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.”