Celebrate London 2012 Open Weekend
With FREE Motion and Repetition Exhibition at the River & Rowing Museum

17 July 2009: Celebrate three years to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games with a FREE exhibition Motion and Repetition by local artist Alan Henderson in the River & Rowing Museum's Thames Room - part of London 2012 Open Weekend supported by BP, the three day national celebration marking the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Motion and Repetition is an installation exploring the relentless pursuit of excellence shown by the athlete's the artist has met and worked with, observing their pursuit of physical, mental and technical perfection. This exhibition, which takes place from 24 - 26 July 2009, 10am - 5pm, focuses on rowing and is part of an exciting ongoing project with the GB Lightweight rowing team to explore the theme of 'motion'. Henderson hopes to develop these ideas and work with other sporting bodies and other disciplines within science and medicine to continue to explore this theme.

The London 2012 Open Weekend created by London 2012 is supported by BP, the Premier Partner of the Cultural Olympiad. London 2012 Open Weekend will take place every year in July.

London 2012 Open Weekend enables everyone to share in the excitement of the Games, be inspired to get involved, unleash their creativity and try something new by accessing excellence at events across sport, art and culture taking place over the weekend.

Motion and Repetition at the River & Rowing Museum joins hundreds of other London 2012 Open Weekend events - from family discover sports days and athletics opportunities to flower festivals and drawing classes, exploring museum archives and pottery, there is an opportunity for everyone. Full listings, including the River & Rowing Museum's events can be found at www.london2012.com/openweekend

Paul Mainds, Trustee and Chief Executive, the River & Rowing Museum said: "Motion and Repetition at the River & Rowing Museum is a fantastic way for people to get involved and celebrate three years until the London 2012 Olympic Games. It celebrates the fusion of sport and art in a series of paintings which really explore the physical and mental challenges and triumphs of some of our top sportspeople."

There's also an opportunity to learn more about Our Sporting Life at the River & Rowing Museum: Our Sporting Life is a long-term project developed by the Sports Heritage Network to contribute to the Cultural Olympiad leading up to London 2012. It is designed to realise the unique potential of sports heritage and to excite and inspire a wide range of audiences by asking 'What does sport mean to you?'

Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate (1999-2009) and Chair, MLA says: "Sport plays an important part in the life of many people in this country. Our Sporting Life will help to tell the story for 2012 by connecting people with museums, libraries and archives to express their own memories and feelings about sport."

London 2012 is the first Organising Committee to create such a wide platform of public participation in the Games, taking the values, ideals and benefits of the Games to people and communities like never before. Opportunities such as London 2012 Open Weekend are encouraging participation and recognising the contribution people, places and projects are making to the success of the 2012 Games.

This year's London 2012 Open Weekend follows the success of last year's event, which launched the Cultural Olympiad and enabled over 700,000 people to become involved with the Cultural Olympiad.

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Booking information
Full information for all events, activities and exhibitions is available at www.rrm.co.uk. Bookings can be made on 01491 415 600 or edbookings@rrm.co.uk. All paid for events MUST be booked in advance. No booking is required for FREE events.

Press information
Press releases and pictures for the events and activities can be downloaded from http://www.kallaway.co.uk/rrm.htm. For further information please contact:

Catherine Yoxall 01491 415642 catherine.yoxall@rrm.co.uk
Katie Jackson 020 7221 7883 katie.jackson@kallaway.co.uk

Notes to Editors
The River & Rowing Museum (www.rrm.co.uk )
The River & Rowing Museum is one of the UK's leading regional and sporting Museums, attracting over 100,000 visitors a year. The Museum also has a purpose built education centre visited by over 20,000 children and adults a year.

The Museum provides superb value for money. Tickets are £7 for adults and £5 for children, and provide free access for one year.

The Museum celebrates four themes explored through a wide variety of exhibitions and events across four galleries and special exhibitions:

• The past, present and future of the River Thames
• The historic riverside community of Henley on Thames
• The international sport of rowing
• The Wind in the Willows

Since opening in August 1998 the Museum has received numerous awards including the National Heritage/NPI Museum of the Year award and the Sandford Award For Heritage Education.

Location, opening and ticket information
The River & Rowing Museum (www.rrm.co.uk), Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1BF. Tel. 01491 415600.

• The Museum, terrace café and shop are open every day from 10am - 5.30pm in summer and 10am - 5pm in the winter
• Tickets give FREE admission for a whole year!
• Admission is just £7 for adults, £5 for children aged four and over, FREE for children aged three and under and £5 for senior citizens and concessions
• Free parking for visitors

The River & Rowing Museum is part of the Thames Valley Museums Group (TVMG) Family Friendly initiative - a scheme that brings together 29 Museums across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to promote their popular appeal to the whole family.

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