Artists Taking the Lead commissions announced

Crocheted lions, a spinning column of cloud and light and a travelling wingless silver bird are among the 12 commissions which have won a share of the £5.4m Artists Taking the Lead fund. From over 2,000 entries, independent panels of artists and producers have selected 12 projects, one for each of the nine English regions and one each for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Each of them is directly inspired by their location and will celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games across the UK. The winning commissions will be developed across 2010 and 2011, and all 12 will then take part in a final celebration prior to the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Moira Sinclair, Executive Director of Arts Council England, London, hoped that the projects would “redefine what public art will mean in 2012”, while London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe called the commissions “the catalyst for a truly national showcase of culture”.