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Bold as brass: artist Ben Long proposes to rework the traditional bandstand by using highly burnished brass as part of “Artists Taking the Lead”.

In one of the most ambitious and wide-ranging art commissions, 12 unique works are to be created by artists across the United Kingdom as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. And a shortlist of 59 projects will be whittled down to the final 12 as part of the “Artists Taking the Lead” initiative.

The Arts Council England and London 2012 recently announced the five shortlisted artists for the north-west region. Their projects include Soup Collective’s live visual event called Transmissions, that charts the maritime beginnings of radio transmission through to the ever-expanding digital age. Also shortlisted is Tony Trehy’s plans for an international language festival called the Language Moment, that would feature the world’s leading poets, sound and media artists.

Meanwhile, Kully Thiarai and Philip Osment propose to make an epic visual narrative called Requiem for Change, featuring Greek tragedy, opera, choral singing and gospel music. Anthony McCall’s Projected Column is described as a “spinning column of cloud sculpture” rising from the waters of Liverpool’s docklands.

Another short-listed artist is Lancaster-born Ben Long who plans to rework the archetypal British bandstand by constructing it entirely from highly burnished brass, creating a series of dazzling mirrored reflections from floor to ceiling. Brass Bandstand would be a fully usable piece of architecture as well as a sculptural object, staging live music and performances.

The bandstand would be sited within Birkenhead Park (on Wirral peninsula), the first publicly funded park to open anywhere in the world and forerunner of the Parks Movement.

Aileen McEvoy, who is interim executive director of Arts Council England, north-west region, said: “It’s been a really tough job for our panel to choose a few of the many exceptional ideas that were submitted, but I’m wowed by the shortlist we’ve arrived at.”

Each of the shortlisted artists will be eligible to receive a development grant of up to 5,000 pounds to turn their initial proposals into a full working plan. They will present these to the selection panels who will then decide the final 12 commissions to be announced in October 2009.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe commented: “I’m thrilled with the calibre of this shortlist. We want the Cultural Olympiad to bring art and sport together, inspiring and unlocking creativity and talent all round the country, and these projects do exactly that.”

The 12 successful commissions will be developed throughout 2010 and 2011 in close collaboration with their local communities. All 12 finalists will take part in a celebration event, prior to the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism, said: “This remarkable shortlist shows the depth of artistic talent we have in the United Kingdom and how many people have been inspired to make their mark for London 2012.”

Ms Follett added: “Through Artists Taking the Lead, every part of the country will get a new and exciting artwork which combines the sporting and cultural spirit of the 2012 Games.”