach eg to international exchanges. There is currently not enough dialogue in the sector.
- The concept of regional hubs for the carnival sector with a national umbrella organisation, is an attractive option.
- It is essential for networking and collaboration to be sector driven rather than ACE driven
- ACE could significantly help the sector by ensuring relevant tendering opportunities (from whatever source)are effectively disseminated and communicated
- Intellectual Property and copyright was again raised as an important training need.
