Kite festivals and events
Infinite Arts plays a management role in running kite festivals and events and in recent years has held a contract from Sunderland City Council to run the kite programme for the Sunderland International Friendship and Kite Festival held annually in Washington.
The Sunderland Festival 2011 - kite report
For the first time in years we had great weather despite it being rather light wind. This year it was not an international event and about 120 UK based kitefliers attended. This year was the 25th kite festival in Washington (allowing for the year which was cancelled in 1997). We apparently set a world record for 4 people each flying 3 kites each in one arena (see Graham's write up); Hugh and Lynn Blowers worked tirelessly in the PA tent, adapting the programme to suit conditions and providing commentary throughout the event; the North East Kitefliers set up a tea tent and kept it running for the weekend supplying the visiting fliers with refreshment.
For full 2011 report…..click here
Sunderland International Friendship Festival July 2009
This was Infinite Arts third year to lead the kite programme for this event including a wide range of international and UK guest kitefliers, an exhibition of kites from around the world and artists installations on site. The kite programme featured guest kitefliers including Mike Mosman from Washington DC in the USA, Robert Brasington from Tasmania, Robert Trépanier from Canada, Alessia and Fausto Marrocu from Sardinia, Robert Valkenburg, Janneke Groen, Stephen Versteeg and Albert Trinks from Holland, Ben Howard and Caroline Biron from Ireland, Roland Kraft, Cosmo Urban, Michael Wengenmayr, Heinrich Hoemann and Karin Gurezka from Germany, Daniela Zitzmann, Gerhard Weidra, Rolf and Max Stohanzl from Austria, Stella Diana, Antonio and Angelo Ferraiuolo from Italy, Eric Aouara, Elisenda and Eric Junior from Spain, and Claudie Ragon, Francvis Pariset, Gerard Clément, Dominique Weill, Frederique Riquier, Betrand Rosier, Melodie Viola, Claude and Jose Comallonga, Martine Chatel and Joel Thézé from France.
Hundreds of kite specialists from the UK made their way to Washington to take part in the event, many of them bringing unique kites which are famous around the world including Martin Lester’s spirits, Kelvin Wood’s butterflies, Nick James’s angels, Karl Longbottom’s pants, Peter Taylor’s dragons, along with many, many more. UK based and world renowned quad-line flyers ‘The Decorators’ have been ‘decorating’ the sky with their Revolution kites since 1988 and eight of them were in Washington to show us their amazing flying skills along with some of The Flying Squad and the French Quad team Flic.
For full 2009 report…..click here
Sunderland International Friendship Festival July 2008
In 2008, Infinite Arts once again led a programme including a wide range of international and UK guest kitefliers, an exhibition of kites from around the world and artists wind based installations on site. The festival featured Kelvin Wood’s butterflies, Nick James’s angels, Karl Longbottom’s pants, Peter Taylor’s dragons, Robert Trepanier, Kisa and Anke Sauer’s painted quads, Vulandra’s UFO, Giacomino Reverberi’s double hexagons, Holland Kite Team’s birds, Martin Lester’s spirits, Zoone’s Raymond kites, Robert Brasington’s collection, Mike Mosman’s amazing split edos along with many, many more.
Photos here show Giacomino’s hexagono doppio, Vulandra’s UFO, Ulla Bebko’s red banners and Friendship bunting made by local children.
For Mike Mosman's 2008 report…..click here
Sunderland International Friendship Festival July 2007
In 2007, Infinite Arts was commissioned by Sunderland City Council to run the kite programme for the Sunderland International Friendship Festival, incorporating the Kite Festival. Pauline and the team developed a programme including a wide range of international and UK guest kitefliers, an exhibition of kites from around the world and artists wind based installations on site. Unfortunately, the festival was cancelled on the Sunday due to unprecedented heavy rainfall on site.
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