APPENDIX 3: CASE STUDIES NVA – SPEED OF LIGHT Introduction NVA’s Speed of Light was a fusion of public art and sporting endeavour, which took place on Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat in August 2012. The iconic peak was brought to life in a mass choreographed act of walking and endurance running, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival and the London 2012 Festival. A visual performance unfolded each night on the ascent to the summit as hundreds of runners wearing specially designed light suits took to the intricate path networks. As members of the walking audience, the general public became part of the work, carrying portable light sources set against the dark features of the hill. Each individual performance was created by collective action, landscape and weather, offering a rare perspective on the cityscape, night skies and the sea and hills beyond. The audience generated their own light through the movement of bespoke walking staffs as they ascended the summit to witness the remarkable moving tableaux below. One of only four national projects commissioned by the Legacy Trust UK’s Community Celebrations programme, Speed of Light aimed to build a lasting legacy from the UK’s hosting of the Games. The project also explored the physical and emotional aspects of endurance running, testing the physical limits of the human body and the extent to which the power of the mind can overcome physical suffering. Speed of Light hosted a series of partner events working with eight of the Edinburgh Festivals in a unique programme collaboration inspired by its themes. The project included 20 performances and offered 120 sessions for education, training or taking part. Project funding was made up with significant partnership funding with £750,000 from Legacy Trust UK, £280,000 from Creative Scotland, £130,000 from Edinburgh International Festival, £150,000 from the Dunard Fund, £50,000 from EventScotland, £30,000 from the Scottish Government and £5,000 from Paths for All. The project set additional income targets and some of these were achieved and some slightly under expectations: £98,920 from ticket income (adult and concession tickets); £34,042 from runners registration fees; £3,405 from merchandise sales; £6,000 from the Space; £7,000 from LOCOG and Creative Scotland (2012 Festival specific branding); £8,900 from EventScotland / VisitScotland for target TV advertising campaign. Although NVA’s Speed of Light had ambitious objectives under all six case study headings, the focus here is on its key achievements in quality artistic production; audience participation and development; and legacy and sustainability as these were the key drivers identified by the project and Creative Scotland.
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