ARTISTS of all kinds from across the UK and the West Midlands are being challenged to use the nation as a blank canvas for 12 inspirational commissions that will showcase our creativity to the world as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Artists Taking the Lead is the most ambitious and wide-ranging art prize in the UK and is being developed by Arts Council England, in partnership with London 2012 and the arts councils of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Twelve commissions of up to £500,000 will be awarded to create 12 new works of art across the country; one in each of the nine English regions and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It is the first of 10 major projects of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad to be launched and provides artists across the country with an opportunity to create work that celebrates the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and reflects the rich cultural diversity of the UK.

“The London 2012 bid was always about more than England’s capital city and about more than sport,” said Moira Sinclair, executive director of Arts Council England, on behalf of the UK arts councils.

“Artists Taking the Lead illustrates that bigger, bolder vision – of art inspiring people up and down the UK to celebrate the Olympic Games, of nurturing and developing our artistic talent and of culture and creativity at the heart of our national life.

“We’re excited to be laying down such a unique challenge to artists. We want them to look at their region and their connections with fresh eyes, to mark a moment in our histories in unexpected ways and places across the country, to delight the world with their extraordinary artistic vision.”

Artists can submit their ideas for the commissions at artists takingthelead.org.uk until Friday, May 29, and the submitted ideas will be judged by panels made up of artists, the creative programmers and an Arts Council representative.

Arts Council England expects to announce the shortlisted artists in July, and the final 12 commissions in October. The successful commissions will be developed across 2010 and 2011, and all 12 will take part in a final unifying celebration before the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games.