Akram Khan: ‘It’s vital, we as a nation, value expression through the arts, the way it puts our lives into context and enables us to mark moments in history - such as the Olympics - celebrate achievement and opportunity and provide touch points for future generations. This is what Artists taking the lead could do as well as celebrate what makes us so extraordinary and special as a people. I’d like to think that as artists it is our responsibility to tell us what we don’t know about ourselves by showing us who we are.’

Akala: ‘I know that art and music have the power to transform lives and bring communities together. This power combined with the opportunity the Olympics presents could produce something truly amazing. The UK’s musicians, rappers and poets have always produced cutting edge art on a national and international stage.  Artists taking the lead will be an opportunity to fuse all our of our brilliant and diverse arts and display them to the world like never before for 2012.’

Balletboyz: ‘Artists taking the lead is a fantastic opportunity for all artists, especially dancers, across the UK to respond to the exciting cultural activity surrounding London 2012, to involve a wide range of creative people and to leave a lasting legacy of the Games. We’ll be having a go, that’s for sure!’

Deborah Bull, Creative Director, Royal Opera House and panel member in London: 'This is the beginning of a journey with an almost endless range of possible destinations, offering artists the opportunity to create work that will ignite the imagination of Londoners and showcase our creative talents to the world.

The commission could be anything - a sculpture, a dance or even a form yet to be imagined. We are challenging artists to view London as a blank canvas - and it's over to them to tell us how they want to mark this once in a lifetime opportunity of London hosting the Olympic Games.'