Today along with Dan Jarvis MP, Shadow Minister for Culture, I met with Ruth Mackenzie, the director of the Cultural Olympiad.

We discussed the importance of making sure young people have the opportunity to take part in cultural activities in school and how we can ensure the Olympics leaves a cultural legacy for young people across the UK.

The Cultural Olympiad was set up to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of the London Olympics and to inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.  It will take place over four years.  The culmination of the Cultural Olympiad will be a festival in London next year.  It will bring leading artists from all over the world together from 21st June 2012 in the UK's biggest ever festival.