Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Tag: Royal Tunbridge Wells Together

  • Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival

    Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival

    The Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival returned to Calverley Grounds on Sunday 23rd July. The free to attend community celebrations were organised in partnership by Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus, supported by Arts Council England and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

    Festival attendees who attended in their thousands experienced a full, culturally diverse artistic programme both on and off stage, comprising of both local and national talent. Also available were free musical workshops for ages 0-5, parents and guardians as well as cuisine from around the world for attendees to enjoy.

    Civic guests were also in attendance including Deputy Lieutenant Georgie Warner, Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Huges Patterson and Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Cllr Ben Chapelard who spoke from the main stage about the importance of coming together to celebrate community and diversity.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, CEO of KECC who produced the Mela commented, “We are incredibly pleased that we were able to deliver another community focused, culturally diverse event consisting of art forms and artists from around the world. The ethos of the Mela Festival is to bring people together to celebrate difference in a positive and enlightening way. The fact that Tunbridge Wells has been so receptive to the event over the course of a decade speaks volumes about the area and how community matters regardless of ethnicity, background, faith and gender. We always look forward to coming to Tunbridge Wells to deliver this event and are already planning on returning next year.”

  • Tunbridge Wells Mela 2022 a Huge Success

    Tunbridge Wells Mela 2022 a Huge Success

    The 16th Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival took place in Calverley Grounds on Sunday 24th July 2022 and saw thousands turn out to support. The Mela was organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council supported by Arts Council England and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

    Festival goers were able to enjoy a rich and culturally diverse artistic programme both on and off stage. Highlights included the Paul Dunton Orchestra and Sahrudaya West Kent Keralites who wooed everyone with their high energy performances, the ever popular Kings of Dhol, and Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band amongst many others.

    Other highlights included D-Bollywood, Bloco Fogo and Circus Raj. The event was climaxed with the One Love Orchestra who had everyone up and dancing to their renditions of classics by the king of reggae himself, Bob Marley. Deputy Lieutenant Georgie Warner was the Chief Guest.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “I am really proud of what we were able to achieve. The Tunbridge Wells Mela is a shining beacon of how music, food and dance can bring communities together and celebrate shared values. The event’s success is underpinned by the many loyal festival attendees who turn out every year to support and enjoy the rich culturally diverse offering that the Mela provides. I would like to thank everyone who worked with us to deliver the Mela and everyone who came and attended.”

  • Tunbridge Wells Mela a Success Despite the Poor Weather

    Tunbridge Wells Mela a Success Despite the Poor Weather

    Despite the heavy rain and thunder over 1000 people attended the 15th Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival in Calverley Grounds on Sunday 25th July. The Mela was organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council supported by Arts Council England and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

    The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells Cllr Chris Woodward was also in attendance and thanked everyone for supporting the Mela which was now one of the highlights of the event calendar in Tunbridge Wells.

    Those who braved the poor weather saw a range of Kent based diverse acts on stage. Highlights included the Paul Dunton Orchestra and Sahrudaya West Kent Keralites who wooed everyone with their high energy performances, the ever popular Phase 5 Steel Band and Uzambezi African ensemble.

    Other highlights included G Town Talents who performed grime and rap. The event was climaxed by the Kings of Bhangra Four by Four who had everyone up and dancing in the midst of the rain.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “I am really proud of what we were able to achieve. The Tunbridge Wells Mela is a shining beacon of how music, food and dance can bring communities together and celebrate shared values. The popularity of the event can be seen by how many people came out in what was the worst weather in which we have delivered an outdoor event. I would like to thank everyone who worked with us to deliver the Mela and everyone who came and attended.”

  • Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival 2021

    Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival 2021

    The 15th Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival is set to return to Calverley Grounds on Sunday 25th July between 12.30pm and 6pm. Last taking place in 2019, the event will also see the return of community artists and food traders celebrating music, food and dance from around the world. The Mela is organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council supported by Arts Council England and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

    The programme boasts a range of culturally diverse artist with an international flavour such as The West Kent Keralites, Phase 5 Steel Band, Uzambezi and Four by Four Kings of Bhangra. The event will also see the return of the hugely popular Paul Dunton Orchestra and the first time appearance of headliners Midnight Soul Sisters who will be performing you all the Motown classics.

    Off stage activity will include Show Globes ‘Enchanted Flower Garden’, a mobile and interactive life size snow globe complete with a mythical nymph that you can take pictures with. There will also be a mouth-watering selection of food vendors on site with a selection of British and World themed dishes.

    Although lockdown restrictions will have been lifted by the 25th everyone attending will be asked to check in to the Track and Trace system, there will also be extra distance placed between food stands to avoid queues and overcrowding, and there will be hand sanitisers in place across the grounds.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “The last 18 months have been difficult ones for us all. The whole ethos of the Mela Festival is to celebrate the local community and what binds us together, the importance of which has been underlined during the pandemic. I hope that the local community will support the event like they have in the past, a lot of hard work has gone into pulling this event together and we have designed the layout to ensure that everyone has a fun and safe day.”