ORGANISERS of a 100-day cultural festival surrounding the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in Yorkshire have outlined the themes of the festival.

Members of the public were invited to register ideas and interest in participating in the programme, which will be based on three themes set by Welcome to Yorkshire.

Gill Cooper, head of culture, tourism and city centre for City of York Council, said at an event at York Explore Library that the council was open to all suggestions for events organised by the public and independent groups.

She said the next three months were key, especially for groups looking for funding.

The themes of the festival are: En Plein Air, using Yorkshire’s landscapes and cityscapes, buildings and open spaces in innovative ways; French Connection, engaging and building collaborative projects with French artists and companies; and Emblematique, showing Yorkshire’s distinctive cultural identity.

Dave Fleming, arts and events officer for the council, said that the events would be about “the atmosphere and build-up” to the Grand Départ, though they did not need to be cycling-themed. He said the plans were still very fluid.

Independent contributions will feature alongside six large artistic commissions known as “grand spectacles” and at least one large commission would be based in York, he said.

The Grand Départ prelude to the Tour de France will take place in Yorkshire on July 5 and 6, 2014.

Gill Cooper said they wanted people to see the tour depart from York on the morning of Sunday, July 6, and then to stay in York for the whole day.

She said that when the city held Ascot, York got its message wrong because it warned that it would be busy and people avoided the centre.

“This time the message is: York is going to be busy, but come and join us. York is going to have a great party that day, but make sure you’re walking,” she said.

The organisers predict the festival and the Grand Départ will draw more than three million visitors to Yorkshire and leave a lasting impact on York’s international visibility as between two and three billion television viewers are expected watch the Grand Départ worldwide.