Lakes Alive welcomes the world

Mintfest’s a family affair

It’s official.  Mintfest is established – on the international street arts circuit and in Kendal. Local residents, tourists and arts professionals from as far flung places as Korea, New Zealand and Canada wandered around Kendal for the three days of street entertainment that was this year’s Mintfest. Its organizers Lakes Alive presented a huge array of work of a great variety and high quality.

Unashamedly a family affair, there was however something for all tastes and that is the beauty of a festival like Mintfest and good programming. I can personally list five highlights (Carabosse’s Fire Garden, Theatre Irrwisch, Motionhouse, Circus Ronaldo and Salamandre) which is quite exceptional for any festival.  MINTFEST are probably promoting the best international work in street performance today.

The surprise and spontaneity of street arts practice  – the random interventions that you don’t know are going to happen – alongside the staged or sited installations, performances and theatre shows – made for an exciting if challenging experience – in a programme of such scope there will inevitably be work that is not to your personal taste.  On quite a few occasions I did wish I had brought some kids with me or some mates as it was very much a festival programme focused on family and entertainment but in terms of engagement, i cannot think of a better or more  exemplary example of reaching new audiences.  The dog really works and there is no doubt that Mintfest has embedded itself into the fabric of the community through its programming approach and that is why  it is succe ssful. I did wonder about the reactions of the 18 – 30 age group though (who dont have kids). Does Minfest have enough edge? Could Kendal cope with  a more dynamic and challenging programme ie less entertainment?

Minfest - motionhouse

As a festival linked to the Lakes Alive programme which is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Minfest was exemplary. Its content celebrated and promoted  internationalism and cultural diversity, inspired and involved young people and generated a legacy in terms of cultural participation, audience development, tourism, social cohesion and international linkages – which it will continue to build on year on year. Mintfest 2012 is a very exciting prospect.

‘Like never before’ is the ambition and vision for the Cultural Olympiad and it’s clear that the 2009 edition of Mintfest builds on the work of the previous two years of Mintfest to take bold new steps forward – into commissioning new work (artisani) and also into large scale community participation projects (Welcoming the world).  Overall I personally would have liked to have seen the programme including process and development activities for professionals. Street artists need support – to develop their skills and practice without the pressure of delivery or the focus on being entertainment.  The sector it seems to me would benefit greatly from opportunities to explore and play free of pressure and in collaborative contexts with artists from other disciplines and other locations. Mintfest as a melting point for a diverse range of street arts practice has a role to play in promoting such support, dialogue and debate between street artists and the new generation of practitioners who work outdoors but don’t describe themselves as street artists. The Mintfest International Network Exchange for Street Arts would be a welcome addition to the Lakes Alive programme.

Thoughts on Programming for the Olympics

What work is appropriate for large scale cultural programmes? What if this programme is for the world’s largest mega sporting event with a TV audience of over 4billion for its opening and closing ceremonies? Does this mean only the mega and mainstream can work? I was pondering this question as i witnessed street arts work in Kendal, for Mintfest which is part of Lakes Alive – one of our projects for the Olympiad in the Northwest.

Outdoor work is good because it provides spectacle, it reaches people, it takes art to the community, its about celebration that is communal, public and collective – all the things that an olympic games is about. And of what type of outdoor work? Lets take Salamandre as one example which was one of the events that i saw at Mintfest last night.  In their work was athletism – of the body in motion, human power – of the body in performance and play with fire – the  symbol, of unity and of the earth. This piece embodied natural forces and struck me as a clear and relevant focus and theme for any olympic programme – the notion and expression of natural forces is at the heart of the enjoyment of sport, of both the doing and the watching. It is also the root of humanity and therefore part of culture and for expression by artists. Which leads me on to the view that programming  street arts for the Olympics promotes the LIVE,  the NATURAL and  the SOCIAL experience of life – essential natural forces.  When you play with  sculptural forms (like dance and installation) and fire and let them do the talking you get a very human form of expression  which is tribal. Simplicity should not be underestimated and for an Olympics programme, its a very nice strand of practice to present – tribal arts (?)

to be continued…..

