Blaze is an ambitious youth-led cultural programme for Lancashire, Blackpool and the Fylde Coast that is part of WE PLAY, the North West cultural legacy programme for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Blaze is working with young people from across Lancashire, Blackpool and the Fylde Coast to deliver a diverse programme of creative work.

Blaze is supporting young people to take the lead as producers and innovators through a training and development programme that has strong links with cultural and creative industries across the North West region

Blaze is engaging young people in new cultural experiences through opportunities to see challenging and exciting work from across the region and other WE PLAY strands

Blaze is bringing young people together as cultural commentators and creative ambassadors through its own digital platform at www.blazeonline.org.uk

Blaze is building a legacy beyond 2012 through investing in future young leaders, helping to make Lancashire, Blackpool and the Fylde Coast a vibrant and creative place.

In the first 2 years of the project Blaze has already involved over 100 young people taking the lead as young producers, 1,500 young people as participants and a wider audience of over 30,000people

The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

Blaze is part of the the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, which is a celebration of culture and creativity involving communities across the UK in London 2012 and culminating in a UK wide festival in 2012 which runs from 21st June – 9th September to mark the games time period with activities in every nation and region of the UK. Projects developed for WE PLAY provide a foundation for the North west’s contribution to the UK’s Cultural Olympiad programme.

Partners and Funders

Blaze was commissioned for WE PLAY, the North West cultural legacy programme for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Blaze is led by Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Creative Lancashire and funded by Legacy Trust UK, Arts Council England and Youth Music.

Blaze Festival is a regional co-commission with Brighter Sound.