Ageing British rock stars to take centre stage in 2012 celebrations

12 April 2012

Free concerts in Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace by stars such as the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Led Zeppelin could form part of the cultural celebrations for the 2012 Olympics.

While their combined ages might run into several hundred years, shadow arts minister Ed Vaizey said the established acts should be part of the celebrations for the Cultural Olympiad programme for the London Games alongside a new generation of artists.

He added: ''I would like to see free concerts in Hyde Park, or Buckingham Palace - let's remember 2012 will be the Queen's Diamond jubilee - as well as up and down the country with iconic musicians as well as our exciting younger artists."

Mr Vaizey said it was important the cultural programme should not just involve the subsidised arts, such as theatre and opera, but also the popular and commercial sector. "For a successful Cultural Olympiad which engages with as many people as possible, we feel the full participation of the popular and commercial sector is vital," he said.

Speaking in London on the arts policy of a future Conservative government, Mr Vaizey admitted there would be "short-term pain" while they worked to get government finances back on track. "I hope that we can protect the front-line arts as much as possible," he said. Mr Vaizey pledged to maintain free admission to national museums and galleries.

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