The mastermind behind the Cultural Olympiad at last summer’s Olympics has received an honorary university fellowship in east London.

Ruth Mackenzie, who was given a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for cultural achievements in London 2012, was awarded a fellowship yesterday at London University’s Queen Mary College in Mile End—in one of the Olympic ‘host’ boroughs.

The fellowship is in recognition of the impact the Olympiad and festival had on east London and for her role supporting the People’s Palace Projects, an arts charity at Queen Mary’s promoting the practice and understanding of art for social justice.

The People’s Palace Projects ran the month-long Rio Occupation London event with 30 of Rio de Janeiro’s most vibrant artists performing during the London 2012 Festival.

“What I love about Rio Occupation London is that this is the next generation of great art,” she said. “It’s very radical and it’s lovely to feel that we are seeing it first.”

The Cultural Olympiad director also ran the London 2012 Festival, the largest ever nationwide gathering with 20 million spectators and 25,000 artists from all the countries taking part in the Games.