Northern Ireland's Music Sector encouraged to create New Work for London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

Arts Council of Northern Ireland, 18 May 2010,Northern Ireland

New Music 20 x 12 launched today (Tuesday 18th May) and this exciting new programme will place new music centre-stage of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

The PRS for Music Foundation and partners which include the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, today (Tuesday 18th May) launched an exciting new programme to place new music centre-stage of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

New Music 20 x 12 invites composers, ensembles, festivals and music organisations from across Northern Ireland to submit ideas to create new music to feature in UK-wide celebrations of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The works will enable audiences to enjoy exceptional music inspired by this once-in-a-lifetime celebration of our culture with the world.

New Music 20 x 12 will support 20 new works each lasting 12 minutes and will be delivered in partnership with the BBC, LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) and Sound and Music. Northern Ireland's music sector is invited to present ideas for new work, in any musical genre, that they would like to commission from a UK- based composer. Each work will premiere in 2012 and receive at least 2 additional performances.

Rosa Solinas, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented:

"New Music 20 x 12 mirrors our commitment to delivering high quality musical experiences to local people as both participants and audiences."

"The programme offers significant prospects for our music sector, offering a unique opportunity to showcase local talent on an international stage and providing a lasting legacy to the Olympic and Paralympic Games here in Northern Ireland."

Nelson McCausland, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, and Chair of the NI 2012 Leadership Group said: "20x12 provides a further opportunity for Northern Ireland artists to showcase their excellence on a world stage and once again demonstrates Northern Ireland moving forward. It is a unique experience which allows our best composers to contribute to a local legacy from London 2012."

"The culture sector in Northern Ireland has risen to the challenge and grasped all the opportunities presented to them by the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the UK and has situated itself at the centre of the Cultural Olympiad programme. 20 x 12 is an exciting moment for the music sector to continue these ambitious achievements and will contribute to a lasting legacy from the Olympics for Northern Ireland".

Each of the selected projects will be allocated on average £8,000. A panel of experts, chaired by Roger Wright, Controller BBC Radio 3 and Director, BBC Proms, will be announced later this year and will select the best 20 works following the deadline for applications on Friday 1st October 2010. All selected works will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and some may be considered for inclusion in other official events relating to London 2012. In addition to financial support for the commissions, New Music 20x12 will include networking and professional development opportunities for the selected composers and musicians.

Roger Wright, Controller of BBC Radio 3, Director of the BBC Proms and Chair of the judges, said: "The BBC is proud to be a key partner in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Projects such as New Music 20 x 12 will showcase the exceptional talent and creativity of the UK's musical community, and we're delighted to be able to support them on BBC Radio 3."

Ruth Mackenzie, Director, Cultural Olympiad, said: "We are delighted to be working with PRS for Music Foundation, BBC Radio 3 and Sound and Music on this great initiative and would especially like to pay tribute to private patrons David Cohen and Jillian Barker whose inspiration lies behind this. This is a wonderful opportunity for composers and audiences to celebrate 2012 together."

The programme has been created by private patrons, David Cohen and Jillian Barker and it is also supported by committed patrons and funders from across the UK including the Arts Councils in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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