In what may provide an important future channel for Australian groups interested in the Brazilian market, plans are currently underway for a series of events throughout Brazil celebrating British culture in the months during and after the London 2012 Olympics.
A six-month program of special events is being organised by Jude Kelly, head of arts institution the Southbank Centre, according to Rob Sharp of The Independent. Key British cultural organisations including the British Museum will participate in the initiative, which will run from September 2012, following directly on from the 2012 Olympics in what is described as the handover period between London and Rio.
The project should be announced later in June during a visit to Brazil by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Universities Minister David Willetts. They will be in Rio and Brasilia discussing trade and plans for further talks during London 2012.
Sharp also reported comments by Ruth Mackenzie, director of the cultural program set to run alongside the London Olympics, who stated that the events will be one of the legacies of the Games and bring Brazilian and British artists together under the Olympiad banner and continuing to 2016.