11:40am Tuesday 7th September 2010
By Adrian Mullen
MINTFEST did it again with thousands of people pouring into Kendal to see what has become one of Europe’s the top street arts festivals.
Julie Tait, director of Kendal Arts International, which organises the Lakes Alive season, with Manchester International Arts artistic director Jeremy Shine, said she was really happy with the four-day festival.
She said: “We couldn’t have wished for much more – but there’s always room for improvement.
“We reached a really broad audience and we’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback – many artists and promoters said it was the best festival they had experienced all year and that includes our international artists and companies.
“One of the best sights was seeing people running from one location to another so as not to miss anything and that’s the kind of energy the best festivals generate.
“The sense of pride generated by local audiences is remarkable with people appreciating this is the kind of festival you might normally see in Edinburgh, Brighton, or London.
Julie wouldn’t be drawn on her ‘favourite’ event but said that Mintfest created “wonderful environments” at Fletcher Park, Abbot Hall Park and Courtyard and with Ponten Pie in K Village.
She was also thrilled to see that the Sunday street festival worked so well.
“It was very busy and almost everyone in town had come just because of Mintfest,” she said.
“So it’s more about how well the different format worked this year.
“The Commandos Percu event was special as we captured the imaginations and trust of a whole new bunch of people.
“Someone said it was better than Millennium fireworks and another said it was what you’d expect in Sydney Harbour rather than at County Showground near Kendal.”
She said businesses also saw a boost. Thousands descended on the Brewery Arts Centre for the Mint Room Cabaret and Garden.
Julie added that cafes and sandwich shops had seen a 30 per cent increase on average.
Dave Ball, Barrows Green: “It (Mintfest) gets better every year. It’s a unique and warm experience and everyone comes away smiling. Great credit to the performers.”
Chris Rowley, Kendal: “It’s brilliant. The atmosphere is wonderful. The individual acts are not as important as what it does as a whole.”
Chloe Bailey, Stainton: “There’s a nice vibe and they’ve had perfect weather. Even though we live here it’s like being on holiday.”
Joyce Hemmingaway, was visiting with her husband from Harrogate especially for the Mintfest: “It brings people into the town and gets people together. It’s boosts moral and tourism. Atempo were one of our favourites.”
Click on the link below for our Mintfest photo gallery.
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