7 September 2012Last updated at 17:57

London 2012 Festival - Highlights

David Hockney in front of 'The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire 2011 (twenty-eleven)'

It aimed to: "Inspire creativity in all forms of arts and culture" and this Sunday the London 2012 Festival reign will end. The UK-wide programme of events brought together artists such as David Hockney, whose exhibition 'A Bigger Picture' opened at the Royal Academy of Arts in January as part of the festival.

Members of the public admire artwork by Damien Hirst entitled 'Hymn' outside the Tate Modern art gallery in London.

To celebrate the festival Tate Modern displayed the first major exhibition of Damien Hirst's artworks in the UK. The collection brought together more than 70 of Hirst's works spanning three decades and it opened to the general public in April.

French pyrotechnic artists Les Commandos Percu brought the electrifying 'On The Night Shift' to the shores of Lake Windermere to launch the London 2012 Festival.

French pyrotechnic artists Les Commandos Percu brought the electrifying 'On The Night Shift' to the shores of Lake Windermere to launch the festival on 21 June. The main programme of events ran alongside the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dizzee Rascal performing at BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012

Dizzee Rascal joined international artists Rihanna and Jay-Z to perform at BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012. Radio 1 held the BBC's biggest ever free ticketed live music event on Hackney Marshes at the end of June. The event featured artists on six stages and 100,000 people attended.

Triumph in the Face of Absurdity by Paul Smith and Charming Baker.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London commissioned works by nine pairs of top British designers and contemporary artists for its 'Britain Creates 2012' exhibition. This work, Triumph in the Face of Absurdity, was designed by Paul Smith and Charming Baker.

Fires light Stonehenge during the Fire Garden as part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival

Fires lit the ancient megalithic monument of Stonehenge as part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival and London 2012 Festival on 10 July. The Fire Garden, which ran for three consecutive nights at the UNESCO World Heritage site, was created by French arts group Compagnie Carabosse.

Dancers walk down City Hall as part of the 'One Extraordinary Day' performances on 15 July, 2012 in London, England.

Dancers walked down City Hall in London as part of the 'One Extraordinary Day' performances on 15 July. The dancers were part of American choreographer Elizabeth Streb's 'Extreme Action' dance group.

Daniel Barenboim with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Internationally renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim led his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 at the BBC Proms on 21 July.

Runners, walkers and cyclists dressed in light emitting suits and holding light sticks made their way up Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, as part of a dress rehearsal of a mass participation public art piece called 'Speed of Light' on 8 August.

Entertainment & Arts

London 2012 Festival - Highlights

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