A UK-wide mass participation singing project as part of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
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Big Big Sing was one of the flagship events of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival, with funding matched by Glasgow Life and Creative Scotland. It was initially funded by the National Lottery Community Fund under the Keeping the Spirit Alive programme, with funding of £487,855. The UNESCO City of Music had already delivered a Glasgow-centred pilot, the funding from Spirit allowed it to go nationwide across the UK.
Big Big Sing was hailed as a major highlight of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, creating some of the most memorable moments of the cultural celebrations surrounding the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and putting community singing and mass participation at the heart of a global event. As well as hosting Song Stages across Glasgow during Games Time including at the Games Live Sites, Big Big Sing supported Hands Up for Trad to deliver The Big Song Relay. The relay saw the song Here’s to All Our Common Wealth passed from choir to choir. Big Big Sing Days were held around the UK to enable local choirs and people wanting to sing to come together and learn songs from the Commonwealth Song Book.
Big Big Sing brought the larger experience of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to people in smaller communities. It was an excellent example of collaboration between funders, organisers and local community choirs and music leaders. The latter, in particular, strengthened the project by offering a wide range of expertise and artistic direction.
The ease of availability of digital resources, particular the Big Big Songbook also played an important part in making the project more accessible. During the programme, leaders also compiled resources explaining the physical, social and mental benefits of group singing and produced resources for people hoping to volunteer as choir leaders, making it easy to replicate across the country.
Bringing the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to young people across the UK – and bringing young people to Glasgow for the Games!
Spirit of 2012 is a legacy partner of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and was awarded £1.3 million by the Scottish Government to get the least active people in Scotland more active and generate learning for the benefit of the rest of Scotland.