| The Olympic Games has, since its inception, privileged culture alongside sport. The modern Games' cultural component requirement has placed Olympic host cities in the challenging position of delivering on ambitious cultural projects in the four years leading up to the Games. However, such programming tends to privilege "blockbuster" exhibitions and artists, rather than encouraging participation across all ends of the artistic spectrum. Through the lens of the upcoming London 2012 Summer Olympics, this thesis explores the ways in which smaller-scale public arts organizations can and, indeed, should contribute to the Cultural Olympiad if the latter is to be successful in displaying a host city's cultural diversity and offerings. It argues for a financial and organizational restructuring of the Cultural Olympiad, recommending a model for future Olympics to more effectively showcase culture and sport together. |
