ORGANISERS have hailed KAF12 as ‘amazing and wonderful’.

The annual free art festival, organised by Wyre Forest District Council , came to an end last weekend after 13 days of music, theatre and street shows.

“KAF is a great example of what a creative place Kidderminster can be and what can be achieved when people work together,” said a spokeswoman. “It’s the end of an amazing couple of weeks for KAF12 with a wonderful range of events and activities involving many local people as audiences, volunteers and artists. “Once again we would like to say a huge thank you to all the people who contributed, all our supporters and our funders for making KAF happen.” FLUXX theatre gave three local actors a chance to work with an established professional theatre company and try their hand at improvisation. The Town Hall became home to a creature whose tentacles spilled out of windows and took on a green glow throughout the weekend, surprising shoppers and getting everyone talking about what had moved in! Artist Silent Hobo finished work on the Mill Street Subway on Wednesday and was really pleased with the positive comments and support he got from those who use the subway. Sadly, heavy rain last Friday meant the street games were cancelled and the BLOOM artists got a soaking as they battled through the downpours to put on their outdoor projection show.

Some intrepid audience members watched an amazing transformation to Crown House take place and customers in the Penny Black pub got an amazing view of the show and managed to stay out of the rain.

Severn Valley Samba Band braved the weather to kick off Friday’s events so a huge thanks to them. Saturday saw a slightly drier performance, lit up by a visit by users of Our Way and the Emily Jordan Foundation who had been making lanterns all day. A lantern procession accompanied Severn Valley Samba to the Bull Ring and provided a great atmosphere for the second BLOOM show. It was fantastic to see people’s faces when they saw themselves projected on to Crown House. The Dragons’ Den have chosen ‘Someone’s Art’ to work with for KAF13. They are an established group who deliver after-schools clubs at Birchen Coppice and Heronswood Primary schools. Someone’s Art are Sandra Weirdrick and Shelly and Emily Jones, along with a number of local volunteers who will support the project in the coming year. Sandra said: “We are over the moon to receive the award so we can make the project happen which has come from ideas of the children we work with.”

They will produce a booklet and DVD about games that were played in the past. Sandra will be inviting Kidderminster to a giant winter tea party at the Town Hall, enabling her to talk to people about the games they played as children. The games will be recorded and recreated for children to play in the future. More information will be released on the council website at wyreforestdc.gov.uk/KAF Thoughts are already turning to KAF 13 next year. If you would like to be involved send an email arts@wyreforestdc.gov.uk Loz Samuels, the council’s arts and play development officer, said: “It’s never too early to talk to us about your ideas. “Fund-raising starts in October which means we need to have a good idea of the programme before we submit our bids.”

If you picked up a feedback form, don’t forget to post it back by September 7 to be in with a chance of winning a family ticket to West Midland Safari Park.