A true olympic experience in Kendal

The opening night of Mintfest – Kendal’s International festival of street arts – literally set the streets alight with fire. If you were not in love with street arts before seeing Salamandre and Carabosse you will be now.

A troupe of fire artists (Salamandre) weaved their way through the high street of Kendal with their bodies and sticks, in tribal dance, generating beauty in the motion of their wanderings. The crowd of families lined the high street, watching in awe and wonder as Salamandre embraced and evoked magic with their dance theatre and play  with fire. A powerful public peformance and perfect opening spectacle for Mintfest with a delicious twist – Salamandre literally threw fire down the street, again and again, to the amazement of the audience. I heard ‘How did they get away with that?’ I am so glad that they did. Salamadre remind us of the primeval force of fire in our soul, our connection to our ancestory, and sadly, how safe public life has become. Lets not let it.

Not being able to get enough and wanting to continue my evening on the fire theme, i went to see Carabosse who had installed their fire garden project in Noble’s Rest Park . The fire garden was a magical, sensory experience – beautiful in the extreme, and so simple in its construction. Fire sculptures from the small to large scale, the static to the moving were placed all around the park, in trees and along pathways and enveloped in haunting and seductive live music.  I am not sure i have ever seen something quite so evocative of our heritage in such a simple way. Emphemeral, transient and beautiful. I could live for ever in this world of fire and peace. I wished to go to Burning Man Festival in Black Rock USA.

As I walked around, mostly alone as this was how I needed to experience it,  i imagined the opportunity of commissioning the development of this project as a community initiative involving the creation of  204 fire sculptures by and to represent the 204 olympic nations as an Olympic Truce Project for 2012. Using the methology for the Welcoming the World Flags project with Carabosse as the artistic leaders, this could be a proposal for London 2012 and the Olympic Park. The French are so good at alchemy – i wonder what other nations are like?

200 Cumbrian people, 8 artists, 10 groups, 100 giant flags

Its Thursday 27th August and I am in Kendal for the launch of Welcoming the World – the display of 100 giant flags – generated by 200 cumbrian people, 8 artists and 10 groups. Created for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and truly inspired by the landscape, like never before, people were asked to create flags which celebrated their place in Cumbria. The result was a truly modern and contemporary take on identity, citizenship and place and a creative community united by a shared endeavour which involved people of all ages and backgrounds in expressing their self and their environment. To quote Bob Sutcliffe of the Lake District National Park Authority: ‘The flags, made in this unique and diverse county which is seeking World Heritage Status for its incredible landscape, will leave a legacy, they can be used again and again and we want to use them to promote what is special about Cumbria, its National Park and its people. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see one or even better all 100 flags as part of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Opening ceremonies in 2012? Personally i think it would be good to see the scale of this project expanded further and wider – to the whole of the Northwest region and to the whole of the Uk. Not 100 flags but a 1000 flags. Now that would be something for the ceremonies  + even better if they could be walked in procession – the procession accompanying the torch relay on its travels through the Uk to London.

