Amy Johnson Festival brings International kite weekend to Beverley

Artlink gallery manager Andrew Quinn and the display of kites.

THE skies above Beverley will come alive with colour this weekend as one of the highlights of the Amy Johnson Festival brings together kites from around the world.

Professional kite-makers and fliers from as far away as Austria, Pakistan and Thailand will congregate at the Racecourse for the two-day Far Horizons International Kite Weekend.

Their creations will be joined by hundreds more kites made closer to home, in workshops at schools across the region and at the Amy Johnson Festival site in Zebedee’s Yard, Hull.

Rachel Elm, arts development manager at Artlink in Princes Avenue, Hull, said the organisation has run about 20 kite-making workshops at schools including Tweendykes community special school and in-house with the Artlink Explorers, an after-school club for children aged from seven to 16.

More kites will be made at the workshops in Zebedee’s Yard, which will be open to all and will take place from 10am until midday from Monday July 25 until Friday July 29, when all the kites will be transferred to the Racecourse.

Rachel said: “Everybody who has taken part has created their own kite and has been given a discount voucher for the Far Horizons event. If they attend they will be able to fly their kites alongside the kites made by the professionals.

“We have made hundreds of kites so far. We will also have four artists working at the kite weekend, so people can turn up and make their own kites. Professional kite-makers trained six of our regular artists, which means that the city of Hull now has the skills and we can do more kite work in future programmes.”

Andrew Quinn, gallery manager at Artlink, added: “The professional kites have come from around the world. It’s interesting to see the kites close up because they are designed to be viewed from a distance, and very high up.

“We have got a variety from incredibly sturdy kites to some which look very fragile, and are made out of pressed leaves. But they have all been flown, even if some of them look like they wouldn’t be up to it.”

The Far Horizons International Kite Weekend will take place at Beverley Racecourse from 11am until 5pm on Saturday July 30 and Sunday July 31. Day tickets and weekend tickets are available and there are discounts for families. Parking is free.

For full details of other activities taking place as part of the Amy Johnson Festival please visit http://amyjohnsonfestival.co.uk/

Admission prices:
Adults: single day £6, weekend £10
Under 18s: single day £4, weekend £6
Family: single day £15, weekend £25 (admits 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children)
Children under 3 years: Free
Tickets available now from hullboxoffice.co.uk

 Some of the kites on display ahead of the festival weekend.