KAF 11 brought smiles to the faces of many people on the streets of Kidderminster during its12- day run with a range of performances, creative workshops, street shows and exhibitions for the whole family. Despite vandals attacking the Subway Deluxe art project in Comberton Hill subway, organisers hailed the festival as a hit.

Sophia Burge ran full workshops to teach children how to make stop frame animation and learn other craft skills. Michael Neri ran a packed musical theatre workshop, while KAF, which is organised by Wyre Forest District Council, also gave away 50 art books, donated by local people and the County Library Service, and a hundred cds and dvds with films and poetry by local artists.

On the final weekend, Bureau of Silly Ideas surprised shoppers in the town centre with remote control wheelie bins, and a pile of traffic cones.

They crept up on unsuspecting passers by and even occasionally squirted water!

Stickleback Plasticus attempted two performances of the ‘Cat Litter’ Show but sadly got rained off – cats really don’t like water! They did manage to make an appearance to delight children under the cover of the town hall entrance.

Shoppers were also treated performances by Severn Valley Samba, who paraded through the town bringing the sound of Rio to Kidderminster, if not the weather. The Subway Deluxe project in Comberton Hill was sadly vandalised after only a week, just as it has been having its finishing touches completed.

Discussions are ongoing with the artist ‘Flitbomb’ as to how to repair or even replace the work.

The work in the subway and Kidderminster Library was created by 13 independent artists and led by local artist Dom Dunlea, all of whom volunteered for the project.

Many of the artists work can still be seen in the Kidderminster Library gallery until Saturday.

Artists are all available to produce commissions and many of the works are for sale. Contact arts@ wyreforestdc.gov.uk for details.

KAF will now begin to prepare for next year’s festival and will be supporting artist Sarah Tamar to develop her work for the Dragons Den award.

Updates will be posted on the website at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk and at the Kaf arts facebook page.

If you have completed an evaluation form to give your verdict on KAF 2011, the winner of the draw for Reel Cinema tickets will be announced on October 3 and will receive their tickets soon after. If you have a form in your pocket don’t forget to post it in to the council FREE by September 30.

If you’d like to be involved in next year’s festival, contact the organisers at arts@wyreforestdc.gov.uk