The first commissions have been announced for the London 2012 Festival; the 12 week festival that is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad.

On Monday, following many months of consultation, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson published the final version of ‘Cultural Metropolis’, his Cultural Strategy for London.

The London Local Authorities and Transport for London (No. 2) Bill is set to have its Third Reading in the House of Lords, although an exact date has not yet been scheduled. One specific clause of the Bill (number 16) is felt to present potential problems for the arts sector, and DCMS, via the Department for Transport (DfT) will be objecting to the clause. Clause 16 states the intention to recover from the organisers of large scale public events (such as football matches or concerts) the cost of any additional traffic management and street cleaning needed as a result of those events. Clause 16(1) states that: “This section applies in respect of any sporting event or any entertainment that, in either case, is put on for commercial gain in Greater London (including an event that is one of a number of similar events put on at the same location at different times).” 

The NCA extends its congratulations to Ruth Mackenzie, who has been appointed to the Cultural Olympiad Board as Director of Culture. Ruth is currently an expert adviser on broadcasting and cultural policy for the DCMS, and has previously been Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre from 2002-06, General Director, Scottish Opera 1997-99 and Executive Director, Nottingham Playhouse 1990-97. She has also worked on a consultancy basis for the Barbican Centre, Tate, BBC, London Symphony Orchestra and Young Vic and she was Head of Strategic Planning for the Southbank Centre 1986-90. The NCA also welcomes the appointment of a number of leading artistic figures as advisors to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Culture Team.