One of the important goals of the Maidstone Mela project is to educate young people about the richness of the variety of cultures residing locally in Maidstone. Inspiring them to learn and take part in Mela activites is one sure way of introducing them to the multi-cultural aspects of the event and increasing their awareness about different cultures.
Local schools are encouraged to join and participate in the Mela Education Programme. Allowing children to get involved with workshops that include dance, music and arts and crafts.
The Mela school’s programme commenced in 2004, and is delivered by Cohesion Plus in partnership with Arts Council England and Kent County Council. Over the past years, the programme has evolved greatly and this year will be the biggest to date.
The programme has 5 distinct aspects to it:
- Arts and Crafts Workshops which are being delivered by Samesky www.samesky.co.uk
- Launch event in Maidstone town centre which will take place on July 14
- Music and dance workshops in local schools to prepare performances
- Children’s Parade at the Mela
- Performances with local artists on stage including Cultural Beats and Lucky Moyo
The programme is funded and co-ordinated by Cohesion Plus Kent through its “Celebrating Cultural Creativity and Diversity” Project which is part supported by Arts Council England.