During the first part of the day, visitors were treated to a range of acts, including the popular Phase 5 Steel Band, the She’Koyokh Klezmer Ensemble performing a variety of European folk music, The Camden Road Choir and performances from local schools who took part in special Mela education workshops in the weeks leading up to the event.

Performances in the second half of the day included popular Bangladeshi music star Kaya, the Carmen Souza Quartet bringing their unique Afro-Latin Jazz, the very popular Bhangra star ADH, and the final act of the night, Kent based tribute band, Abba Magic.

ADH commented “It was great to see so many people up and dancing to my music, most of whom would never have heard of me or my music before today. I look forward to coming back to perform in Tunbridge Wells in the near future. The atmosphere at the Mela was fantastic”

Whilst listening to the music, visitors could browse a range of stalls from jewellery to clothes and sample food from India, Thailand, America and Eastern Europe. On the bowling green, there were children’s activities ranging from an archaeological dig, craft making, face painting and more. All provided by the Tunbridge Wells Arts Partnership.

Gurvinder Sandher the Director of Cohesion Plus said:

‘I have been overwhelmed with the positive response we had to the Mela.  This was our biggest and most ambitious Mela to date and I am pleased that all of our efforts have been rewarded.  I have always aimed for the Mela to be a celebration of the diversity of Tunbridge Wells and I feel that we achieved this via both the stage programme and the stalls and activities which were available.  I hope we can try and make the Mela even bigger and better again next year with the support of our partners Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Arts Council England.’

Here are some photos of the event.

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The schools worked with our partners the renowned arts company Samesky on visual displays which the schools showcased during the parade. The schools involved were St Michael’s CE Junior, Archbishop Courtenay Primary, St Francis Primary, Hollingbourne Primary and West Borough.

The launch event parade started outside Marks and Spencer in Week Street, it then went down Fremlin Walk, into Earl Street, back up Week Street before finishing at Brenchley Gardens where the acts involved in the parade performed for a short time before the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr. Eric Hotson raised the Mela Flag to formally launch the celebrations and activities for the Mela in September.

Gurvinder Sandher the Director of Cohesion Plus said “The Mela launch here in Maidstone goes from strength to strength and it was so great to see so many people coming out and supporting the parade. I am very grateful for the supported provided by Arts Council England without which this event would not be able to happen. The feedback from schools has also been really positive”

Photos courtesy of Sarah Knight and Chris Brunt.

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The Cohesion Plus commissioned performance saw young people from local youth groups performing alongside Cultural Beats and Kent Music. The piece was titled “Fusion Clash” and saw a combination of Indian percussion and wind and string instruments complimented by dancers. This particular project was funded via Arts Council England.

Gurvinder Sandher the Director of Cohesion Plus Kent said “I was really pleased with the diversity of the acts that we had on stage. There was a real positive energy around the event and I was of course proud of the performance of the young people in our commissioned piece as I am aware of the hard work that they and the artists involved had put in the build up”

Click here to see some photos of the event-http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8789000/8789292.stm

The art pieces that were carried in the parade had been created by the children during visual art workshops at their schools in conjunction with the renowned arts company Samesky.

The parade commenced at just after 10.30am in the precinct. The children then went through the Town Centre before finishing at Calverley Grounds where they listened to speeches and watched Bloco Fogo, Cultural Beats and Uzambezi perform. The launch event gave a taster of what spectators can expect to see at the Mela on Sunday 18 July.

Gurvinder Sandher the Director of Cohesion Plus who organised Parade said” This is our biggest Mela Parade to date in Kent and we are very grateful to our partners Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Arts Council England and the Local Children’s Services Partnership for all their help and support in making it possible. The Mela is a great way for the communities of the borough to come together and enjoy music and dance from around the world and celebrate the positive community cohesion which exists in Tunbridge Wells”

The Schools that participated in the Tunbridge Wells Mela Schools Parade were: Southborough, Bishops Down, St Johns, St Matthews, Claremont, Rusthall, St Peters, St Barnabas and St Augustines.

To view more photos please click here – http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8789000/8789292.stm

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Cabinet Member for Community Services, Cllr John A. Wilson, said: “The Mela is an important part of Maidstone’s culture. This year’s parade will see scores of children showcasing their art work through the town and will be a taste of what September 11 and 12 will bring. It’s a great example of people working together to bring communities together.”

The Mela is organised in partnership by Maidstone Borough Council, th Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus. This year it will take place in Mote Park on September 11 from 5pm to 9.15pm and September 12 between 12pm and 6pm.

