The Big Screens are a project involving the BBC, LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games), and local councils. 25m LED screens with sound systems are situated in prominent locations in city centres. The premise on which the screens are operated is as a platform for all, to provide local information, and to allow film-makers and other visual artists a platform on which to display their work. The screens are run by the BBC in accordance with its editorial guidelines and are known as 'Big Screen (city name) e.g. Big Screen Manchester.[1]
There are 21 Big Screens in UK cities..
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Big Screen Belfast is in Donegall Square by the City Hall. Installed in May 2011, it is the first Big Screen in Northern Ireland.[2]
The Big Screen was temporarily installed adjacent to the Birmingham Town Hall during its refurbishment.[3]
The Big Screen in Birmingham was removed from Chamberlain Square on 19 September 2007 after the renovation of the Town Hall was completed.It was then erected in Victoria Square in November 2007.[4] Some controversy has existed over the screen in terms of the number of objections to the renewal of its planning permission.[5][6] Three years after it was due to be switched back on it has finally been fully activated.
Big Screen Bradford is situated in Centenary Square, at the heart of Bradford City Centre. Adjacent to City Hall and the new urban park development.[7]
Big Screen Bristol is located in Millennium Square.[8]
Big Screen Cardiff is located at the Hayes.[9]
Big Screen Coventry is situated at the Coventry Transport Museum, Millennium Place. [10]
Big Screen Derby has been up and running since 2007. The screen is a partnership between the BBC, Derby City Council, the University of Derby and LOCOG and is located in the Market Place next to the Assembly Rooms.[11]
Big Screen Dover is in Market Square next to the museum and library.[12]
Big Screen Edinburgh is located in Festival Square. It's right across the road from the cultural trio of Usher Hall, Lyceum and Traverse Theatres and just a short walk from Princes Street and the imposing Edinburgh Castle.[13]
Big Screen Leeds, launched in late 2005, can be found in Millennium Square.[14]
Big Screen Leicester was unveiled in January 2010 and is located in Humberstone Gate.[15]
Big Screen Liverpool is situated in Clayton Square, in the heart of Liverpool's retail quarter.[16]
Big Screen Manchester was the first Big Screen within the pilot project to be launched in May 2003. The BBC had already explored screens in relation to events such as Proms in the Park, the 2002 World Cup and the Manchester Commonwealth Games. For the Queen's Golden Jubilee ten temporary screens were installed in major cities around the UK. Due to their success, Manchester became the first permanent screen and from this the project has grown. Big Screen Manchester is housed in Exchange Square, a busy public area regenerated after the IRA bomb in 1996. A new Big Screen was installed Spring 2010, replacing the 7-year-old original.[17]
Big Screen Middlesbrough is located in Centre Square.[18]
Big Screen Norwich is situated on Chapelfield Plain which is in the heart of Norwich City Centre.[19]
Big Screen Plymouth is located in Armada Way.[20]
Big Screen Portsmouth is at the heart of Portsmouth city centre in Guildhall Square, next the Civic Offices, Portsmouth Guildhall, and only a few minutes walk to the City Centre & Portsmouth & Southsea Railway Station.[21]
Big Screen Swansea is located in Castle Square, in the heart of the city centre.[22]
Big Screen Swindon is sited within the town's main shopping centre at Wharf Green. The screen was bought for Swindon Borough Council by the New Swindon Company as part of a project to redevelop the Wharf Green area in 2008.[23]
Waltham Forest is an outer London borough situated north east of the city. The Big Screen is located in Walthamstow Town Square, installed in time for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.[24]
The Olympic borough of Greenwich is where one of the newest Big Screens resides, in General Gordon Place, Woolwich.[25] The Big Screen is currently switched off whilst General Gordon Place is redesigned. The work is due to be completed in Spring 2011.[26]