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London Legacy Development Corporation
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Arts and Culture Strategy for the Olympic Park

Our strategy has guided the transformation of the London 2012 Olympic Park into a new and dynamic quarter of the city.

Callum Lee

Managing Director

Callum leads the BOP team, its portfolio and strategic partnerships. His cultural and creative industries expertise is grounded in his work for major clients in the UK, Europe and Middle East.

Callum Lee - Managing Director  | BOP

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LOCATION

Europe

CLIENT

London Legacy Development Corporation

SECTOR

Projects Sectors

The outstanding success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games helped reinforce the capital’s position as one of the world’s leading cities for culture.


The development of a cultural legacy from the London 2012 Games was a core part of the original Olympic and Paralympic bid, and sparked an unprecedented wealth of cultural activity throughout the UK from as early as 2005. 


Focusing on the Park and its borders, it is important to recognise a series of innovative projects which were the forerunners to our development of art and culture in east London, and the foundations of the arts and culture strategy. They have all made important contributions to the development of the area, demonstrating how arts and culture can have an ongoing impact.


In December 2012, just four months after the close of an extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Legacy Corporation’s Board approved an ambitious strategy that was created by BOP for arts and culture in east London. The strategy, which is already a year into its delivery, made a commitment to:


  • create exceptional art and culture for all to enjoy

  • build on the heritage of the area by enlivening our public spaces and connecting with local communities

  • support cultural infrastructure ensuring that artists and organisations continue to have workspaces

  • nurture the next generation of creative minds and artists

  • support new initiatives to ensure that this cultural network continues to grow.



The goals of the strategy

The implementation of the startegy is carried out by the London Legacy Development Corporation that was created by the Mayor of London to develop the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It comprises five main themes:


  • Creative destination: The Park will be recognised as an exciting new area of east London and a significant cultural destination within London, contributing to the Mayor’s vision for London as leading cultural city.  

  • Creative workspaces: Creative talent in east London will be supported and developed, and its cultural infrastructure will be strengthened and sustained including new work spaces for artists. 

  • Art in the Park: New work of the highest quality across art forms in and around the Park will be comissioned, accessible to all and creating opportunities for a range of local and international artists.  

  • Taking part: Communities will have sustained opportunities to come together, learn new creative skills, and make and take part in arts and cultural activities. 

  • Festivals and events: Arts and culture will be central to the wider Park entertainment programme, attracting new audiences to memorable and high quality events.


The full report, including the strategy and it's subgoals, a short history and an update on the most recent measures, can be download below.

Arts and Culture Strategy for the Olympic Park

Our strategy has guided the transformation of the London 2012 Olympic Park into a new and dynamic quarter of the city.

Project Report

Arts and Culture Strategy for the Olympic Park

BOP Consulting, in collaboration with Raybel Charters and Santra Consulting, was commissioned by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), and National Historic Ships-UK (NHS-UK) to conduct a research study on the current state and needs of the UK’s historic ships sector.

Future Proofing Heritage

Our report for the British Arts Festivals Association paints a picture of a resilient sector that is surviving rather than thriving.

Festivals Forward

BAFA

BOP Consulting was appointed to outline a pilot for a Creative Worker Income Guarantee for Brighton & Hove, working on behalf of the University of Sussex and the ABCD Cultural Recovery Programme. 

Cultural, Creative and Collective Recovery: Exploring a Creative Worker Income Guarantee

University of Sussex

The report on how global cities tackle climate change with cultural policies and programmes. Insights from the World Cities Culture Forum's latest report.

The Green World Cities of Tomorrow: Culture and Sustainability – Special Report Prepared for WCCF Global Conversation

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

Unique case guide is co-produced with the participating cities of WCCF, highlighting city examples and a global cities approach to evidenced-based policymaking.

Culture Counts: New Approaches to Evidence Based Cultural Policymaking in World Cities

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

Working alongside CRAIC, a new research and collaboration centre at Loughborough University, we conducted an extensive survey of virtual production assets throughout the United Kingdom to map the country’s growing ecosystem.

Mapping the UK's Virtual Production Ecosystem

Loughborough University

The World Cities Culture Report (WCCR) 2022 builds on the ground-breaking 2018 and 2015 Reports. It gives insights on the major challenges world cities facing.

World Cities Culture Report 2022

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

BOP's contribution to the 2nd edition of the report UNESCO's Global Creativity Report, examining policies safeguarding the creative and cultural sectors.

UNESCO's Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity Report – Addressing culture as a global public good

UNESCO

BOP’s updated Handbook for the Inter-American Development Bank sets out strategies for sustainability and urban resilience

Creative and Cultural Industries and Urban Revitalisation in the post-COVID era

Inter-American Development Bank - IDB

We investigated the potential impact of AI for European cultural and creative businesses. Explore the transformative opportunities AI brings to industries.

Opportunities and Challenges of AI for the Cultural and Creative Industries

European Commission

Research in the Gulf Co-operation Council States in collaboration with British Council and BOP Consulting helps identify opportunities for festival development.

An evidence-base for the growing Gulf festivals sector

British Council

BOP’s report on creating a healthy night-time economy for the Nanjing City Government demonstrates the importance of cross-cutting policies.

Creating Healthy Night-time Economies in World Cities

Nanjing Creative Center

Findings from our work at Great Ormond Street Hospital reveals how visual arts enhance the patient, visitor, and staff experience.

Creativity in health settings

GOSH Arts

Our new report for UNESCO sets out the huge global impact of COVID-19 on the cultural sector. We estimate $750 billion lost for the CCI and 10 million job cuts.

Economic impact of COVID-19 on the Cultural and Creative Industries

UNESCO

New handbook 'Making Space for Culture' explores how world cities address the challenge of preserving cultural infrastructure while promoting growth.

How can cities make space for culture?

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

Our research for the National Trust suggests approximately 3,000 Grade II buildings at risk in urban areas and discusses the impact on heritage and communities.

Protect urban heritage to prevent growth in inequality

National Trust

Our review of the Scottish Animation Sector, commissioned by Creative Scotland, has just been published

Review of the Scottish Animation Sector

Creative Scotland

UK-wide study of visitor experience practice provides new benchmarks for cultural and visitor attractions

Sharing Operations and Visitor Experience insight

VE:Forum

Our ‘blueprint for growth’ strategy has just been published for the video games sector in the West Midlands.

What's next for a video games cluster?

ukie

The World Cities Culture Report 2018 explores the evolving role of culture in global cities. The report provides a view of the state of culture in our cities.

World Cities Culture Report 2018

World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)

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Callum Lee - Managing Director  | BOP

Callum Lee

Managing Director

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