The thrill of like never before

The Lakes Alive launch events which took place in Maryport, Barrow in Furness and Whitehaven last weekend were radical in their reach. Over and over again I heard the words ‘ I have never seen anything like that before’ . It  totally convinced me that the Lakes Alive initative will bring new audiences to the arts and new people to Cumbria and this is only the beginning. In Cumbria participation is what success looks like and i had a ball. My weekend adventure began in Maryport (or possibly Scareyport) and an overnight stay in a fantastically unique hotel reminiscent of The Shining. I also came across a  local fish shop  called Olympic! . Two men on a high wire thrilled the town, scared the hell out of me, and fed our human interest in death defying feats. We are a strange race. The next day and with the sun shining, I drove down the coast to Barrow and descended into a happy, smiling, family friendly crowd who had gathered in the town centre park to take part in Lakes Alive festivities. A beautiful location for a real community experience, followed by a trip back up the coast for the evening events at Whitehaven – which for me was the icing on the cake – visual theatre performed on an historic harbour. A most spectacular location for a high art piece that got Whitehaven crowds screaming for more.  The exquisite elegance of the work transformed this coastal town into an emotive world of transcendent beauty. The event mesmerised viewers crowding all sides of the harbour . An experience for Whitehaven like never before. Unforgettable. Cumbria is in for a treat over the next four years. Anyone wanting to move out of London to a rural location would be wise to consider Cumbria – Lakes Alive internationalised the place and the people, opening minds, hearts and wallets – many of the local traders did a roaring business and next year i hope their will be more hospitality options open – the queues were far too long!

Did the public know Lakes Alive was part of the Olympiad?

Did the public know that they were participating in and benefiting from the UK’s commitment to London 2012 legacy in the nations and regions through the Lakes Alive events in Cumbria last week?  Feedback and comments suggest that we need to make more of a direct connection. Lyn Garnder has a point. So how can the Inspire mark projects, London 2012 and the Regional Development Agency work more closely with the regional and national media to ensure that the public are more aware of the link between regional programmes and the 2012 games? Suggestions welcome.

The Guardian Review of Lakes Alive

Check out this link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/may/26/reach-for-sky-lake-windermere

Lyn Gardner states in her piece that ‘The only nod to the Olympics was at Carlisle’s massive city centre street party on Sunday night, where Bread and Butter’s Van Dunk Brothers kept the crowd entertained with a cheesy display of synchronised swimming on dry land’ . I disagree – the olympics   is about the expression and activation of human potential and in this context, Lakes Alive programme is hardly a nod – its a total alignment! Pity she did not mention that the cultural legacy programme is called WE PLAY – play is at the heart of the games as a celebration and at the heart of the Lakes Alive programming – perhaps Lyn would like to look at the Olympics and street arts from the angle of play and particularky its role in community building,  health and wellbeing  and economic prosperity – aka the WE of WE PLAY

Lakes Alive Reached for the Sky

Lakes Alive launched this weekend in Windermere, Carlise and Penrith and it could not have been better. The sun was shining, people from all walks of life turned out and lots of them, the major ariel acts were amazing and the landscape and towns animated and temporarily transformed by Lakes Alive. So much smiling by everybody and so much play – really great!

New breed of humans spotted in Penrith

Tough day in the office for LOCOG's Martin Green and Cat Loriggio

Voila at Bowness-on-Windermere - look at that set!

Voila Event - Bowness-On-Windermere- look at those crowds

Carlisle Town Square - Absolute Glee !

Penrith - Thats what i call community building!

Viola in Bowness on Windermere attracted 6000 + people, many of whom i am sure would not go inside as theatre and the show against the Cumbrian sky was stunning – it has us all transfixed with its magic.

The town square in Carlisle was transformed into a street party and had the vibe of a truely European Town.  Families out til 11pm at night with picnics, kids on shoulders, running around, playing in the street, full of colour and performance.

Families in Penrith came out to see the amazing Castelliers building human castles in front of their eyes-it was a sight to behold – the artists and the audience reaction alongside the many residents wandering around wearing strange and tall orginami hats as a result of them getting involved in this street workshop.

Speakers at the opening VIP event included  Head of Ceremonies Martin Green and Dugald Mackie from the Legacy Trust UK – this national presence in Cumbria made all the difference. The producers of the other projects in WE PLAY also attended-  to give their support and to learn from each other’s work.

By the end of Sunday it was clear to me that this was what the Olympics was all about – people coming out to play as and in community. The Olympics was for three days  in Cumbria and everybody new it and felt it. Inspired.  8 months in to the start of the Cultural Olympiad and the Northwest is well on its way. Truly inspiring – Cumbria rocked!