Made In England

Lakes Alive is part of a national project which aims to make sure that the whole country benefits from the buzz of the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

Events will be held across Cumbria over the next four years. The events are being run by Kendal Arts International in partnership with Manchester International Arts and Tim Garbutt events.

This year in late May there'll be six events under the heading of Reach for the Sky in Windermere, Carlisle, Penrith, Maryport, Whitehaven and Barrow. These will feature a vast array of airborne entertainment including acrobats, "human castles", high wire acts, dance and drumming.

Mintfest - only the brave need attend!

There'll also be six events in July and August in Egremont, Penrith, Keswick, Workington and a roadshow in South Lakes and Carlisle ... culminating in Mintfest in Kendal at the end of August.

As well as all that the organisers want you to get even more involved by helping them to design 100 giant flags which will be displayed at Mintfest and at some of the earlier events as well.

The flag project is called Welcoming the World and it's hoped you will be inspired by the Cumbrian landscape around you to come up with some amazing designs. It's not just about the hills and the lakes either, the urban landscape can be just as inspiring. The designs will be turned into reality by artists at the Lantern House in Ulverston.

Flag making

There will be a series of workshops around Cumbria in May and June. Some will be for the members of specific community groups so if you're already a member of those groups then make sure you get involved! They'll be telling you more about this shortly if they haven't already! But there will also be drop-in sessions for absolutely anyone to get involved with.

Taking part

For your chance to work alongside professional artists and be part of Cumbria's cultural contribution to the Olympics and its legacy. Come along and work with us - tell us what inspires you about the landscape near you. We want to know your loves, hates, hopes and dreams.

There will be two free sessions taking place in each location below and places are strictly limited.

Grasmere Village Hall: 7th & 28th June, 10am-12.30pm
Brockhole Visitors Centre: 6th & 27th June, 10am-12.30pm
Keswick - Friends Meeting House: 6th & 27th June, 1.30pm-4pm

To  book your place, email Jenny Graham: jenny@kendalartsinternational.com or call 01539 720252 by 31st May.
Fifteen places are available in advance and a small number of places on the day.