Report: Kendal Mintfest 2011 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Report: Kendal Mintfest 2011

9:00am Tuesday 6th September 2011 in Shows & fairs By Kate Proctor, Reporter

ART chiefs from all over the world headed to Kendal’s Mintfest event at the weekend, elevating the festival to international status.

Curators, gallery bosses and major funders from across the globe visited the three-day festival of street arts, which brought thousands of people to the town.

“This year’s event has registered nationally and internationally which is fantas-tic,” said festival director Julie Tait.

“Mintfest is taken very seriously now by key organisers from the UK and abroad, and this year we had artistic directors from the Tate, Lowry and Royal Exchange galleries come along. It’s great to hear that peo--ple are making a bee-line for it and it’s critical to have such recognition for the festival to continue to grow.”

Over the course of the event, Kendal was transformed into a thriving arts hub with street entertainers performing throughout the day at Abbot Hall Park, K Village, the Brewery Arts Centre and Stricklandgate.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Noble’s Rest park was illuminated after dark to become a Garden of Delights, where Turkish act Dervish In Progress thrilled crowds with his spinning skirt of flames.

However, Sunday’s finale event, As The World Tipped, an ariel performance in a rain-sodden Abbot Hall Park, blew audiences away. The specially commissioned piece about climate change saw acrobats perform while suspended from a giant film screen lifted high above the audience by a crane.

WIth a strong political message, the piece was very different to previous years’ events but Ms Tait said Mintfest would continue to push the boundaries and people had enjoyed the show.

“It wasn’t the normal spectacle for a finale – it was thought-provoking and innovative but also incredibly brave.

“Considering the weather, it was technically very difficult for the acrobats, but they were determined to perform for people in Kendal.

“The people I’ve heard from absolutely loved the Sunday night show, because it was just so unusual.”

Heavy rain on Saturday failed to dampen spirits from the crowds who merely donned raincoats and smiles.

While some acts moved to the shelter of the Westmorland Shopping Centre, overall there was very little disruption.

Ms Tait said: “It was wonderful to see both street performers and the audience battling through the rain on Saturday.

“Despite the weather, people had come out to see new things that they may have never heard of before and it just goes to show the support the event has from people in the town.”

Performer Bill Palmer, of Avanti Display, who performed on Stricklandgate on Saturday, said: “Mintfest was an exceptionally fine event this year. Who would have believed five years ago that Mintfest would become such a gem? There is nothing like it in the UK and precious few events like it in Europe.”

Mintfest is organised by Lakes Alive of Kendal Arts International.

Next year, the organisation will create a theatrical piece in Windermere to celebrate the Olympic Games after being chosen as one of four national centres for the London 2012 Festival.

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