With less than 100 days to go until the start of London 2012, Olympic fever is mounting across the UK. This week, the 100 day milestone was marked with the unveiling of a huge set of Olympic rings comprising 25,000 flowers in Kew Gardens.
The emphasis throughout the build up to the games has been on the legacy of the event. This extends beyond the obvious benefits to the infrastructure of London, to include the positive impact it could have on the outlook of young people. This is reflected in the motto of London 2012 “inspire a generation.”
In Stoke-on-Trent, a local arts group with vast experience of working with young people will be seeking to do just this, as they transform the former Spode factory into an Olympic workshop ahead of the torch relay reaching the city on May 30.
B-Arts develop creative programmes aimed at sustaining, developing and enriching communities across North Staffordshire and the Midlands. Projects they have been involved in include lantern processions, video making and theatre productions.
The group believes creativity can enhance lives and claim; “We make memories and shared experiences as much as we create events.”
During the Olympic workshops, which begin on April 20, a group of artists and volunteers will be creating flags and costumes which will be seen in the parade to mark the passage of the Olympic Torch through Stoke-on-Trent.
There will be a total of 90 four metre flags and 200 costumes designed in previous workshops involving 2,000 school children. These will be stitched by the B-Arts team. The commercial property will also play host to musicians and dancers.
Artistic director Susan Clarke believes the workshops will benefit the city. She said; “B-Arts is delighted to be involved, as it’s is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Stoke-on-Trent, especially the children and young people, to show off their imagination and creativity to the world.”
Pottery was produced at the Spode industrial commercial property continuously between 1776 and 2008. Since its closure, it has served as a temporary exhibition space and, last year, hosted the prestigious British Ceramics Biennial. Next year a museum telling the story of Spode and the social and economic history of Stoke is due to open on the site of the commercial property.
The long term future of the 10 acre site has been the subject of debate and controversy for some time. Ambitious redevelopment plans had to be scaled down due to a lack of finance, and it now appears that a commercial property development based around a supermarket is the only viable option.
In the meantime, its temporary role as an Olympic creative workshop adds yet another chapter to its long history.
The Olympic Torch relay begins at Land’s End on May 19 and its journey will take it to 66 locations across the UK, including Plymouth, Cardiff and Aberdeen, before it arrives at the Olympic Park on July 27.
