A ten-metre tall ‘living’ Lady Godiva is set to be created in Coventry city centre after a local arts company was shortlisted for a national Olympic art project.
Imagineer Productions has beaten off competition from thousands of artists to become one of five organisations in the West Midlands shortlisted to take part in the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Games’ (LOCOG) Artists Taking the Lead project.
Artists Taking the Lead is being developed by Arts Council England in partnership with LOCOG and the arts councils of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Twelve commissions will be created by artists across the nation, as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
The Puma Way-based company, which has been supported by the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games and NP Aerospace, aims to create a walking, breathing Lady Godiva which comes to life through the pedal power of 50 cyclists.
The creation, which will become a piece of permanent public art, will represent the region’s proud cultural and engineering past as well as its exciting future.
Over 2,000 dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians, pyrotechnic experts and carnival performers will join the structure in a processional performance before it walks to London to play a part in the 2012 Celebrations in Victoria Park, London.
The company will now receive a £5,000 development grant to turn their initial proposals into comprehensive plans. They will then present to panels in September, and the final decision will be announced in October 2009.
If successful in their bid, Imagineer Productions will be awarded a grant of up to £500,000 to complete the project.
Jane Hytch, from Imagineer Productions, said: “This is a hugely challenging project from both an artistic and engineering perspective - nobody has attempted anything like this before and it is a great feeling to be part of something so exciting and innovative.
“We aim to create a unique piece of permanent public art that is sure to grab national headlines and be something that people in the region can be truly proud of.
“We look forward to working closely with all our partners to make this project the major success it should be.”
Initial plans for the project were showcased during a special exhibition organised by Coventry Transport Museum, in Smithford Way, on Saturday (August 22).
Tom Clift, Coventry and Warwickshire partnership manager for the 2012 Games, said: “We are delighted that Imagineer Productions has been shortlisted as one of five West Midlands organisations to be part of the national Artists Taking the Lead Cultural Olympiad signature project.
“Their inclusion further demonstrates our commitment to engaging in the London 2012 Games and supporting London’s promise for 2012 to be the best games ever.
“The Cultural Olympiad is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the cultural and sporting sector and for local communities to be inspired by London 2012.
“This challenging and imaginative project adds huge value to the work of our partnership and we wish Imagineer every success.”
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Simon Gilbert
Advent Communications
2 Edison Building
Electric Wharf
Sandy Lane
Coventry CV1 4JA
Tel: 024 7663 3636
http://www.advent-communications.co.uk |
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