Imagineer Productions

Imagineer Productions present “Godiva Awakes” A major project for London 2012’s Cultural Olympiad

Arts Council England and London 2012 announced last week that Imagineer have been selected as the West Midlands winner of a £500,000 commission for Artists taking the lead, one of the major projects for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Godiva Awakes was selected by an independent panel of artists and producers from the five projects shortlisted in August from a total of 133 regional entries. This is a genuinely artist led project which is great in scale and ambition and reflects the values of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics.

The panel felt that ‘Godiva Awakes’ had a strong idea at the heart of it, which would represent the skills and creativity of the West Midlands region and reflect the values of the Cultural Olympiad. The panel were excited by the participatory opportunities that would be offered to artists and young people throughout the region and the partnerships, particularly with Coventry City Council and local businesses that were already in place. Finally the panel welcomed the opportunity to link activity in the West Midlands to London 2012 through the journey that Godiva will take from Coventry to London, providing a large scale spectacular event for audiences in the West Midlands and beyond.

Godiva Awakes is one of 12 commissions that will be realised across the UK over the next three years, each inspired by their location and celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There is one commission for each of the nine English regions and the nations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Kathi Leahy, Director of Imagineer Productions said “We are honoured and excited to be chosen to represent the West Midlands region at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to be able to give thousands of people the opportunity to be part of the greatest celebration of humanity.”

Ros Robins, Director of Arts, Arts Council England, West Midlands said: Imagineer’s Godiva Awakes is an extraordinary project that will take everyday threads of life in the West Midlands and link them in to London 2012. Active involvement in this project by people across the West Midlands, including many children and young people, will give a different perspective to the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Moira Sinclair, Executive Director of Arts Council England, London, said: ‘These 12 extraordinary projects redefine what public art will mean in 2012. From spectacular events and monumental installations to very personal explorations of a region’s culture in perhaps more unexpected places, the active involvement of individuals and communities will be key to their success and encourage new audiences to enjoy the arts. ‘I would like to congratulate not only the 12 winners, but each of the 59 artists shortlisted for these commissions; together they demonstrate that the UK is a nation bursting with creativity.’

London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe said: ‘The winning commissions will be the catalyst for a truly national showcase of culture inspired by the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Each project will explore the nation and region’s creativity as part of a UK-wide celebration of London 2012.’

Chair of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Board, Tony Hall, commented: ‘Well done to all the winners! I think it’s wonderful to see such a diverse range of creativity across the winning 12 commissions, reflecting the different characteristics of different parts of the UK. And as I travel around the regions meeting those involved, I’m encouraged by the huge energy and buzz already being created by the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. This is a real opportunity to show the world the breadth of talent and creativity there is in the UK across all art forms.’

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: ‘The UK has a proud reputation as being home to some of the world’s most talented and innovative artists, reflected in the range of works selected today. Through Artists taking the lead, every part of the country will get a new and exciting artwork which combines the sporting and cultural spirit of the 2012 Games.’

Details of the twelve winning projects can be viewed now on www.artiststakingthelead.org.uk. The film which Imagineer developed in partnership with Beatroot Visual Solutions as part of our bid to Artists Taking the Lead can now be viewed on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6djV9_Qfh0I

About Artists taking the Lead

Artists taking the lead is one of the major projects of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Arts Council England is managing the project on behalf of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Scottish Arts Council and the Arts Council of Wales.

About the Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad is a national celebration of culture which is happening now and is about: • Giving everyone in the country a chance to be part of London 2012 • Bringing sport and art together on a scale that has never been done • Using the power of the Olympic Games to inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially amongst young people. • Making a real impact which will leave a lasting legacy well beyond 2012

GODIVA AWAKES

Imagine Make Inspire

IMAGINE Imagine a ten metre high Lady Godiva, awakening from her sleeping chamber for the first time.

She stands in the centre of England between the White Horse in Kent and the Angel of the North, a potent symbol of justice across the world, reborn for the 21st century, embodying the values of fair play, friendship, respect and courage that are at the heart of the Olympic movement.

Clothed in a cloak crafted by artists and communities from across the region, chronicling the West Midland’s unique industrial and engineering heritage she is a moving, breathing monument, reflecting the excellence of past engineering glories and ‘imagineering’ the engineering future for all our young people in the West Midlands.

