The organising team behind UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 have announced details of its exciting arts and heritage programme which will run alongside the football tournament this summer.

Featuring a line-up of arts, heritage projects and musical events, the programme will celebrate and explore the rich history of the women’s game. Taking place nationwide across the nine Host Cities and ten stadia, the programme begins this month, ahead of the tournament kick-off on 6 July, and runs throughout the summer season.

In collaboration with the Host Cities – Brighton & Hove, London (Brent and Hounslow), Manchester, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield, Southampton, Trafford and Wigan & Leigh – the programme will reveal untold stories of women’s football and encourage more people to be inspired by the tournament. Through a series of arts and heritage events, the programme will bring the worlds of sport and art together in a national celebration which is set to reach 3 million people.

The arts and heritage programme for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 tournament is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players, and the Host Cities. The programme will be managed by The Football Association (FA), the national governing body of football in England. It will be the first time the organisation has run such a programme alongside a major tournament, and it hopes to establish female role models for both girls and boys through the arts. It is supported by UEFA, Canal & River Trust and Mayors of London and Greater Manchester.

New commissions by women artists will be presented throughout the programme. Highlights include:

The Supercompensation Cycle by Emma Smith – an immersive and participatory artwork that invites the public to warm-up for each football match by replicating the movements of live performers.
‘The Beautiful Game’ – a new anthem to celebrate the tournament by composer Shirley Thompson OBE, recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and 100 community representatives from the Host Cities.
Women composers and teams of RPO musicians have also been working with community members in Host Cities to create local Anthems which will be played by Quintets from the RPO on match days in dedicated Fan Zones.
Stadium for the Future (If I can’t dance I don’t want to be part of your revolution) by Idle Women – a conceptual stadium engineered and built by and for women which will be danced into existence at site-specific raves and culminate in a sound piece.
Libraries across the country will have access to a new creative resource pack designed by artist Deborah Goatley-Birch, with the support of Libraries Connected.
A heritage and legacy initiative highlighting women’s rights, equality, and activism through the lens of the game with eight indoor and outdoor exhibitions across the Host Cities.