Sarah Dicks is a Masters student at Arts University College Bournemouth. She is the costume designer for Battle of the Winds, a three-day outdoor theatrical performance on Weymouth Beach to celebrate the start of the Games. She recently appeared on BBC TV’s Inside Out.

THINGS are getting really busy with the costume designs that I am currently working on for Battle for the Winds, part of Maritime Mix – London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea.

Battle for the Winds is one of the main events which will take place in Weymouth and Portland on July 26-28, part of the opening celebrations. I think it is really important for the Olympics to not only celebrate sport, but also the UK’s arts and culture.

Projects like this have enabled so many young talented students to be involved with this important event.

I have designed almost 40 costumes for the principal characters for the Battle of the Winds story which are currently being realised by the BA(Hons) Costume with Performance Design students at the Arts University College Bournemouth.

This has involved me sketching ideas in discussion with the artistic directors for the overall look of the costumes.

This information is turned into completed designs and I then work very closely with the students to turn these designs into costumes, making decisions on cut, colour and fabrics.

I‘m really looking forward to the event and seeing all my costumes being performed in as for me that’s when they really come to life.

I’m also very much looking forward to seeing many of the other 80 events that make up the Olympiad by the Sea For a full list of all the events visit mari timemix2012.co.uk.