On 13 January the Cultural Olympiad Board, chaired by Tony Hall and The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced the appointment of Ruth Mackenzie as Director of Culture. Leading the LOCOG Culture Team, she will report to Tony Hall and the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Board and will be supported by a team of artistic advisors: Martin Duncan, Craig Hassall, Sir Brian McMaster and Alex Poots.
The Cultural Olympiad, which began in 2008, is a major engagement programme for London 2012. It will enable people, especially young people, around the UK to experience London 2012 in their town or street and to increase participation and capacity in cultural activity. In summer 2009 the LOCOG Culture Team secured a grant of £16m for the Cultural Olympiad from the Olympic Lottery Distributor, using National Lottery funds. Legacy Trust UK is also investing the majority of its £40 million grant funding in cultural projects linked to the London 20120 Games. In addition, BP and BT have been confirmed as Premier Partners of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Currently there are almost 150 Cultural Olympiad Inspire Projects registered across the UK, and Open Weekend in July 2008 and 2009 has seen over 1 million people take part in events across around UK.
The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Board was established in the autumn of last year and gives strategic direction and oversight to the programme. Its Chair, Tony Hall, is also a member of the LOCOG Board.