Coe joins Creed for 'Cultural Olympiad'

A four-year "Cultural Olympiad" in anticipation of London's 2012 Games has been unveiled by Olympic chiefs.

It will begin with an "Open Weekend" showcasing the best that creative Britain has to offer in more than 500 events across the country on the last weekend of September.

Events will take place far beyond London as Olympic chiefs try to avoid the accusation that the 2012 Games will only benefit the capital. Dozens of museums and art galleries across the country – including The Discovery Museum in Newcastle, the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth and national galleries in Scotland – will open up storerooms to give the public access to material not normally on display.

Jude Kelly, chairwoman of Culture, Ceremonies and Education for the Games, said the Olympiad would feature 10 major programmes designed to be "the largest celebration of cultural life in living memory".

To help kickstart public interest in the programme, Lord Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee, has agreed to turn himself into a work of art by running through Tate Britain for Martin Creed's Work No 850.

The events

* Open Rehearsal, the Greater London Authority's annual invitation to the public to look behind the scenes at institutions from the Royal Opera to English National Ballet will have an extended programme for the Olympiad's 'Open Weekend' launch.

* There will be a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the arrival of SS Empire Windrush, carrying the first large group of immigrants from the West Indies, on 28 September in Wycombe. Londonderry hosts a music festival and there will be free exhibitions of urban art in Cardiff.

* A firework display will form the backdrop to a specially decorated Blackpool Tower, with lights switched on at 20.12 on the night of 26 September. All prices on the promenade, which will be open later than usual, will be reverted to estimates of 1948 prices – a reference to the last year that Britain hosted the Games.

Interesting? Click here to explore further