About Blaze

Blaze is an ambitious youth-led culture and sport 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 create a vibrant programme of work each summer within the context of the theme of tracks and trails; linking art and sport, people and places, physical and digital spaces

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 will involve over 100 young people taking the lead as young producers, 2,500 young people as participants and a wider audience of over 30,000 people

Blaze will be 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.

The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is a four year and UK wide 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 is part of WE PLAY and delivered in partnership with Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Creative Lancashire.

WE PLAY is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. WE PLAY is led by new regional partnerships and managed by Arts Council England.

Blaze has also received funding for its 2010/11 programme from Grants for the Arts,  Arts Council England.