Creative arts

The 2012 Olympics gives the UK church an unprecedented opportunity to engage with contemporary culture.

More than Gold aims to harness the creativity of the Church to connect with people around the 2012 Games.

The Creative and Performing Arts team will give local churches and national Christian arts groups an opportunity to serve in the context of mission initiatives including Community festivals and Hospitality Centres.

How can performers and artists get involved?

More Than Gold is producing a list of UK performers and artists for local churches to book. Those who would like to be included should contact joydacosta@morethangold.org.uk

Artists willing to perform free of charge as a service to churches during the Games should contact jonathan@forever2012.com to register.  

International artists wishing to perform in the UK during the Games should fill in the application form which can be found here.

How your church can use performers or artists

The ways you can use creative arts to engage with your community include -

National Tours

• Saltmine Theatre Company tour with In Their Shoes, created and performed in collaboration with Ulfah Arts  a Muslim theatre company.  The play promotes working together in spite of our differences, and models this as the two companies  produce an example of what can be achieved when different people unite to use their abilities for the same goal. To watch a trailer go to link. For bookings contact contact Joanna Bell at creative@saltmine.org or on 01384 454807.
• Lantern Arts Centre tour with their version of Dangerous Jouney. In celebration of 2012 Games, the team has revised the classic Bunyan play based on one man's race. With music by Paul Field, this production is relevant for all ages. To get a taste go to the video on YouTube. Details at Lantern Arts.
• Riding Lights tour nationally between March and June 2012 with Monsieur de Coubertin’s Magnificent Opymlic© Feat! It goes back to the roots of the modern Games, bringing together the company’s church-linked audience with a new audience of people passionate about sport. Do download full details on a PDF click here. Those interesting in hosting should contact jessica.lawson@rltc.org
• Act 4 have Star Citizen 2012, a record breaking interactive games show for primary schools, community groups and churches. It connects with the 2012 Games by encouraging children to reach for their potential. Details at Act 4
  
  UK Artists List
  
  For a list of musicians, comedians and theatre groups you could book for local events Click here
  
  International Artists
  
  Up to 1,000 performers may be coming from overseas to serve churches free of charge. Priority will be given to churches in host cities and towns including those with official Live Sites.

Churches interested in hosting international guests should contact joydacosta@morethangold.org.uk

Register your event

Be sure to register your event so it can be added to our interactive map and we can help get the word out. Just go here.
 

Creative arts at past Olympics

At the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, 32 teams of 249 creative artists performed in restaurants, pubs, clubs, malls, coffee houses and orphanages.

At the Atlanta 1996 Olympic and Paralympic Games, over 300 cultural performances were staged on high traffic pedestrian corridors within the city.

And during the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, over 1,000 creative arts performances took place on 155 stages throughout the city.