The event coincided with London hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The inaugural World Cities Culture Summit was held in London on 1 August 2012, to mark the launch of the World Cities Culture Report 2012. The report was commissioned by the Mayor of London in partnership with nine of the cities it features, and was produced by BOP Consulting.

The event coincided with London hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and as the city held an unprecedented citywide cultural festival. The summit was held at London House (City Hall) as part of an ambitious programme created by the Mayor to maximise the huge opportunities for London arising from the Games.

The summit brought together cultural leaders and policymakers from nine of the cities involved in the research in front of an invited audience to discuss the report’s findings and to share ideas and knowledge.

Distinguished guests participating and speaking at the World Cities Culture Summit included:

Istanbul

• Prof. Ahmet Emre Bilgili, Director, Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
• Esma Firuze Küyük, Assistant Expert of Culture & Tourism, Istanbul Office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

London

• Neil MacGregor, Director, British Museum
• Munira Mirza, Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture, Greater London Authority
• Justine Simons, Head of Cultural Strategy, Greater London Authority
• Paul Owens, Managing Director, BOP Consulting; Director, World Cities Culture Forum
• Matthieu Prin, Project Manager, World Cities Culture Forum

Los Angeles

• Kamilla Blanche, Senior Deputy of Arts & Culture, City of Los Angeles

Mumbai

• Prof. Abdul Shaban, Centre for Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences

New York

• Kate D. Levin, Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City
• Danai Pointer, Director of External Affairs, Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City

Paris

• Carine Camors, Urban Economist, IAU Ile-de-France
• Odile Soulard, Urban Economist, IAU Ile-de-France

Shanghai

• Prof. Changyong Huang, Vice President, Shanghai Theatre Academy
• Dr Marina Guo, Shanghai Theatre Academy

Sydney

• Rachel Healy, Executive Manager Culture, City of Sydney

Tokyo

• Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Director General, Bureau of Citizens and Cultural Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• Yusaku Imamura, Counsellor on special issues to the Governor, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• Mitsuhiro Yoshimoto, Chairman, Specialist Committee for Cultural Policy, Tokyo Council for the Arts; Director of Arts and Cultural Projects, NLI Research Institute
• Katsuhiko Funaki, Director of Cultural Policy, Bureau of Citizens and Cultural Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• Yuko Ishiwata, Program Director, Arts Council Tokyo
• Haruko Hoyle, Program Officer, Arts Council Tokyo