Twenty composers have recently been announced for the ‘New Music 20 x 12’ initiative, unveiled as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Each commissioned piece will last twelve minutes, and be broadcast on Radio 3 and toured around the UK.

The initiative has been created independently, and is delivered by the PRS for Music Foundation and partners. Composers involved include Julian Joseph, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Jason Yarde, Anna Meredith and Howard Skempton.

Whether you think the Olympics is a good or a bad thing for the UK, here at least is a sign that it will have a beneficial effect on the cultural life of the country.