At the launch of the Mela, which takes place on July 14, there will be a colourful parade with pupils from St Michaels CE Junior, Archbishop Courtenay, St Francis, Hollingbourne Primary, South Borough and West Borough taking part.

The parade will be led by the Four by Four Bhangra dhol drummers, Bloco Fogo Samba and Uzambezi African Drummers.. It will start outside Marks & Spencer in Week Street at 10.30am. The celebrations will then lead down Fremlin Walk before reaching Brenchley Gardens for a flag raising ceremony.

Since 2003, the Mela has attracted thousands of people each year to Mote Park, where they have enjoyed performances of music and dance from around the world.

Gurvinder Sandher, Director of Cohesion Plus, said: “I am really pleased with how the Maidstone Mela has developed. The Mela has evolved from a one-day celebration of music, food and dance to one which celebrates the diversity of Maidstone over several months.

“The launch is an excellent example of how young people are now involved and this year’s launch will be the biggest to date. I believe the work we are doing in Maidstone is a beacon for other parts of the country and is an excellent example of how the arts can be used to promote community cohesion.”

Their will be a number of live performances on stage will include:

Phase 5 Steel Band: African/Caribbean drumming

Cascade Dance: British Contemporary dance

Shekoyokh Klezmer Ensemble: Ashkenazi Jewish, Eastern European, Balkan and Turkish Folk Music

Local schools featuring Cultural Beats, Lucky Moyo and Bloco Fogo

LK Philipino Dance Group: Philipino

Camden Road Choir: British

Bangladeshi Pop Group: Bangladeshi

Cristope Sors: European Folk

Cohesion Plus:  Kent Music School Fusion Performance/ British/ World Music Fusion

Carmen Souza Quartet: South American (photo above)

ADH Bhangra Act:  India/Pakistani

ABBA Magic: Pop

Photo Credits of Carmen Souza Quartet above go to Louis Obbens. Copyright © 2010.

Work had been taking place in local schools over the last 6 weeks to prepare special visual arts and craft displays which were used during the parade which was be led by the Big Fish Marching Band and the Four by Four Dhol Drummers.  The parade was divided into 3 distinct sections, the Knights Section at the front, the Kentish Themes and finally the Dragon Section.

The aim of the parade was to celebrate the patron Saint of England and the diversity of the borough through music and visual arts. The parade started in Saint. Georges Square, before going into the Town Centre before finishing outside the Civic Centre, where the crowd was entertained by the Salvation Army Brass Band and Big Fish who performed a play about Saint George.  The whole event climaxed with the raising of the flag of Saint George.

Gurvinder Sandher the Director of Cohesion Plus said “I was very pleased with how everything went.  We had a fantastic response from members of the public as we went around. You could not move in town at one point there was so many people there to support the parade.  Each year I believe that the Parade has got bigger and better and I have some more ideas on how we can develop this further.  I am also very grateful to our partners Gravesham Borough Council and Kent County Council for their support.

The schools who took part in the project were; Cobham, Dover Road, Gravesend Grammar School for Girls, Holy Trinity, Ifield, Kings Farm Primary, Lawn Primary, Meopham Primary, Northfleet School for Girls, Riverview, Shears Green, Shorne Primary, St Botolph’s, St George’s, St Johns Comprehensive, St Johns Primary, Whitehill,  Rosherville and Wrotham Road.

Here are some photos from the event, please click on the photos to make them larger.

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Maidstone Borough Council wants everyone to jot September 11 and 12 into their diaries to help make this year’s Mela the biggest and best to date.

The mela, an annual event, will be held in Mote Park over two days on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12 – and you could be part of it too.

In the past the Mela has attracted more than 35,000 people since it began in 2003 and organisers want this year to be no different.

Gurvinder Sandher, Organiser of the Mela and Director of Cohesion Plus, said: “This year we want as many people as possible to take part. We’re looking for stall holders, volunteers and community groups to be part of this big celebration of diversity and culture.

“This year we plan to have something for everyone. The Mela is an important part of Maidstone’s culture and all of the activities we are planning are a great example of people working to bring communities together.”

A launch parade with a schools parade is planned for July 14.

The Mela is organised in partnership by Maidstone Borough Council, the North West Kent Racial Equality Council and Cohesion Plus.

If you would like a stall or want to volunteer for the Mela 2010 email Alastair Barker on alastairbarker@maidstone.gov.uk or call 01622 602508.