WE PLAY is the Northwest’s own cultural celebration of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
WE PLAY is a four-year project of innovative cultural programmes that combines digital, physical and virtual participation opportunities for everyone. It integrates public events, community programmes and new work right across the Northwest.
It brings together people, cultures, places and programmes under one unifying theme - WE PLAY – to connect, collaborate and celebrate.
There are three core WE PLAY programmes running between 2008 and 2012:
• Abandon Normal Devices
Abandon Normal Devices is a festival of new cinema and digital culture, designed to inspire ideas and spark debate around the concept of normality in relation to our bodies and the way we live now. The festival will take place in autumn each year, alternating between Liverpool and Manchester. There is also an extended programme across the region. For more information visit the Abandon Normal Devices website.
• Blaze
Blaze is an ambitious youth-led programme taking place across Lancashire, from the Fylde coast to the Pennines. In the lead up to 2012 young people are realising their creative aspirations, producing a dynamic programme of new work each summer, making connections between sport and arts, that will excite and engage residents and visitors to Lancashire and Blackpool. You can find out more on the Blaze website.
• Lakes Alive
Lakes Alive is a programme of world-class street arts events and festivals bringing the towns, villages and spectacular landscapes of Cumbria alive. Featuring the best international artists, the programme animates public spaces in Cumbria across spring and summer each year, culminating with Mintfest, its flagship street-arts festival. Visit the Lakes Alive website to learn more, or view the Lakes Alive 2009 film or the Lakes Alive 2010 film.
A fourth programme of work is in development for 2012 and will be a fusion of people, cultures, places and programmes, enabling people in the Northwest to celebrate the Games.
WE PLAY is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. WE PLAY is led by new regional partnerships and managed by Arts Council England, North West.
Many of the projects and events in the WE PLAY programme have been awarded the Inspire mark, making them part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Watch our film here
You can follow WE PLAY on facebook and twitter.