Imagine the moment when Godiva Awakes ….

A spectacular performance developed over three years where Godiva, powered by 50 cyclists, joins 2000 dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians, pyrotechnicians and carnivalists in a processional performance with young performers at its heart, marking the unveiling of the new Lady Godiva.

She walks to London to play a part in the London 2012 Celebrations in Victoria Park, her journey to the Olympics resonating with spectators across the world.

A moving piece of public art the like of which has never been seen, running on cycle power/sustainable energy

MAKE A world class piece of public art, made by mechanics, artists, theatre makers, puppeteers and engineers from Coventry, the region, nationally and internationally to the highest standards of contemporary craftsmanship, playing a significant role in the urban regeneration, development of tourism and regional pride for the West Midlands.

A beautiful cloak for Godiva, which tells the story of the things people have made and the people who made them, in the West Midlands

A pool of new creative talent – a once in a lifetime opportunity for young people of all backgrounds to engage on an ambitious, excellent project, gaining accredited training in the process

INSPIRE A new generation of makers, performers and event producers who will create the unique events of the future

Establish a new tradition as Godiva awakes each year heralding the start of the Godiva Procession

Capture the imagination of the country and the world for the skill and ingenuity of the region as she walks to London

Coventry’s neighbouring towns and cities in the West Midlands and beyond invite Godiva to join their landmark events and celebrations

MAD UK Competition 2010

The theme for next year’s MAD UK competition is Indomitable Nature. We are looking for powerful, emotive, arresting designs which build off the body and push the boundaries of sculptural costume design to an extreme and come to life in performance. Be bold, be distinctive.

The competition will be judged in two sections – a student and non professional category and a professional artist’s category There will be cash prizes for the First, Second and Third placed costumes in each section of £1,000, £500 and £250 respectively, as well as a £250 cash prize for the Winner of MAD Heads.

Competitors are strongly encouraged to use recycled, reclaimed or reusable materials where possible.

The principal judge will be Zandra Rhodes, who is the patron for MAD UK.

Designers are invited to submit a design drawing or a photograph of the costume you wish to submit by 16th April. Finalists will be notified by 23rd April. The deadline for completion of finalists’ costumes is 30th June. MAD UK Live will take place later in the year as part of the Festival of Invention (date and venue tbc).

MAD Heads – once again there will be an open competition for anyone to design and wear expressive headgear on the day for a chance to win a cash prize of £250

Full guidelines, entry forms and competition rules from claire@imagineerproductions.co.uk

Ostara Saturday 3rd April 2010

Start Time: 8pm Charterhouse Fields (Procession)

8.30pm Bottom Far Gosford Street for Promenade Performance

Finale Gosford Green

Imagineer have teamed up with leading pyrotechnics company, The World Famous, to produce OSTARA, an Easter holiday spectacular event celebrating the regeneration of Far Gosford Street

OSTARA tells the story of the extraordinary history and heritage of the area and the characters who have breathed life into its streets through time. Researched with the local community, fact and fiction are magically woven together by writer Tanisjah Matthews as she pays homage to the Mythical origins of Easter and celebrates the Spring Equinox in this tale of a journey from darkness into light.

The character of Attis will emerge on his chariot in Charterhouse Fields and accompanied by his mythical minders he will process through the night in search of the Goddess, Ostara. As he enters the Gateway of Far Gosford Street his journey will take him through a landscape of ghosts as he recalls all those who have trodden the path before him. The eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth recounted before finally arriving at his destination – Gosford Green in a dramatic and breathtaking finale.

Two hundred local community performers are working alongside professional artists from Imagineer Productions and the internationally acclaimed pyrotechnic company, The World Famous, to create this beautiful spectacle. Drummers, dancers, actors and Geese will people the streets with dazzling costumes, masks, fire and special effects which will create a truly amazing live experience for one night only! Kings and Queens, soldiers and peasants, wedding parties and funerals, carnival processions, bonfires and a dramatic factory disaster along with a gaggle of renegade Geese will cram into one nights telling of an extraordinary street and its eternal spirit of renewal!

This exciting, FREE, event is part of the regeneration of Far Gosford Street which is saving some of our most fantastic buildings and will transform the area into an exiciting creative quarter.

The production has been financially supported by Coventry City Council, Arts Council England and Whitefriars Community Pride Fund.