Programmes and funding opportunities

Storytelling grants

MLA Council recently held a £10,000 grant scheme (maximum grant of £600) to take part in the storytelling element of the Cultural Olympiad with events coinciding with the launch of the Cultural Olympiad between 26-28 September and which will appeal to a broad audience including children and families.

The stories, to be told in a range of forms including poetry, music, dance and traditional narratives, will be developed in museums, libraries and archives and will take inspiration from and animate the collections.

People's Record "vox pop"

Capturing the nation's memories

This year, for Phase 1 of People’s Record, MLA Council wanted to work with museums, libraries and archives to undertake a mass “vox pop” to record the nation’s memories, thoughts and aspirations during the celebrations that will mark the handover of the Games from Beijing and the launch of the Cultural Olympiad. MLA is working with the Mass Observation Archive to shape the questions we will ask communities, and with BBC Memoryshare to collect, share and store the memories and responses.

Funding of up to £1,000 per applicant was made available for museums, libraries and archives that wanted to gather public responses at both the sites of celebration and in their own premises. MLA hopes to gather a range of responses, from people enthused by the vision of 2012 and those not yet engaged, and intends to work with museums, libraries and archives in both urban and rural areas – close to, and remote from, celebration sites.

The scheme was a great opportunity for museums, libraries and archives who want to get involved and raise the profile of their organisation during the celebrations.

For more information contact Sarah Watson, Project Manager for Setting the Pace at MLA Council.

Telephone 020 7273 1419 or email Sarah.

Literature Stories, phase 1 grants programme

Inspiring young people by celebrating 'London and the UK welcoming the world' with the written and spoken word.

MLA Council recently ran a grant programme for Phase 1 of Literature and Storytelling, one of the strands of 'Setting the Pace', MLA's programme for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The programme will pay for the delivery of 18 Young Cultural Creator Schemes (YCC) across the English regions, which will support young people to write poetry inspired by museum and archive collections. The YCC schemes will take place to coincide with the launch of the Cultural Olympiad, 26 - 28 September 2008. The schemes will work with groups from Pupil Referral Units (PRUs).

MLA Council hopes that the schemes will achieve branding with the 'Inspired by London 2012' mark and link to high profile public events, including poetry slams and festivals and be broadcast on the network of Live Sites across the country. 

The deadline for applications has now passed.