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Essex County Council showed their excitement on Friday 4 November as they joined in the launch of the ‘All The Bell’s’ arts project at Hadleigh Old Fire Station, as part of The London 2012 Festival programme.

On 27 July 2012 at 8:00am, the piece entitled, ‘Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes’ by Turner Prize-winning artist and musician Martin Creed, will be performed throughout the UK to celebrate the first day of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the London 2012 Festival, and to welcome the 205 nations to the UK.

Councillor Stephen Castle, Cabinet Member for Education and the 2012 Games commented, ‘What an inspiring way to welcome the World to the UK. I would encourage the residents and community groups within the county to sign up and join in this fantastic project. As a Host County, this is our opportunity to demonstrate how the Olympic Spirit is alive and well in Essex’.

By the time 27 July 2012 is reached, as many people as possible will be encouraged to ring all kinds of bells and start the day to celebrate the beginning of the Games. Everyone can take part - from ringers of the largest church and town hall bells through to hand bells, school bells and bicycle bells. From the bell ringing community, to community groups, clubs, and individuals with a bell - all are encouraged to participate in this UK-wide celebratory performance.

Sign up at:  www.allthebells.com  or via www.london2012.com/festival .

Throughout history bells have traditionally been rung to mark moments in time, whether it be bells across the UK ringing to signify the end of World War II, the bell at the Tower of London rung in the past as an alarm to warn of attack (and still rung today to alert visitors to leave), and back as far as the Romans who used bells to announce special celebrations and processions.

This London 2012 Festival commission will give people across the UK the opportunity to be part of a work by a Turner Prize-winning artist and thousands of people are needed to help make this happen.

Across the UK people are encouraged to discover bells around them and get involved by registering them to be part of the project. On the website, bell ringers can sign up their bell towers to be part of the performance, and anyone curious to learn more about the performance can register to receive updates, find out how they can get involved and see where the bells will be ringing on the day. It’s quick and easy to register and is an amazing opportunity to be part of London 2012’s history. Further ways to become involved will be announced in the run-up to the London 2012 Festival which opens on 21 June 2012.

‘It’s by people and for people. On the morning of the opening of the Games it’s a massive signal that something is happening. ‘

Martin Creed

This work is part of the London 2012 Festival, which is the finale of the four-year Cultural Olympiad and is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor. It has been commissioned by Discovering Places, the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad campaign to inspire the UK to discover their historic, built and natural environment.

Ruth Mackenzie, Director, Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival, said, ‘The commission shows the Festival’s commitment to world-class artists and to the values of participation. Martin Creed’s wonderful idea gets everyone involved in the opening day of the Games not just as an audience but as an integral part of the work’.

Photo: The local Rayleigh Weir Fire Fighters, pupils of Hadleigh Junior School, The Salvation Army and a local cyclist show their support of the ‘All the Bells’ project as they ring out their bells at Hadleigh Old Fire Station.

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