MORE is being invested in the Lake District’s annual street art festival than any other comparable event in the country, according to its organisers.

Kendal Arts International director Julie Tait said the Lakes Alive extravaganza was achieving its objective to make Cumbria a national centre of excellence for street art.

“Street and outdoor arts are increasingly being recognised as important art forms and Lakes Alive is already investing more in this area of the arts than any of the other major UK festivals,” said Ms Tait.

“By the time this first season of Lakes Alive comes to an end it will have featured more than 100 different acts and companies.”

They will include Plunge Boom and Artizani, two of the UK’s top outdoor arts companies, who have created new Made in the Lakes productions for performance around Cumbria.

“As well as showing the best performances from around the world, we want to create new work in the county,” said Ms Tait. “That’s why we’re so excited to see these new productions taking shape.”

The Lakes Alive season will culminate in the spectacular Mintfest festival in Kendal.

A mix of circus acts, comedians, acrobats, dancers and musicians will take part in the festival over the August bank holiday weekend (August 27-30).

Topping the bill is the UK premiere of Circus Ronaldo’s new show Circenses. which brings a new dimension to contem-porary circus.

Every night French performers Carabosse will be creating a breathtaking spectacle, transforming Noble’s Rest Park into a glowing fairytale environment with fire sculptures and animated fire machines.

The Big Friday Night event will feature a trio of top acts performing in Kendal town centre for free.

And on Saturday the streets will turn into one giant stage with performers springing up all over the town - again free-of-charge.

A succession of live music performances will take place in Abbot Hall gardens on Saturday between 7pm and 10.30pm and Sunday from 1pm to 9pm.

Ms Tait added: “Mintfest promises to be a spectacular finale to the Lakes Alive events in Cumbria.”

For full details visit www.lakesalive.org