(Above) John Cockram has been shortlisted for his Room project. © Matthew Andrews 2009
An arctic island the size of a football pitch, three giant lions made of crochet trapped in a glass case in Nottinghamshire, a wingless bird flying through Wales and a project positioning artists as beekeepers are among the finalists bidding to create artistic responses during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
(Above) In Bus.Tops, Alfie Dennen wants to use the top of bus shelters to allow Londoners to tell their stories through programmable LEDs. © Matthew Andrews
A panel from organisers Arts Council England have shortlisted 59 entrants after sifting through more than 2,000 entries for the £5.4 million Artists Taking the Lead scheme, commissioning final pieces in nine English regions alongside individual pieces for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
(Above) Martin Creed will persuade Londoners to ring any bell they can for as long as possible at the start and end of the Olympics, including a new Olympic bell at Whitechapel. © Graham Jepson
Competitors including Martin Creed, Simon Armitage and Richard Wilson will now receive a "development grant" of up to £5,000 apiece to extend their proposals by late September, with the final 12 announced in October.
(Above) Deborah Badoo has entered a project called Desert Crossings. © Kevin Clifford
The English winners will receive £500,000 to realise their design, with Lottery funds granting £460,000 to the Scottish pick, £230,000 to the Welsh commission and £190,000 to the Northern Irish plan.
(Above) Richard Wilson has entered a design called Red Hot. © Matthew Andrews
"What's clear is that artists really want to engage with the public, whether leading creative events to celebrate London 2012 or debating key issues such as climate change or the decline of the honeybee," said Moira Sinclair, Executive Director of the Arts Council's London Branch.
"It offers an exciting overview of our nation's creativity, and is bringing great art to some very unexpected places."
(Above) Simon Armitage is among the finalists in Yorkshire. © Matthew Andrews
Hovering fields of light in the East Midlands, stories on London bus stops, spinning columns of cloud covering the horizon from Liverpool docks and sculptures from disused chimney stacks across Scotland are in the running, causing London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe to salute the "thrilling calibre" of the shortlist.
Ben Long (above) is competing in the North-West division. © Matthew Andrews
"We want the Cultural Olympiad to bring art and sport together, inspiring and unlocking creativity and talent all round the country, and these projects do exactly that," he added.
(Above) Shauna Richardson has made the final cut in the East Midlands. © Matthew Andrews
Culture Minister Barbara Follett weighed in to salute the "remarkable shortlist" and "breadth of artistic talent" who were "inspired to make their mark for London 2012."
"Through Artists taking the lead, every part of the country will get a new and exciting artwork which combines the sporting and cultural spirit of the 2012 Games," she pledged.
Visit the project online to have your say on the final 59.
