A 30ft yacht is to be built from scrap timbers to celebrate the Olympics. The contemporary design will be made from wooden toys, chairs, tables, picture frames, garden sheds, cricket bats, cupboards, beds, pencils, rulers, doors, picture frames and even a dance floor. But artist-duo Lone Twin will only accept scraps which have a story attached. They will use epoxy to mould the scraps together.

From January 2011, Lone Twin will invite the public to donate their wooden belongings to The Boat Project. Mundane or extraordinary, the piece of wood can be small or large, but it must contain a story, to be told when the object is brought to the Boat Project build shed in Thornham Marina on Chichester Harbour. In June 2012 the completed Boat Project sets sail on its maiden voyage along the south coast of England, as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The Boat Project is a collaboration between Lone Twin artists Gregg Whelan and Gary Winters, acclaimed sailor and boat builder Mark Covell (Olympic Silver Medallist, Star Class, Sydney 2000), and international boat designer Simon Rogers.

The Boat Project is part of Artists Taking the Lead, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Arts Council England is delivering the project in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland and the Arts Council of Wales.

Building the boat will draw on the expertise and talents of a professional boatbuilding team led by Mark Covell. It will also engage the enthusiasm and interest of volunteers and develop the skills of apprentices and students who will work alongside the professional team.